Dako, Cretan Bread Salad with Tomatoes, Green Apples & Herbs

5 from 1 vote

Rusks are an ancient food in Greece. Basically they are the twice-baked breads, in various shapes. A dearth of fuel, i.e. wood, made daily, or even weekly, baking almost extravagant in the Greek countryside. To find some of the artisinal Greek products you'll need to make this, visit my online shop here, where you'll discover a host of lovingly curated Greek ingredients.

5 from 1 vote

Dako, Cretan Bread Salad with Tomatoes, Green Apples & Herbs

By Diane Kochilas

Prep Time 10

Servings

Meze / Starters, My Greek Table, Recipes, Salads, Season #1, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Prep Time 10

Servings

Meze / Starters, My Greek Table, Recipes, Salads, Season #1, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Ingredients

2 Cretan barley rusks preferably round
1 small Granny Smith or other tart apple preferably organic, grated on the coarse side of a hand grater
2 teaspoons plus ⅓ cup extra virgin Greek olive oil
1/2 celery stalk trimmed and cut into thin crescents
1 cup red and/or yellow teardrop or cherry tomatoes halved
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon rinsed and drained capers
Salt to taste
½ cup crumbled feta Cretan xinomyzithra cheese, or a combination of crumbled feta and fresh ricotta or anthotyro cheeses

Instructions

Run the rusks under cold water. Hold vertically to let the last drop of water drain off. Place each rusk on individual serving plates or on a platter large enough to hold them.
Grate the apple and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, combine the grated apple, celery, tomato halves, mint, capers, salt and remaining olive oil and toss gently.
Mound the mixture in equal parts over each of the rusks. Spoon the crumbled cheese or cheeses on top. Garnish, if desired, with a mint leaf, and serve.

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You can find a selection of Greek rusks (called paximadia), as well as capers, dried herbs, olive oils and more delicious Greek artisanal foods at my online store.

Watch my YouTube video of this recipe HERE.

Diane’s Greek Single-origin Artisanal Foods

Visit my online shop for a wide selection of Greek single-origin artisanal foods, from honeys to wild herbs, olives, olive oils, pistachios, heirloom grain products, fruit preserves and more.

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Diane Kochilas is one of the world’s foremost experts on Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. She is the host, creator and co-producer of My Greek Table, the award-winning 13-episode per season cooking-travel show about Greece that airs nationally on Public Television. The series is in its third season.

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Dako, Cretan Bread Salad with Tomatoes, Green Apples & Herbs