Recipe: Greek Salad in Sourdough Bread Bowl

I have loved Greek salad since I was a very small child, the tangy dressing, the salty tart olives, the smoothness of the feta, AMAZING! I would order it above anything else on the menu when out at a restaurant. Many waitresses were surprised to have a 7 year old ordering a salad but I didn't care. To this day it is one of my favorite meals. My favorite way to serve it is in a loaf of crusty sourdough bread so that the dressing soaks into the bread and you literally get to eat it bowl its served in... Yum!

Ingredients for Salad:

Lettuce: 1-2 Small heads (again I like to use to spring lettuce)

Whole Olives : approx 1 cup

Red Onion : 1-2 onions, julienned

Feta Cheese: 1/2-1 cup cut into cubes or crumbled

Cherry tomatoes: approx 1 1/2-2 cups halved

Cucumber- 2 medium cucumbers sliced thin with skin (I prefer the seedless English cucumbers)

Several Single serving loaves Sourdough Bread

Ingredients for Greek Vinaigrette:

Olive Oil- 3/4 cup (It is very important to use a good olive oil for optimum taste)

Red Wine Vinegar- 1/2 cup

Lemon Juice- 1 good squeeze

1-2 garlic cloves

Dried Oregano or Italian seasoning- approx 1-1 1/2 tsp

Dijon Mustard- 1 small teaspoon (I use the mustard with the seeds, not the creamy one)

Salt- to taste

Fresh Ground Pepper- to taste

Also Need-

Small bowl for Dressing

Whisk

Large salad bowl for mixing and serving if you are not serving in the bread

Salad tongs

To Prepare Vinaigrette:

Smash Garlic cloves with the side of a large knife to release the flavor. Combine this and the other ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together, adjusting seasoning for taste. It is important to let the dressing sit for at least a half an hour so that the flavors have time to fully disperse throughout the dressing. The longer it sits, the more flavorful it becomes. Dressing lasts several weeks in the fridge and also makes a great healthy marinade for Chicken and fish. Remove whole garlic cloves prior to serving.

To Prepare Salad:

Wash and dry lettuce and place in the large serving bowl. Top with the Olives, Red Onion, Cucumber, Cherry Tomato and Feta Cheese. Add dressing right before its time to serve. If you are serving in the individual loaves of bread, cut off the tops of the bread and remove the center of the loaves. Toss the salad inside the serving bowl until the ingredients are mixed and evenly coated with dressing. Stuff the bread bowls with salad until full. Place the top of the loaves at an angle on top of the salad and serve... Enjoy!!