Name: Cretan village salad
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 vine-ripened tomatoes, cut into wedges; 2 Lebanese cucumbers, roughly peeled, alved lengthways and coarsely chopped; 1 Spanish onion, thinly sliced; 1 cup (loosely packed) purslane or caper leaves or small basil leaves (see note); 20 sun-dried black olives; 125 ml olive oil (preferably Cretan),plus extra for drizzling (½ cup); 200 gm piece Greek feta piece Greek feta; ½ tsp dried Greek oregano (see note)

“Barley rusks make this a meal in itself by thickening up the salad. A good olive oil and seasonal vegies at their peak are a must,” says John Rerakis. “Purslane or caper leaves are traditional additions, but if you can’t find these you can substitute small basil leaves.”

Ingredients

2 vine-ripened tomatoes, cut into wedges

2 Lebanese cucumbers, roughly peeled, alved lengthways and coarsely chopped

1 Spanish onion, thinly sliced

1 cup (loosely packed) purslane or caper leaves or small basil leaves (see note)

20 sun-dried black olives

125 ml olive oil (preferably Cretan),plus extra for drizzling (½ cup)

200 gm piece Greek feta piece Greek feta

½ tsp dried Greek oregano (see note)

Method

Main

1.Combine tomato, cucumber, barley rusk, onion, purslane, olives and olive oil in a bowl, season to taste and toss to combine. Arrange on a plate, top with feta, drizzle with extra oil, scatter with Greek oregano and serve.

Note Barley rusks, purslane, caper leaves and Greek oregano are available from select Greek delicatessens. Dried Greek oregano, also known as rigani, is more aromatic than the dried oregano sold in supermarkets; if unavailable, substitute dried oregano.
Notes