Cretan Salad with Dakos: A Taste & Different Version of Dakos You Will Love!
This particular Cretan dako salad, a bit different from the traditional Cretan salad, is a great alternative to your usual dakos!
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Cretan Salad or Cretan Salads?
They say that there is no real original recipe for Cretan salad, and as a matter of fact, this is a kind of salad that embodies the authentic spirit of the local cuisine: it has whatever is available in the fridge!
Joking or not, this has always been the true spirit of Cretan cuisine, there’s usually a canonical recipe that is conveniently transformed according to whatever ingredient it is that we have.
A bit like you also do, if you don’t live on the island, and want to recreate those tastes you miss. So yes, Cretan Salad can have a huge variety of ingredients.
So, do yourself a favor, whenever you visit Crete, forget about ordering a Greek salad and go for the authentic tastes of Crete. Cretan salad is original, tasteful, and an amazing alternative for those who don’t love feta cheese in their salads!
Traditional Cretan Salad
Variety is always key, especially on the island. Crete’s local gastronomy is seasonal, so a salad will always include those products that you will find in the market. That means that tomatoes might be missed in January, but that won’t mean that this salad will be less Cretan!
Almost any Cretan salad will include boiled potatoes (or eggs, or both), but it can also have beetroot, any variety of lettuce (or any local and always fresh green variety, such as the delicious papoules you can find in the local markets in summer). It can also include myzithra cheese.
Ricotta Tip
Strain ricotta overnight to obtain a kind of cheese that’s similar to fresh mizithra — perfect for Cretan pies, pastries, or savory fillings. Want to learn more? Check out our full guide: How to Replace Mizithra .
In this particular recipe, we have left eggs and potatoes out, and focused on raw ingredients, to make it easier, faster, and perfect for summer!
Cretan Salad Dressings
Whenever on the island, you won’t find many locals relying on already-made dressings. We make things simple and tasty with just three local products:
- Extra virgin Cretan olive oil
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Sea salt (or plain salt).
As an alternative, we have used this delicious Greek salad dressing in our recipe, but you can be more creative if you want, for instance you can add extra flavor making a wise use of locally grown oregano, rosemary, and even thyme.
However, different varieties of vinegar have made their way to the Cretan table, mostly balsamic vinegar with local flavors, such as orange, honey, pomegranate, or even figs, either fresh or dry. They are really delicious and can add an extra twist.
Petimezi…
Some people prefer more traditional condiments and enjoy seasoning this salad with petimezi.
Petimezi is a local grape molasses, as old as the island, which adds a touch of raw sweetness to both sweet and savory dishes.
Whether it is to give flavor to cakes or biscuits, top Greek yogurt, season vegetables, or cook meat, petimezi is a very versatile ingredient in Cretan cuisine,
Try some next time you’re on the island, and if you like it, bring a small bottle back home!
Cretan Wine Pairing
This salad can taste even better when paired with a glass of local white Vilana. We eagerly recommend Vilana Gavalas, a family winery in the region of Heraklion that produces amazing wines both with local and foreign grape varieties.
Cretan Dako Salad
Ingredients
- 3 Cretan barley rusks or paximadia
- 4-5 Tomatoes or 2 handfuls of cherry tomatoes cubed
- 1 Tomato grated
- ½ Cucumber finely diced
- 1 Green pepper finely diced
- ½ Red onion finely chopped
- 1 tbsp Capers
- 1 tbsp Small Cretan olives pitted and sliced in half
- 3-4 Fresh mint or basil leaves
- 3 tbsp Greek salad dressing
- 200 grams Myzithra cheese or crumbled feta cheese
- Salt, pepper, and fresh or dry oregano to taste
Instructions
- Make sure your barley rusks are soft enough to be bitten into, it is always a good idea to soak them by adding some extra virgin olive oil and a bit of Greek salad dressing.
- Add tomatoes, cucumber, chopped green pepper, and onion.
- Mix in the mint or basil leaves, add some extra Greek salad dressing, and toss.
- Sprinkle on top with capers and olives.
- Add the myzithra cheese (or some feta, if you prefer), sprinkle with oregano, add extra salt and pepper if needed.
Notes
| Serving Type | Portion Size Estimate | Calories (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Main course | 2 servings | 585–610 kcal |
| Side dish/appetizer | 4 servings | 290–305 kcal |
| Small portion | 6 servings | 195–205 kcal |
If you’d like to lower the calories, consider reducing the cheese, using less salad dressing, or using low-fat feta. Let me know if you’d like the adjusted recipe!
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How to Make Cretan Dako Salad
Gabi Ancarola
Gabi is a travel writer who has lived in Crete for over a decade. Through her blog, Crete Insider, she has helped travelers uncover local experiences. Passionate about food and Cretan cuisine, she now attends Greek cooking lessons to bring the island’s flavors straight to your kitchen!
>> Interested in learning to cook in Crete, or discovering all of the top spots to eat in Chania and around the island? Book a food tour or plan your trip with me.
