Dakos

For people named Dakos, see Dakos (surname).

Dakos or ntakos (Greek: ντάκος), also known as koukouvagia or koukouvayia (κουκουβάγια) or kouloukopsomo, is a Cretan horiatiki consisting of a slice of soaked paximadi that is topped with tomatoes and cheeses such as feta or mizithra. The salad is then flavored with herbs such as dried oregano. Ingredients such as Olives, capers, and caper berries are also often added to the dish.

Dakos

Alternative names	Koukouvagia, Kouloukopsomo
Type	Salad
Place of origin	Greece
Main ingredients	Dried bread or barley rusk, tomatoes, feta or mizithra cheese, oregano, herbs, olives
Media: Dakos

The salad itself has been likened to other dishes such as panzanella and pa amb tomàquet. It was ranked as the best salad in the world by TasteAtlas.

Description

Dakos, also spelled as ntakos,^[1] and also known as koukouvagia or kokouvayia (κουκουβάγια, lit. 'owl'), and kouloukopsomo (from koulouki + psomi, pup + bread, allegedly the bread given to puppies under a table),^[2] is a Cretan horiatiki (Greek salad).^[3] It consists of a slice of paximadi, a certain type of barley rusk that has been soaked in either water or olive oil,^[4] which is then topped with chopped tomatoes and crumbled feta^[5] or mizithra cheese, and olive oil.^[4][3] The rusk itself would often have garlic rubbed on it and sea salt.^[1]

The salad is then seasoned with herbs such as dried oregano. Among other ingredients, peppers,^[2] olives (often the Koroneiki, Lianes, and Tsounates varieties),^[1] capers, and caper berries are often ingredients to the salad.^[4]

Other

The salad has been likened to being similar with other dishes such as the Catalan pa amb tomàquet, the Italian frisella,^[6] and Italian panzanella.^[4] It was reported to be the best salad in the world in 2025 by TasteAtlas, a food guide.^[1]