Tomato & Feta Salad

By Lee Jackson ↣ Published on: March 29, 2021

Last Updated: February 11th, 20240 Comments on Tomato & Feta Salad

This stress-free tomato & feta salad is my most prepared dish at home. A quick and versatile plate that pairs with just about everything. Juicy, tart tomatoes and salty feta cheese are a marriage made in Mediterranean heaven – a tried and tested duo. Sometimes the most simple of dishes are the best, this is one of them.

Tomatoes dressed in vinegar and oil with feta cheese and chopped mint

If you're looking for a salad dish that is guaranteed to play well with others, then this simple and speedy plate of tomatoes and feta cheese fits the bill. Taking inspiration from the Mediterranean I pair juicy sweet tomatoes with salty and creamy feta cheese. They are perfect together.

This salad is my ultimate go-to for many a mealtime all-year round. A dish that at its core features tomatoes and feta but is never truly the same any time I serve it. I'll add all kinds of things to this salad to dress it up and play with different textures and flavours. More on that later, but for now the key flavours to this salad are tomatoes, feta, herbs and a sharp citrus or vinegar dressing. Super quick, super simple.

Tomatoes dressed in vinegar and oil with feta cheese and chopped mint

Why it works?

It's quick and easy - this dish is as simple as slicing up a nice tomato and scattering over fresh herbs and feta cheese. Ready in a matter of minutes.

It's versatile - as long as I keep in mind the two main flavours, I can add all kinds of things to this salad to make it different every time.

Tomatoes dressed in vinegar and oil with feta cheese and chopped mint

Stuff You'll Need

This salad is not complicated, here's what you'll need to make the salad you see in the pictures.

  • Tomatoes - whatever tomatoes you want. I like big juicy beefsteak tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes that I can slice and arrange on a platter in a single layer. But that said, I'll also make this with cherry tomatoes that I'll slice in half and scatter onto the plate too. There are no hard and fast rules.
  • Feta cheese - I always have a big tub of sheep's feta in the fridge that I'll take a slice out of for this salad.
  • Herbs - In this recipe I use a combination of fresh mint and parsley for a grassy fragrance and flavour. It pairs with the tomato and feta perfectly.
  • Dressing - Usually I'll whisk together good quality extra virgin olive oil with vinegar and/or lemon juice and drizzle over the tomatoes - it enhances all the delicious flavours perfectly.
  • Seasoning - Salt, black pepper and a little Aleppo pepper, a mild red chilli pepper - you can use chilli flakes too or just leave out.
Tomatoes dressed in vinegar and oil with feta cheese and chopped mint

Pro Tips

This recipe is SO flexible - all the ingredients are interchangeable. See how you can change things up:

  • Tomato varieties - There’s a world of tomato out there. Beefsteak tomatoes are perfect for this salad, but when in season, heirloom tomatoes make the perfect variety too. Cherry, grape, roma - they’re all good choices too. Essentially, if it's a tomato - use it!
  • Cheeses - I also mix up the cheeses I use - feta is great as it has that sharp, briny flavour, but I’ll also use other cheeses like shaved Spanish Manchego, Turkish Peynir, Italian Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino and even Labne or ricotta from time to time. Mix and match your favourite cheeses for infinite flavour combinations.
  • Dressing - Vinegars come in all varieties, I like to use red wine or white wine vinegars the most, but also Champagne, sherry, apple cider and tarragon vinegars are all super delicious. I have an amazing bottle of pomegranate vinegar too, that I'll use if I'm serving alongside Middle Eastern dishes.
  • Herbs - Finishing the salad with herbs is a great way to add colour and of course flavour. As in this recipe, I love fresh mint. You can use fresh parsley, chives, oregano, basil, thyme, tarragon and marjoram. I also sometimes like to finish the salad with a few sprinkles of mild red pepper flakes like Aleppo Pepper.

The salad is really as simple as slicing the tomatoes, drizzling with a simple vinegar and extra virgin olive oil dressing and then scattering the cheese, salt & pepper and herbs! What could be easier!?

Serving & Storage Suggestions

This salad pairs with just about anything Med-style. Meat, poultry, fish, stews, other salads, mezze style dishes all play well alongside. There's really not much this salad won't marry with.

This is also a salad that will be fine in the fridge for 4-5 days (covered in plastic wrap). The tomatoes continue to soak up the dressing and there's nothing in the salad that will become soggy so it's a great make-ahead option. In fact, a little time to develop in flavour makes this tomato salad even tastier.

Tomatoes dressed in vinegar and oil with feta cheese and chopped mint

Ready to get cooking?

So, as you can see, lots of choices, lots of flavour - this simple Tomato salad is open to suggestions and whatever you have in the fridge. It’s the perfect accompaniment to pretty much anything! Fish, meat, vegetables and suits many types of cuisines other than Mediterranean recipes.

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Tomatoes dressed in vinegar and oil with feta cheese and chopped mint

Tomato & Feta Salad

Rate this recipe

5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Save Recipe
Recipe by Lee
Course Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Mediterranean
Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Servings (adjustable) 4
Calories (per serving) | 174

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Arrange the sliced tomatoes on a platter. Whisk together the oil and vinegar and drizzle over the tomatoes, making sure they all get some dressing.
  • Spinkle over the feta and mint and then season with salt and pepper.
  • If using, sprinkle over a pinch or two of the Aleppo pepper flakes.

Notes

Salad substitutes and alternative toppings:

This salad is super versatile, I'll change up the ingredients to suit whatever I'm cooking all the time. Use whatever you have to make new and interesting combinations.
  • Tomato varieties: Explore a variety of tomatoes such as beefsteak, heirloom, cherry, grape, and roma for this salad. Any type of tomato works!
  • Cheeses: Experiment with different cheeses like feta, Spanish Manchego, Turkish Peynir, Italian Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino, Labne, or ricotta. Mix and match for unique flavour combinations.
  • Dressing: Try different vinegars such as red wine, white wine, Champagne, sherry, apple cider, tarragon, or even pomegranate vinegar for a Middle Eastern twist.
  • Herbs: Add a pop of colour and flavour with fresh herbs like mint, parsley, chives, oregano, basil, thyme, tarragon, marjoram, or mild red pepper flakes like Aleppo Pepper.
  • Salad assembly: Slice tomatoes, drizzle with a simple vinegar and extra virgin olive oil dressing, then sprinkle with cheese, salt, pepper, and herbs. It's that easy!

Nutrition

Calories: 174kcal (9%) | Carbohydrates: 5g (2%) | Protein: 3g (6%) | Fat: 16g (25%) | Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) | Cholesterol: 11mg (4%) | Sodium: 146mg (6%) | Potassium: 252mg (7%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 3g (3%) | Vitamin A: 980IU (20%) | Vitamin C: 14mg (17%) | Calcium: 81mg (8%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
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