For a fast, simple and healthy family dinner that is absolutely packed with flavour, try this Greek lamb salad recipe! Marinated grilled lamb served warm with a drizzle of fresh tzatziki turns this classic Greek salad into something truly special. And the whole dish can be on your table (from scratch) in just 15 minutes!
For a quick and easy dinner, make this fresh and colourful Greek salad with lamb in no time! This one is infused with flavours of garlic, fresh herbs and lemon and loaded with juicy tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, onions, olives and crumbled feta and is one of the quickest and simplest salads you can make.
Along with a creamy homemade tzatziki yoghurt dressing, this twist on traditional Greek salad is healthy and flavourful, making a satisfying dinner on busy weeknights or the perfect Sunday lunch!
Ingredients
Making a good Greek style salad comes down to the quality of ingredients used. This one is so simple to prepare, with no shortage of flavour. Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy salad;
- Lamb. Either rump or lamb backstrap, sliced into small pieces. Marinating the lamb in a simple marinade of garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and herbs makes the meat extra tender, flavourful and delicious.
- Tomatoes. Choose tomatoes with glossy skin that are fragrant and firm to touch. Use a variety of types and colours to make this salad extra bright. Cherry tomatoes work well too.
- Cucumbers.
- Red onion.
- Olives. Quality kalamata olives are a must in a traditional Greek salad! If you can’t find kalamata olives, black olives work well too.
- Lettuce. OK, lettuce and leafy greens are not part of an authentic Greek salad. But, if you want to bulk it up, cos or romaine lettuce are great options.
- Feta. Creamy feta cheese served in large chunks crumbled over the top of the salad.
- Lemon juice and olive oil. Choose a good quality, extra virgin olive oil.
- Greek yoghurt along with fresh herbs, cucumber, garlic, lemon and salt for the tzatziki dressing, which is as simple as they come.
How to make Greek salad
Need a speedy dinner? This entire salad can be made and on the table in less than 15 minutes! Marinating the lamb pieces overnight is recommended, but this step can be skipped when you are in a hurry.
- To prepare the lamb, simply toss the sliced pieces together with the marinade ingredients and set aside.
- For the tzatziki salad dressing, stir the Greek yoghurt and other ingredients together in a bowl and set aside.
- Toss the salad ingredients together and arrange onto a large platter or individual plates.
- When ready to serve, grill the lamb pieces on each side until tender and still a little pink on the inside.
- Arrange the lamb pieces over the top of the salad and top with a drizzle of tzatziki and pieces of crumbled feta.
While this salad is filling on its own, for something a little extra try serving it with some grilled pita bread toasted with olive oil and garlic, or homemade flat bread.
Make ahead tips
The lamb in this recipe is best when made at least 4 hours ahead (leaving it to marinate overnight is perfect). Toss all of the marinade ingredients together with the lamb, cover and refrigerate. Prepping the lamb ahead of time allows it to become extra tender and full of flavour.
Except for the tomatoes, all of the salad ingredients can be chopped ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Tomatoes are best when served freshly chopped, so hold off on cutting them until ready to serve.
The tzatziki dressing for this recipe can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Other speedy dinners that you will love
If you are looking for other speedy dinners that the whole family will love, give these recipes a try!
- Mexican chicken and vegetable soup
- Individual lasagne cups
- Pumpkin and goats cheese salad
Or try these easy fast food recipes that you can make at home!
If you try this Greek lamb salad, I’d love to hear about it! Feel free to leave a comment or review below, or send me a message. For more food inspiration, tips and to share your own recipes and creations, head over to my Facebook Recipe Group.
Greek Lamb Salad with Tzatziki
Ingredients
For the tzatziki
- 1 cup plain Greek yoghurt unsweetened
- 1 cup cucumber peeled and grated
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- salt to taste (around ½ tsp)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp fresh dill finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh mint finely chopped
For the lamb
- 600 grams lamb backstrap 1.3 pounds, sliced.
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 3 tbsp fresh oregano or 2 tbsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp fresh thyme chopped
- ½ tsp ground rosemary
- 3 tbsp olive oil
For the salad
- 3 large tomatoes chopped (or 2 punnets cherry tomatoes)
- 1 cucumber chopped
- 1 red onion sliced
- ½ cup peeled kalamata olives sliced
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cups mixed salad leaves (optional)
- 1 cup feta cheese 150 grams
Instructions
For the tzatziki
- Mix the tzatziki ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside in the refrigerator, covered, until required.
For the lamb
- Combine all of the marinade ingredients in a bowl and add the lamb. Stir until the lamb is completely covered and then cover and refrigerate. Allowing the lamb to marinate for 2+ hours or overnight is ideal, but otherwise let it sit for as long as possible while you prepare the other ingredients.
To serve
- Add all of the chopped salad ingredients into a bowl and toss with the lemon juice and olive oil.
- Heat a large frying pan (or use your BBQ for less dishes) with a little extra olive oil. Cook the lamb over a medium high heat until cooked, but still pink in the middle. Allow to rest for 3-5 minutes.
- Spread the salad over a large platter or individual plates. Top with the lamb pieces, a drizzle of tzatziki and pieces of crumbled feta. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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