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The Ultimate Feta Salad

Fresh salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, oranges, pears, and feta cheese balls, drizzled with a dark vinaigrette, arranged on a white plate., placed on a dark blue-green backdrop

I now have my third post on this brand new recipe site, and I'm so excited about it! Everything seems to be flowing easily and naturally this time. I already have a bunch of great recipes to share right away as well, since I started a blog earlier. Timing always works things out. Finally, I have a virtual cookbook to gather all my recipes that have been randomly floating around the internet in different places for a while now. You can get to know my story better here: ABOUT. But today it's all about The Ultimate Feta Salad: Your Go-To Recipe!

A Feta salad does not always have to be a traditional Greek salad!

My sympathy for Feta Salad probably has its roots in my extended family on my father's side because his wife, who has been married for more than 20 years, is a great home cook. She always has a very recognizable style when it comes to cooking. For example she makes every recipe more abundant by adding all kinds of extras. She adds extra cheese, fruit, seeds, and nuts to pretty much every savory dish, which usually includes hearty meat stews, rice-based sides, and fresh salads. Grapes are her favorite condiment, she adds them everywhere and it works every single time! She hardly ever makes desserts, but the sweet taste is already beautifully incorporated into the main dish, so who cares? The menu is really versatile this way and it often seems to me that I tend to a similar direction in my own cooking.

Freshly chopped lettuce leaves arranged on a patterned plate, alongside lime wedges, an orange slice, and a small bowl of dressing.
Preparing a salad with fresh lettuce, perfect for a light lunch.

So, I guess I have taken something away from these large family gatherings and, of course, given it my own finesse, especially sauce-wise. Wait until you taste the sauce with all these ingredients; it's such a punch!

My go-to 10 minute salad is loaded with fruit, veggies, nuts and seeds.

You can totally vary these ingredients, but make sure to use:

  • Fresh fruit
  • Fresh vegetables
  • Seeds (mixed)
  • Nuts (can be lightly roasted)

I don't recommend switching to any other cheese, but if you do, keep in mind that the overall essence of the salad will be a bit different because feta, with its creamy saltiness, is the superstar here. Not to mention that it allows you to form such beautiful balls with an ice cream scoop! For all the health-conscious people, here is a solid objective deep-dive into Feta's health benefits and to some moments to be aware of when using this cheese: Feta Cheese - Good or Bad.

No, there are some best options, when it comes to choosing some of the ingredients. For example:

English Cucumber is the best for this recipe. You can browse some mainly used Cucumber sides here: Cucumber types and characteristics.

For the perfect multi-layered crunch, the Iceberg Lettuce is perfect for the recipe. Get to know this beautiful very affordable green here: Iceberg Lettuce introduction.

There are also countless types of oranges. In our family, we tend to eat and use type Navel that is large, moderately sweet, and juicy (in the season of course, otherwise it can be a bit too fibrous). Have a look at the different types of orange and pick the best for you. For this recipe I think the very common Navel works great: 10 Common Orange types.

If you want to see visually, how I incorporated this salad step by step, then here you go:

Another thing that I strongly advise you to follow in this recipe is the sauce... It just works perfectly with the rich savory feta and soft ripe pears. It's a burst of Umami!

The sauce is not Greek at all, but as you already realized, this is not a Greek Feta Salad, but just my interpretation of an Ultimate Feta Salad. So, I'm using a sauce base that is beloved in our house for many salads, in fact my child cannot live without the kind of sauce.

For the sauce you're going to need:

  1. Soy Sauce
  2. Miso Paste
  3. Teriyaki Sauce
  4. Fish Sauce
  5. Lime
  6. Cayenne
  7. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

LET'S DIVE INTO THE ULTIMATE FETA SALAD RECIPE, SHALL WE?

Cooking Method ,
Cuisine
Courses , ,
Difficulty Beginner
Time
Prep Time: 20 mins Total Time: 20 mins
Servings 4
Best Season Summer, Spring
Dietary Corn Free, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Vegetarian
Description

My Ultimate Feta Salad is a delightful mix that brings together an array of fresh fruits and crisp vegetables, creating a colorful and nutritious dish. The salad features juicy fruits that add a touch of sweetness, complementing the tangy feta cheese. Alongside the fruits, a variety of vibrant vegetables provide crunch and flavor, enhancing the overall taste profile. To add even more texture and depth, the salad includes a combination of nuts and seeds, which not only contribute healthy fats but also provide a satisfying crunch with every bite. To tie all these wonderful ingredients together, a flavorful oriental dressing is drizzled on top, adding a unique twist that elevates the salad to a whole new level. This combination of flavors and textures makes the Feta Salad a refreshing and enjoyable option for any meal.

INGREDIENTS
    Salad
  • 1 piece English Cucumber (Or other type of long slender cucumber)
  • 6 pieces Plum Tomatoes (If using large Beef tomatoes, then only 1 piece)
  • 1 piece Orange (Navel or other similar type)
  • 1 piece Pear (Ripe, but not falling apart)
  • 1 piece Bell Pepper (De-seeded)
  • 250 g Feta cheese (Creamy type of Feta cheese, not the firm block)
    • Dressing
  • 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
  • 1 tbsp Miso Paste
  • 1 tbsp Teriyaki Sauce
  • 1 tsp Fish Sauce (Please be aware that you only need 1 TEASPOON Fish sauce - the abbreviations are easy to mix up!)
  • 0,5 piece Lime (Juiced)
  • 1 piece Shallot (Peeled and thinly sliced)
  • 1 pinch Cayenne
  • 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    • Garnishes
  • 2 tbsp Seed Mix (Lightly Roasted (roasting is optional))
INSTRUCTIONS
    Preparing the Veggies and Fruit
  1. CucumberWash the cucumber, trim the ends, and cut it in half lengthwise, then cut it in half lengthwise one more time, so that you end up with four long quarters. Chop these not too thinly.
  2. TomatoesSlice the tomatoes, but not too thinly.
  3. Bell PepperSlice the bell pepper after de-seeding it (remove the seeds by pushing the stalk end inside the bell pepper with your thumb and then pulling all the seeds and fibers out with your fingers; you don't have to halve the bell pepper to remove the seeds).
  4. OrangePeel the orange and trim the white fiber layer off each side. Cut the orange into fairly large cubes.
  5. PearHalve the pear and remove the seeds (pears typically have very few seeds).
    6. Preparing the Dressing
  6. ShallotPeel and slice the shallot thinly.
  7. Whisking the sauceAdd all the liquid ingredients along with the cayenne to a small bowl and whisk them together (the miso paste needs a whisk to loosen up).
  8. Making the dressing

    Add the slices of shallot to the bowl and mix.

  9. Constructing the SaladStart building the salad layer by layer. Begin by washing the Iceberg and discarding the bad leaves.
  10. LettucePlace the crispy leaves on a large salad plate.
  11. VegetablesStart adding the other veggies one by one. You can choose the order yourself, but fruit should not be added next to each other to create some flavor versatility in every bite.
  12. DressingMix the dressing one more time and pour it over the salad slowly. Try to spread the shallot slices evenly on the salad. If necessary, help with your hands, a fork, or tongs.
  13. Making Feta ballsPull 8 beautiful smaller balls of feta cheese with a small ice cream scoop or 4 large ones with a big scoop. Alternatively, you can use a deep round spoon.
  14. Final touches

    Place the balls neatly on top of the salad. Mix the dressing one more time and pour it over the salad slowly. Try to spread the shallot slices evenly on the salad. If necessary, help with your hands, a fork, or tongs. Sprinkle the seeds over everything.

Note

IMPORTANT! This salad is meant to be consumed immediately, or it will start to release extra liquid quickly, and the texture and appearance will not be as nice anymore, especially when the liquid blends with the melting feta.

If you want to keep it low-carb and gluten-free, don't add white bread to it (the way I describe this option in the FAQ section below).

Keywords: vegetarian, salad, summer, quick, flavorful, nutritious, fresh, healthy, umami, side dish, appetizer
READ IT ONLINE: https://takemetoyourkitchen.com/recipe/the-ultimate-feta-salad/
Helena-Laura Lesment
Chef | Baker | Photographer | Writer | Creator

Hey, my name is Helena-Laura and I love food.

I'm pretty obsessed with all my creative ideas about it. Like many of us, self-taught foodies, my professional life had been evolving in other areas for many years. However, the last 10 years  (starting with the birth of my sweet daughter in 2014) have convinced me that there's no way back and my future will be about cooking and baking. To better understand some of the milestones I have had on my food journey, you're welcome to read the About section. 

Thanks for making, rating and sharing this recipe!