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Plate of traditional Cretan Dakos salad with barley rusks, grated tomatoes, mizithra cheese, olives, and olive oil

Cretan Dakos Salad Recipe


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  • Author: Chef skimo
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Fresh, vibrant, and beautifully simple, Dakos is one of Crete’s most iconic dishes — a rustic bread salad with juicy ripe tomatoes, creamy cheese, briny olives, and crisp barley rusks. This meze brings the pure flavors of the Greek islands right to your table.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 large ripe tomatoes, grated
  • 23 large barley rusks (or thick slices of stale country bread)
  • 1/2 cup mizithra cheese or crumbled feta
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • A few Kalamata olives
  • Dried oregano
  • Fresh basil or thyme (optional)
  • Salt

Instructions

  1. Lightly moisten the barley rusks under running water if very hard, then place on a serving plate.
  2. Grate the tomatoes on a box grater, discarding most of the skin.
  3. Spoon the grated tomato generously over each rusk.
  4. Drizzle generously with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.
  5. Top with crumbled mizithra or feta cheese.
  6. Add a few Kalamata olives and sprinkle with dried oregano.
  7. Garnish with fresh basil or thyme if desired.
  8. Serve immediately while the rusks stay crisp underneath but soft on top.

Notes

Use the ripest tomatoes for the best flavor. Don’t oversoak the rusks — they should stay a bit crunchy. Always use good quality olive oil. Dakos is best served fresh and enjoyed with good company and a glass of crisp wine or raki.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: Greek

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 portion
  • Calories: 280
  • Sugar: 5g
  • Sodium: 450mg
  • Fat: 20g
  • Saturated Fat: 6g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 12g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 18g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 7g
  • Cholesterol: 15mg