Fast, Easy and Inexpensive: Greek Salad with Homemade Greek Dressing

Salads are refreshing and healthy meals to enjoy as the weather begins to warm up. While salads are generally good for you, the best way to ensure you're serving the best ingredients to your family is to make your own homemade salad dressing.

If you've read the back of a bottle of pre-made dressing, you'll notice a lot of ingredients you can't pronounce. That's a good indication it contains unhealthy additives and preservatives.

This homemade Greek Salad Dressing uses fresh, natural ingredients and takes minutes to prepare. Now you can enjoy a healthy, delicious salad full of authentic Greek flavors in your own home!

For best results, refrigerate your dressing for a couple of hours to allow the flavors to fuse and the consistency to thicken. While this extra step requires a little planning ahead, it's worth the wait!

Hope you enjoy it!

Greek Salad with Homemade Greek Salad Dressing
Serves: 4-6 (makes about 1  2/3 cups of salad dressing)
Prep Time: 10 minutes, plus 2 hour waiting period

Ingredients
Salad Dressing:
1 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice (one lemon at room temperature)
3 teaspoons dried oregano
1 large or 2 small garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon dried basil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt (add more to taste)
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1 tablespoon chopped Kalamata olives
3 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese

Greek Salad:
1-2 heads of romaine lettuce
1/4 cup pepperocini, thinly sliced
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
a few thin slices of red onion
1/2 cup cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Directions
Begin with combining all of your salad dressing ingredients in a bowl and whisk until the ingredients are combined. Cover your bowl and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours to allow the flavors to blend together and your consistency thicken.

When your dressing has marinated long enough, prepare your salad by chopping your lettuce, slicing your pepperocinis, tomatoes, and red onion, and peeling and slicing your cucumber. Combine all of your salad ingredients in a large salad bowl. Drizzle with your dressing and toss until coated.

For more recipes with step by step pictures and tutorials, visit my food blog Sprinkles of Parsley!