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1
Place the peppers, cucumber, onion, tomatoes, olives, capers, if using, and cheese in a large bowl.
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2
Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper, then with the oil.
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3
Add the lemon juice, if using.
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4
Crumble the oregano over the top, toss gently, and serve.
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5
VARIATION:
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6
The Greek-American Rendition:
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7
As a horiatiki salad depends on good fresh produce, Greek Americans were faced with a quandary.
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8
American tomatoes are often picked well before ripening and are decidedly pale in comparison to their Greek counterparts.
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9
Besides, Americans had a fixed notion that salad means lettuce, and supermarket vegetable sections almost always have some crisp fresh lettuce available to accommodate that notion.
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10
Ever adaptable, Greeks in the States altered their village salad to include lettuce.
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11
In addition, scallions are often substituted for bulb onions.
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12
As the new version traveled west, the salad picked a new appellation.
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13
In a nod to its origin, it is often called not a village salad, but a Greek salad.
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14
To make the Greek-American version, add 3 cups romaine, red lettuce, baby spinach, or arugula, and reduce the amount of the other vegetables accordingly.
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15
Substitute 6 scallions, trimmed and cut into 1-inch lengths, for the red or white onion.