AppetizersSaladsSoups Cretan Dakos Salad by Alex Bayev June 10, 2022 Published: June 10, 2022Last Updated on April 16, 2023 1.6K views 1.6K In Crete, Dakos is called a salad, but it sounds more like an appetizer or meze to me. It tastes and feels like Catalan bread with tomatoes (there will be a link when I get to this recipe). The salad is very summery, but I generally associate all Greek food with summer, should it be? The same tzatziki, for example. In Crete, dakos is served in almost every establishment, and eaten usually at lunchtime. So what is Dakos? It’s toasted bread or soaked barley crumbs liberally drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with sweet, ripe, summer tomatoes, feta, chopped olives, and oregano. This salad is all about tomatoes, they won’t be ripe, they won’t be sweet, they won’t taste good – all for nothing. That’s why it’s summery. In Crete, dakos are made with barley breadcrumbs that are soaked in water. Outside of Greece, it’s somewhat problematic to find them, and you don’t have to. But promise to take the tastiest bread you can find, the tastiest tomatoes, and the tastiest olive oil, extra-virgin is a must. It’s so simple and delicious that I’m eating this salad for the third or fourth day in a row. As long as I have enough tomatoes and feta, I don’t plan to change the menu. In short, it’s a “must try” salad. Genius simplicity. And once you’ve tried it, be sure to share your experience in the comments. Ingredients Per 1 serving (1-2 people): 1 tomato; 30-50 g (1.1-2 oz) feta cheese; 1 large slice of white bread (1.5-2 cm. thick, the most delicious, with a lush, not dense, crumb) 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil; 4-6 olives (preferably with a bone, in assorted colors) A pinch of dried oregano; 1/2 shallot (can be replaced with any sweet onion) Salt, ground black pepper. Step by step directions Brush the bread with olive oil on both sides, fry in a dry pan until crispy on both sides. Cut the tomato in half. Dice half of it into medium sized cubes and grate the other half on a coarse grater. Discard the skin. Cut 1/2 of the shallot into very thin rings. Separate the rings with your hands to separate them from each other. Cut the olives from the bone. Assemble the salad. Place a two-sided, toasted, thick slice of bread on a plate. Generously pour olive oil on it. On top of it place the sliced and grated tomatoes. Salt the tomatoes with a pinch of salt. Crumble 30-50 grams (1.1-2 oz) of feta cheese on top of the tomatoes. Sprinkle with a pinch of oregano and season with freshly ground black pepper to taste. Next, drizzle with olive oil again, add olives and thinly sliced shallots. Serve it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, as a salad, an appetizer, whatever you want. It’s too delicious to be distracted by the details. Cretan Dakos Salad 5 from 1 vote What is Dakos? It's toasted bread or soaked barley crumbs generously sprinkled with olive oil, sprinkled with sweet, ripe, summer tomatoes, feta, chopped olives, and oregano. This salad is all about tomatoes, won't be unripe, won't be sweet, won't taste good – all for nothing. That's why it's summery. In Crete they make dakos with barley breadcrumbs that are soaked in water. Outside of Greece, it's somewhat problematic to find them, and you don't have to. But promise me you'll get the tastiest bread you can find, the tastiest tomatoes, and the tastiest olive oil, extra-virgin is a must. It's so simple and delicious here that this is the third or fourth day in a row I've had this salad for breakfast. And as long as tomatoes and feta are plentiful, I don't plan to change the menu. In short, this is a salad marked "must try." Once you try it, be sure to share your experience in the comments. Pin Recipe Print Recipe CourseAppetizer, Salad Cook Time5 minutes minutesTotal Time5 minutes minutes Servings1 serving Calories219kcal Ingredients Metric – US Customary1 tomato (summery, sweet, juicy, most delicious)30-50 g feta cheese1 large slice of white bread (1.5-2 cm thick, the most delicious, with a puffy, not dense, crumb)2 tbsp. olive oil extra virgin4-6 olives (preferably with a bone, an assortment of different colors)pinch oregano (dry)1/2 shallot (can be replaced by any sweet onion)salt, freshly ground black pepper InstructionsBrush the bread with olive oil on both sides, fry in a dry pan until crispy on both sides. Cut the tomato in half. Dice half of it into medium sized cubes and grate the other half on a coarse grater. Discard the skin.Cut half of the shallots into very thin rings. Separate the rings with your hands to separate them from each other. Cut the olives off the bone. Assemble the salad. Place a two-sided, toasted, thick slice of bread on a plate. Generously pour olive oil on it. On top, put chopped and grated tomatoes, salt with a pinch of salt, crumble feta, sprinkle with a pinch of oregano. Drizzle the salad with olive oil again, add the olives and thinly sliced shallot.Taste. NutritionCalories: 219 kcal | Carbohydrates: 21 g | Protein: 8 g | Fat: 12 g | Saturated Fat: 5 g | Trans Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 27 mg | Sodium: 719 mg | Potassium: 388 mg | Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 6 g | Vitamin A: 1215 IU | Vitamin C: 18 mg | Calcium: 226 mg | Iron: 2 mg Pin1YumTweetShareTelegramVibeFlip1 Shares GreekMezeOne plateQuick (up to 30 minutes)Super easyVegetablesSummer Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Recipe Rating Recipe Rating Δ You may also like Thai Noodle Chicken Salad Healthy Potato Soup Cucumber salad with sour cream, onion and dill Сhickpeas with lime and chili Italian Chicken Tortellini Soup Caramelized onions Sea scallops baked with chanterelles and cream sauce Curried Butternut Squash and Apple Soup Mushroom appetizer with sherry Orange and Beetroot Soup Alex Bayev Hi, I'm Alex Bayev, bayevskitchen.com founder and food blogger who is passionate about cooking and photography. Since starting my blog in 2015, I have been sharing simple yet elegant recipes made with high-quality ingredients that anyone can recreate at home. I believe that food has the power to create unforgettable experiences.