My favorite 5-minute Greek salad is cheap, easy to make, and fits perfectly into the Mediterranean diet

Anneta KonstantinidesJan 11, 2022, 00:34 IST

Insider

I make Greek salad for lunch every day of the week because it's cheap, filling, and delicious.
A full week of ingredients only costs me around $23.

My favorite salad is called horiatiki, but you probably know it simply as Greek salad.

Horiatiki is a staple in Greek households.Pawel Kazmierczak/Shutterstock

I have seen many versions of Greek salads in American restaurants, delis, and cafes. But the ingredients are simple and — in an authentic salad — always the same.

An authentic Greek salad should never contain lettuce.Liliya Kandrashevich/Shutterstock

I have seen many versions of Greek salads in American restaurants, delis, and cafes. But the ingredients are simple and — in an authentic salad — always the same.

The fact that Greek salad doesn't include any greens is one of the main reasons why it makes such a great work lunch.

The ingredients in Greek salad easily stay fresh for a week.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

There's no weekend meal prep required either. Every Sunday I just stop by my local Trader Joe's to get my ingredients for the week.

I stock up on my ingredients every week from my local Trader Joe's in Manhattan.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I usually buy all my ingredients for the week in one go, and the price is less than what two salads would cost me at a popular NYC lunch chain.

You only need a few ingredients to make a great Greek salad.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

And Greek salads aren't expensive to make. All of the ingredients for five salads this week cost me less than $25.

All the ingredients for my Greek salads cost less than $25.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Greek salads are fool-proof, even for an awful cook like me. And it only takes about five minutes to make — all you need is a little space.

Greek salads are simple to make, even if cooking is not your forte.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

So how does the magic happen? My first step is always peeling the cucumber.

I always peel the cucumbers first for my Greek salad.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Then I throw in one tomato and, depending on the size, a quarter to a half of a red onion.

Then I add tomato and red onion to the mix.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Then I halve an avocado, storing the spare in a bag with my leftover onion for the next day.

I always store my leftover avocado with an onion to keep it fresh.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

And no Greek salad would be complete without feta cheese.

Then you need a sprinkle of feta cheese.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I throw in the balsamic chicken last, heating it up for a minute in the microwave before topping off the salad.

I add chicken to my Greek salad for an extra dose of protein.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

After all the main ingredients are in, I add a few twists of salt and a lot of black pepper before drizzling everything with olive oil and red wine vinegar.

Greek salad wouldn't be complete without olive oil and red wine vinegar.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Last but not least, you need to give everything a big mix.

I also season my Greek salad with salt and black pepper.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Then it's time for that delicious first taste.

Greek salads make the perfect desk lunch.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Look, I know what you're thinking. "You eat the same salad every day? Don't you get bored?"

I've eaten Greek salads at work for years.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

At the end of the day, what it's really about is finding something that will brighten up your hour and won't feel like a chore — either to eat or to make.

Greek salads keep me full and energized throughout the day.Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I tried Gordon Ramsay's order at In-N-Out, which he says he prefers to Shake Shack, and I loved every bite

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My favorite 5-minute Greek salad is cheap, easy to make, and fits perfectly into the Mediterranean diet

My favorite salad is called horiatiki, but you probably know it simply as Greek salad.

I have seen many versions of Greek salads in American restaurants, delis, and cafes. But the ingredients are simple and — in an authentic salad — always the same.

The fact that Greek salad doesn't include any greens is one of the main reasons why it makes such a great work lunch.

There's no weekend meal prep required either. Every Sunday I just stop by my local Trader Joe's to get my ingredients for the week.

I usually buy all my ingredients for the week in one go, and the price is less than what two salads would cost me at a popular NYC lunch chain.

And Greek salads aren't expensive to make. All of the ingredients for five salads this week cost me less than $25.

Greek salads are fool-proof, even for an awful cook like me. And it only takes about five minutes to make — all you need is a little space.

So how does the magic happen? My first step is always peeling the cucumber.

Then I throw in one tomato and, depending on the size, a quarter to a half of a red onion.

Then I halve an avocado, storing the spare in a bag with my leftover onion for the next day.

And no Greek salad would be complete without feta cheese.

I throw in the balsamic chicken last, heating it up for a minute in the microwave before topping off the salad.

After all the main ingredients are in, I add a few twists of salt and a lot of black pepper before drizzling everything with olive oil and red wine vinegar.

Last but not least, you need to give everything a big mix.

Then it's time for that delicious first taste.

Look, I know what you're thinking. "You eat the same salad every day? Don't you get bored?"

At the end of the day, what it's really about is finding something that will brighten up your hour and won't feel like a chore — either to eat or to make.