Properties of Greek salad
I think the fact that the Greeks know a lot about many things is now a fact for anyone who has had the opportunity to visit this magnificent land. Even in the kitchen they have managed to take advantage of it but if you are a regular visitor to the Greeks you already know that one of their main mottos is little expense, maximum yield.
The origins of the Greek salad are very humble and come from a rural context (horiatiki salata actually means village salad in Greek). It was the food of the peasants who in ancient times, not having much money available, had to somehow recover their energy to face the hard work and they used to eat some juicy tomatoes for lunch, a few olives, an onion, cucumbers, a few pieces of bread and for the luckiest even a little cheese. The addition of the delicious feta instead belongs to more contemporary times and is another trick of our Greek cousins. Once upon a time in Athenian taverns a simple cucumber and tomato salad necessarily had to have a maximum selling price set by the authorities but with the addition of feta cheese it could be sold at a higher price.
Gradually over time everyone has been able to customize it and so now it can also be found with capers or caper leaves, purslane leaves, strictly green peppers and in some places instead of feta it is served with a cheese aged in wine red (on the island of Kos, for example, many restaurants have this delicious variant).
The Greek salad is a dish that traditionally should be placed in the center of the table so that all the guests can take it as they please and at the end make the inevitable slipper with the sublime sauce that is formed with the dressing between the olive oil and vegetable juices.
On how to prepare a perfect Greek Salad, just go to our blog at the link below, you will have all the notions to prepare it at home too: https://www.meraviglioseisolegreche.com/blog/curiosita/grecia--ricetta-salad-greca.aspx
But let's go back to its benefits, salted hortiaki is a riot of nutritional values and benefits for our health. Let's analyze element by element to find out how much of God there is in every single element.
Olive oil: in a healthy Mediterranean diet it certainly cannot be missing and its properties are innumerable. It is now part of our daily life and has replaced the fats consumed in the past, helping us to reduce brain inflammation and the latest studies to fight Alzheimer's disease as well as keeping dangerous cholesterol under control.
Tomatoes: thanks to lycopene a natural antioxidant, it reduces the risk of heart disease as well as being a source of potassium, vitamin K, vitamin C and folic acid.
Onions: in a self-respecting Greek salad the onion must be strictly white and very clear. Also a powerful antioxidant, it is rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, folic acid and iron as well as vitamin E. Perfect for fighting osteoporosis and heart problems.
Cucumber: One of the lowest calorie foods due to its high water content as well as useful vitamins and minerals. Cucumber has the power to regulate blood sugar, regulate digestibility, maintain proper hydration and what is very important especially for us ladies it helps to lose weight.
Pepper: always green we recommend never red, yellow or orange it could no longer be called Greek salad! The properties of green pepper are basically vitamin C which helps to better absorb calcium, a fundamental element for our bones. It is also a powerful ally for those suffering from anemia.
Capers: first of all we specify that if you use the buds of the flower rather than a vegetable, it is classified as a spice but it doesn't matter. The caper is a perfect antioxidant for the prevention of free radicals, it contains vitamin K, iron and copper. They are indicated for those with blood sugar problems, they help for proper blood clotting, relieve inflammation and are a healthy touch for the liver.
Feta: in the meantime, let's say that this cheese is very ancient, it even dates back to the Homeric age of the 8th century BC and is obtained from a mix of sheep's milk and rennet. Nowadays it is also mixed with goat's milk for a maximum of 30%. Like all unseasoned dairy products, it has nutritional powers based on calcium, riboflavin, panthenic acid, Vitamin A, B6, B12, B, iron, phosphorus, zinc, selenium, potassium, copper, manganese and magnesium, in short, a real own hit of trace minerals and bioregulators, essential for life.
Oregano: as Hippocrates teaches us, aromatic herbs are a panacea for our body, let us also remember that modern medicine comes from what nature has always offered us and even the common oregano is a powerful ally for our health It reduces infections, fights harmful free radicals as they age DNA, helps heal colds, fights intestinal parasites, perfect for menstrual cramps and cancer prevention, in short, a real mine of health.
So what else to add? Eat it and eat it as much as you can, your body will be able to thank you for a complete and balanced meal but above all very good and still at a low cost.