Discussion
Inspired by the riots and economic issues on TV, I decided I wanted to try a Greek Salad tonight. I bunged feta, cucumber, tomato in a bowl and chopped some mint on the top. Pretty uninspiring to be honest…
What am I missing (particularly dressing wise)? Do you have any other favourite salads?
What am I missing (particularly dressing wise)? Do you have any other favourite salads?
Mobile Chicane said:
A true Greek salad should consist of tomatoes, cucumber, feta cheese, black olives, red onion, thyme and olive oil.
Best check how many tongues you have left after eating it.
this covers it pretty much apart from the thyme which should be origano (although some posh Greeks add some greek basil and capers/caperberries or yellow peppers)Best check how many tongues you have left after eating it.
Much more important is that you buy the best veg you can get, especially tomatoes and cucumbers let it down if not good organic stuff that tastes like its meant to!
Also good olive oil and make sure the olives are really black - not the cheap coloured crap they sell a lot here (whether the best olives are from kalamata or crete can split greek families) - i do destone mine for salad
Feta must be greek - do not settle for imitations - the stronger barrel aged ones are better for this recepy and save salt
Only exception from the "classic" recepy I make is I ad balsamico
Serve with freshly toasted pittas and nice white wine (try one from santorini if you can get - waitrose does them)
should be more inspiring
cramorra said:
this covers it pretty much apart from the thyme which should be origano (although some posh Greeks add some greek basil and capers/caperberries or yellow peppers)
Much more important is that you buy the best veg you can get, especially tomatoes and cucumbers let it down if not good organic stuff that tastes like its meant to!
Also good olive oil and make sure the olives are really black - not the cheap coloured crap they sell a lot here (whether the best olives are from kalamata or crete can split greek families) - i do destone mine for salad
Feta must be greek - do not settle for imitations - the stronger barrel aged ones are better for this recepy and save salt
Only exception from the "classic" recepy I make is I ad balsamico
Serve with freshly toasted pittas and nice white wine (try one from santorini if you can get - waitrose does them)
should be more inspiring
Thankyou very much for the tips - very insightful. It sounds like it will be a waitrose trip to get some good quality ingredients. I can't see the point of poor quality tomatoes, most of what is sold in this country is tasteless rubbish. Much more important is that you buy the best veg you can get, especially tomatoes and cucumbers let it down if not good organic stuff that tastes like its meant to!
Also good olive oil and make sure the olives are really black - not the cheap coloured crap they sell a lot here (whether the best olives are from kalamata or crete can split greek families) - i do destone mine for salad
Feta must be greek - do not settle for imitations - the stronger barrel aged ones are better for this recepy and save salt
Only exception from the "classic" recepy I make is I ad balsamico
Serve with freshly toasted pittas and nice white wine (try one from santorini if you can get - waitrose does them)
should be more inspiring
freecar said:
I always us a big fat beef tomato when making a greek salad, seems to be the right thing. I serve mine with a nice homemade chicken souvlaki and rice!
Souvlaki HAS to be lamb or goat - you would never find anything else in the islands in the 70s or 80s. Pork or chicken are a 2000's b
disation.Salad was tomato, cucumber, feta and olives dressed with thyme and oregano and a generous drizzle of olive oil. Occasionally basil would be included if on a 'posh' ísland. So many times you would arrive by boat, find a billet and either souvlaki or kleftiko would be the meal - the Greeks had simple but delicious offerings which have since been corrupted (IMO)
Todays souvlaki with greek salad (1980's style !)
first real BBQ day in NSW.
Bob the Planner said:
freecar said:
I always us a big fat beef tomato when making a greek salad, seems to be the right thing. I serve mine with a nice homemade chicken souvlaki and rice!
Souvlaki HAS to be lamb or goat - you would never find anything else in the islands in the 70s or 80s. Pork or chicken are a 2000's bdisation.Salad was tomato, cucumber, feta and olives dressed with thyme and oregano and a generous drizzle of olive oil. Occasionally basil would be included if on a 'posh' ísland. So many times you would arrive by boat, find a billet and either souvlaki or kleftiko would be the meal - the Greeks had simple but delicious offerings which have since been corrupted (IMO)
Todays souvlaki with greek salad (1980's style !)
first real BBQ day in NSW.
How about this "traditionally souvlaki has been... but more recently..." That's not as offensive as what you wrote, if you were to say something like that in conversation I'd end it right there. There really is no need to be rude.
Bob the Planner said:
freecar said:
I always us a big fat beef tomato when making a greek salad, seems to be the right thing. I serve mine with a nice homemade chicken souvlaki and rice!
Souvlaki HAS to be lamb or goat - you would never find anything else in the islands in the 70s or 80s. Pork or chicken are a 2000's bdisation.Salad was tomato, cucumber, feta and olives dressed with thyme and oregano and a generous drizzle of olive oil. Occasionally basil would be included if on a 'posh' ísland. So many times you would arrive by boat, find a billet and either souvlaki or kleftiko would be the meal - the Greeks had simple but delicious offerings which have since been corrupted (IMO)
Todays souvlaki with greek salad (1980's style !)
first real BBQ day in NSW.
????AlexJ12 said:
Unless i've missed it somewhere, surely no greek salad is complete without Kalamata Olives?
This is what I stated further up - Kalamata Olives yes and possibly the easiest to get here, but when you have family from Crete then this is different (note the best Olives come from your nan's farm...)Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff