Greek Pita Salad
Light and refreshing, this Greek pita bread salad is filled with toasted pita bread, cucumbers, olives, feta cheese and chickpeas. Yum!
This Greek pita bread salad is one you want to add immediately to your summer repertoire of refreshing, healthy, yummy salads.
Not only would it be spectacular as a main dish served with grilled chicken, if desired, but you’ll be the popular kid at the party next time you bring this as a side dish offering.
It’s unique and flavorful and hoard-the-bowl-worthy. I served it last week when we had company and was devastated each time anyone at the table dug in for seconds.
The toasted pita flatbread pieces (I used this homemade version since I had a few stockpiled in the freezer), seasoned with a bit of oregano and olive oil, are like little bits of heaven in each bite.
Crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside, the bread is what makes this salad exceptional.
I know you know that I despise sogginess in bread – I surprised myself with my adoration of this salad, helped along by stirring the golden pita pieces into the salad right before serving (and since the bread has been crouton-ized in the oven, it helps stall the soggy factor even more).
It’s an insanely glorious combination with a ton of wow factor since it resides outside the box of the typical summer pasta salad – and yet, quite honestly, I think I’ll be enjoying this Greek pita bread salad most often at home. Alone.
You know, so I don’t have to feel guilty for giving anyone dirty looks when they take that last divine scoop that rightfully belongs to my soul.
One Year Ago: Berries on a Cloud {Best Dessert of the Summer!}
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Greek Pita Bread Salad
Ingredients
Dressing:
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- Pinch of salt and pepper
Toasted Pitas:
- 4 (6 to 8-inch) pita flatbreads, not pita pockets
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Pinch coarse kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Salad:
- 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, or garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup black or kalamata olives, halved
- 1 cup diced cucumber, peeled or unpeeled, your choice
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Whisk all the dressing ingredients together until well combined. Set aside (the dressing can be refrigerated, covered, for several days).
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Tear each pita bread into 1-inch pieces onto a rimmed baking sheet. Toss the torn bread pieces with the oregano, salt and olive oil. Bake for 10-15 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the bread is toasted but not burned.
- In a large bowl, toss all the salad ingredients together with the dressing (whisk the dressing to recombine if it has been sitting for a while). Let the salad sit for 10-15 minutes with the dressing.
- Stir in the toasted pita bread right before serving giving the salad a good toss to mix everything together. Depending on the size of your pita flatbreads that you tore into pieces, you might want to stir in the bread gradually so the salad isn’t overwhelmed by bread. Serve immediately.
Notes
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Recipe Source: adapted from Meadowbrook Farm (via my cousin Julianne who raved about it)
I wonder if this would work with pasta instead of croutons to make a Greek Pasta Salad? Have you ever tried that?
I haven’t, but I bet it would be delicious!
One of my favorites from your site! We make it a lot.
Your collage of recipes the other day led me to this gem – one of the tastiest salads ever!! Especially the croutons are heavenly. I made it today as a side and served with your bbq pulled pork, and it was amazing – even my 17 months old daughter loved everything about it! (She is quite the adventurous eater, but this was still an assembly of rather bold flavours ;-))
I eat this several times a week for lunch. This is one of my favorite recipes. I use pita chips (multigrain being my favorite) instead of toasting pitas. This is a wonderful recipe!
This is amazing!!! I cannot stop eating it. So good!!!
This was really delicious! Served w grilled chicken. Was an easy & super yummy dinner. I used store-bought naan breads to make it easier (plus I already had in the freezer). And the leftovers the next day were amazing too (thanks for the reminder to save the pita bread toasts separately).
This sounds great! How important is the sugar in the dressing?
The Omnivore – It really helps round out the flavors.
i can’t wait to try this recipe this summer!
Made this for dinner tonight, minus the chickpeas (didn’t have any) and olives (not a fan), plus some leftover turkey breast. SO very delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
Oh, and plus some finely diced red onion. Yum!
I ate this last night, excited that I had all the ingredients… except pita bread. I enjoyed it as a side without the pita croutons but I’ll definitely try it again with. I added diced red onion to the ingredients. It’s almost good enough without any dressing (although even better with). During the summer I make panzanella a bunch so I’m looking forward to this sort of Greek take on it. Today for lunch I’m going to eat leftovers on a wheat tortilla spread with hummus (I know, great idea:)
Great recipe! Perfect salad for summer 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
This is like greek panzanella. What a great idea for a summer side. YUM! It has all of my faves.
I am 100% Greek and I made this for the family and it was a big hit, although I used my own Greek dressing recipe which has been handed down for years. I grilled some Greek chicken and diced it up, too. Really an easy go-to dish. I also added a bit of diced red onion to give it a more traditional Greek Village Salad taste.
Greek pizza is one of my favorite, but this salad looks like a must-try. I never would have thought to use pita for croutons. Thanks for the recipe!
Hooray! I made this yet again today (it’s becoming a weekly staple) and thought, I really hope this makes MKC, because it is gooooood. And then I got on the computer and found this recipe looking right back at me today.
On the pitas: my store doesn’t sell anything but pita pockets (and I’m just not going to make them from scratch, let’s be honest), so I buy the pockets, then pull each pocket apart, to basically make two flat pita halves. Then I cut up the pitas with my kitchen scissors and toast for 10 minutes at 400. This salad is fantastic!
Love your tips, Julianne! I owe you for this recipe.
This is great, Mel! My son’s birthday is coming soon and I wanted a salad for the grownups that went with pizza. This will be perfect! I might serve a bowl of fresh salad greens too and make extra dressing. Thanks!
I love everything about this salad, Mel!
I’ve got a stockpile of flatbread in the freezer as well, what a great use for them 🙂
Now this is a salad I can totally get behind — cheese and bread. YESSSSS.
Looks delicious. And since our AC is not working, this might save me tonight because I have left over chicken. What would happen if I used pita chip instead of toasting the pita bread? Would it be an abomination?
katie – Totally worth a try on the pita chips – be sure to report back if you do! They might be a bit crispier than the pita bread which retains a slight chewiness inside after toasting.
Sweet Thai chili sauce pizza . . . .you ROCK, Mel! Thank you again for all your hard work to make your site even more wonderful for all of us. All the pizza combos just a click away. Another no oven, healthy recipe. I always have a variety of Mel breads in the freezer. Now I need to change my weekly meal plan to incorporate Greek salad and Thai chili sauce with chicken within. I think Tuesday’s Southwest salad and Saturday’s turkey burgers are going to be put on hold.
This salad looks amazing! I love the combination of the ingredients and am definitely going to try the recipe!
That looks awesome! I love Greek salads, this variation sounds very delicious. Love the addition of pitas! 🙂