Greek Fit-For-The-Gods Salad With Spicy Cucumber Dressing

Name: Greek Fit-For-The-Gods Salad With Spicy Cucumber Dressing
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 serving(s)
Ingredients: 4 pita bread rounds; 4.92 ml paprika; 4.92 ml dried thyme; 2.46 ml dried oregano; 0.25 ml cinnamon; 4 vine-ripe tomatoes, halved, seeded and thinly sliced; 1 seedless cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced; 1 small red onion, thinly sliced; 4 celery ribs, from the heart thinly sliced at an angle; 1 red bell peppers (seeded, quartered lengthwise, thinly sliced) or 1 green bell pepper (seeded, quartered lengthwise, thinly sliced); 236.59 ml flat leaf parsley, coarsely chopped; salt; fresh ground pepper; 236.59 ml greek-style plain yogurt; 9.85 ml ground cumin; 1 garlic clove, smashed and peeled; 1 lemon, juice of; 2.46-4.92 ml Tabasco sauce; 59.14 ml extra virgin olive oil; 340.19 g feta, crumbled; 8 jarred pepperoncini peppers (hot peppers); 236.59 ml pitted kalamata olive; 8 jarred grape leaves or 8 store-bought stuffed grape leaves, drained

Submitted by CookingONTheSide

"From Every Day with Rachael Ray."

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photo by Andi Longmeadow Farm

Ready In:: 30mins
Ingredients:: 23
Serves:: 4

ingredients

4 pita bread rounds
4.92 ml paprika
4.92 ml dried thyme
2.46 ml dried oregano
0.25 ml cinnamon
4 vine-ripe tomatoes, halved, seeded and thinly sliced
1 seedless cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
4 celery ribs, from the heart thinly sliced at an angle
1 red bell peppers (seeded, quartered lengthwise, thinly sliced) or 1 green bell pepper (seeded, quartered lengthwise, thinly sliced)
236.59 ml flat leaf parsley, coarsely chopped
salt
fresh ground pepper
236.59 ml greek-style plain yogurt
9.85 ml ground cumin
1 garlic clove, smashed and peeled
1 lemon, juice of
2.46-4.92 ml Tabasco sauce
59.14 ml extra virgin olive oil
340.19 g feta, crumbled
8 jarred pepperoncini peppers (hot peppers)
236.59 ml pitted kalamata olive
8 jarred grape leaves or 8 store-bought stuffed grape leaves, drained

directions

Preheat the oven to 400°.
Split the pitas open into 8 halves.
Lay the bread out on your countertop, insides facing up.
In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, thyme, oregano and cinnamon. Sprinkle the spices evenly over the split bread.
Place the bread on an oven rack and toast until golden and crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes.
Remove from the oven and tear into jagged pieces about the size of tortilla chips and reserve.
On a large serving platter, combine the tomatoes, half of the cucumber, and the onion, celery, bell pepper and parsley, season with salt and pepper.
To a food processor, add the remaining cucumber, the yogurt, cumin, garlic, lemon juice and Tabasco sauce and a little salt.
Process the ingredients, adding the olive oil in a thin stream until smooth; taste the dressing and adjust the seasonings.
Arrange the pita crisps on the salad, then drizzle the dressing all over. Finish off your salad with a pile of the feta, pepperoncini and olives.
Serve with the stuffed grape leave on the side.

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Reviews

As per usual, dear friend ~ you have the best salads...ever. I love this for so many ways. The only change I (accidentally) made was forgetting to put the grape leaves (rolled) into the photo. Double darn. Oh well, this is the exact type of salad that is typical for our "Greek Town" that has absolute authentic Greek salad. As in typical Greek salad, it is more the mixture of tomato, cucumber, peppers, celery, Greek-olives, pepperoncini, and Greek yogurt. This is exactly what a "Greek salad" should be and is. Just amazing, Lainey! Loved it, and will make again often. I was able to throw this together rather quickly....made the dressing in the morning. Cut and prepped in the afternoon, tossed dressing with veggies to marinate for an hour before devouring. Made for Photo Forum event! April 2010

Andi Longmeadow Farm
I really enjoyed this salad! I admit I did not make the pita toasts, and I didn't have the stuffed grape leaves, but the salad was great! I had it for dinner with brown rice and steamed zuchini and broccoli. Thanks Lainey!

Sharon123
This was without doubt the most delicious and elegant Greek style salad that I have made on ZWT4! I have made 2 already - we eat salad every day, so it has been a delight to choose a different salad to make for the tour on a daily basis! I used store-bought stuffed vine (grape) leaves - Dolmas - from the Deli and also artisanal pitta breads as well. We had this as a main meal for lunch in the garden at my parent's house in England - they LOVED it as much as I did! As my mum is a vegetarian, she has asked me to print this recipe for her to keep for the future - that is a real accolade Lainey!! Absolutley delicious - a CLEVER combination of flavours AND textures - it is hard work with all the prep - but WELL worth it - do not let that put you off making this! Made for ZWT4 - merci! FT:-)

French Tart

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

CookingONTheSide

Carnegie, Pennsylvania

I want to thank all of you who review the recipes I post - good or bad. It's always good to get feedback and helpful tips and I really appreciate them all! I try to send a note when someone reviews one of my recipes, but I don't always get the chance. Please know that I really enjoy reading the reviews. I also love all the photos everyone posts, too! Thanks so much. Happy Cooking!

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