Laurent Dagenais’ Greek Salad
Serves: 4–6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: None
Ingredients
- 3–4 large red and yellow heirloom tomatoes
- 250 g (9 oz) cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 2 Persian cucumbers, cut into thick slices
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced into half-moons
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced into half-moons
- 150–200 g (5–7 oz) feta cheese, torn into large pieces
- A generous handful of La Belle Excuse Kalamata Olives
- 30–45 ml (2–3 tbsp) Laurent Dagenais x La Belle Excuse Olive Oil
- 15–30 ml (1–2 tbsp) La Belle Excuse Fig Balsamic Vinegar
- 5–10 ml (1–2 tsp) La Belle Excuse Mountain Oregano Dried on Stem
- La Belle Excuse Mediterranean Fleur de Sel
- Freshly ground black pepper
- A few basil leaves (optional)
Steps
- Remove the stems from the large heirloom tomatoes and cut them in half, then cut each half into 2 or 3 large, irregular pieces. Halve the cherry tomatoes. Cut the cucumbers into thick slices, then thinly slice the green bell pepper and red onion into half-moons.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumbers, green bell pepper, red onion, Kalamata olives, and half of the feta.
- Add the olive oil, fig balsamic vinegar, mountain oregano, fleur de sel, and a few turns of freshly ground black pepper. Toss gently to evenly coat the vegetables.
- Let sit for 5–10 minutes to allow the tomatoes to release some of their juices and the flavors to develop.
- If the vegetables have released a lot of liquid, drain off some of the excess when transferring the salad to the serving dish to prevent it from becoming too watery.
- Transfer the salad to a serving dish. Top with the remaining feta and a few Greek basil leaves, then finish with another drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of mountain oregano, and a little fleur de sel.
Chef’s tip: Serve at room temperature with good grilled bread to soak up the mixture of tomato juices, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.