Greek Salads Among Best in World

Two flavorful Greek salads have made the ten best salads in the world ranking, according to the latest survey from food website TasteAtlas.

The Dakos salad from Crete landed at No. 3 on the list while the classic Greek salad (known as horiatiki salata), was ranked eighth. Both benefit from the bounty of fresh vegetables grown throughout Greece.

Bulgaria had the top two salads: Ovcharska salad at No. 1 followed by Shopska salad. TasteAtlas’ survey comes a month after its users ranked Greek cuisine as second among the world’s fifty best.

Dakos is a traditional Cretan dish, though not nearly as well-known as the traditional feta-anchored Greek salad. It consists of a dry barley rusk called paximadi, topped with crumbled mizithra cheese, chopped ripe tomatoes, olives, capers, fresh oregano, and a few generous splashes of high-quality Greek olive oil. TasteAtlas said it recommended using Greek olive varieties such as Koroneiki (considered the “queen of olives”), Lianes, or Tsounates.

Myzithra cheese is traditionally used instead of feta. The rusk is often gently rubbed with a small piece of garlic and lightly sprinkled with sea salt.

Classic Greek Salad Known Worldwide

The classic Greek salad, one of the most well-known in the world, is made with quartered tomatoes, sliced cucumber, red onion, feta cheese, olives and olive oil, combining all the traditional flavors of Greece. Green peppers, oregano, salt, pepper, lemon, and vinegar may also be added.

In its conception, TasteAtlas notes that the feta is usually sliced, but in some cases it’s mixed in with a fork until slightly crumbled. In reality, everyone has their own variation when it comes to the simple, delicious Greek salad, as do many regions in Greece.