Authentic Greek Salad (Χωριάτικη - Horiatiki)

When we asked our Athens tour guide Antonia what was the most common misconception Americans have about Greek food she answered immediately: "There should never be lettuce in a Greek salad". She then added, "And the feta cheese should never be crumbled -- it must be served as a slab on top of the salad to ensure its quality".

So here's a recipe for an authentic Greek Salad -- called "Horiatiki"

Ingredients:

• 4 medium-sized ripe tomatoes cut into bite-sized wedges
• 1/2 a cucumber, partially peeled to make a striped pattern and sliced into half-moon pieces
• 1/2 green bell peper, cored and sliced into rings or half-rings
• Handful of Kalamata olives 
• Thinly sliced red onion to taste
• 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 TBS red wine vinegar
• 1 1/2 tsp Greek Oregano divided
• Kosher salt
• Slab of feta cheese

Mix cut up vegatables in a large bow. Sprinkle with half of the oregano and salt to taste. Add oil and vinegar and toss to mix well.

Top with slab of feta sprinkled with remaining oregano.