Στη σαλάτα ρίχνω βασιλικό και λίγο θυμάρι αντί για πολύ αλάτι.

Στη is the contracted form of σε + τη, meaning in / into the with a feminine noun.

• σαλάτα is a feminine noun
• the accusative singular is τη σαλάτα
• after σε, Greek usually contracts this to στη σαλάτα

So:

• σε τη σαλάτα = theoretically possible, but not the normal modern form
• στη σαλάτα = standard modern Greek

You may also see στην before vowels or in more careful spelling, but with σαλάτα, στη σαλάτα is the normal form.

Yes. After σε or στη, the noun is usually in the accusative.

Here:

• nominative: η σαλάτα
• accusative: τη σαλάτα

So στη σαλάτα literally means into the salad or in the salad, depending on context.

Literally, ρίχνω can mean throw, drop, pour, or put in, depending on context.

In cooking, it very often means:

• add
• put in
• sprinkle in

So in this sentence, ρίχνω is best understood as I add or I put in, not as a dramatic I throw.

Greek often uses the present tense to describe:

• a habitual action
• a general preference
• something one usually does

So ρίχνω here most naturally means:

• I add
• I usually add
• I tend to add

It does not have to mean that the speaker is doing it right this second.

Greek usually does not need subject pronouns, because the verb ending already shows the subject.

• ρίχνω = I add
• the ending -ω tells you the subject is I

So εγώ is unnecessary unless the speaker wants emphasis:

• Εγώ ρίχνω... = I add..., perhaps in contrast with someone else

Here λίγο is being used as an adverb-like quantity word meaning a little.

With substances, ingredients, or uncountable amounts, Greek often uses:

• λίγο = a little
• πολύ = a lot / much

So:

• λίγο θυμάρι = a little thyme
• πολύ αλάτι = a lot of salt / too much salt, depending on context

This is very natural with food ingredients and mass nouns.

Because αλάτι is treated as an uncountable substance, like salt in English.

For uncountable nouns, Greek uses:

• πολύ = much / a lot of

For countable plural nouns, Greek uses:

• πολλά = many

Compare:

• πολύ αλάτι = much salt
• πολλά μήλα = many apples

In Greek, when talking about ingredients in a general way, the article is often omitted, especially in recipe-like or habitual statements.

So:

• βασιλικό
• θυμάρι
• αλάτι

all sound natural here as general ingredients, not specific individually identified items.

If you added articles, the meaning could become more specific or stylistically different, but the article-free version is very normal in this context.

Here it clearly means basil, the herb.

The word βασιλικός can also be an adjective meaning royal, but in this sentence βασιλικό is a noun referring to the herb.

Context makes that completely clear because the sentence is about salad ingredients.

Αντί για means instead of.

It is followed by a noun or noun phrase, usually in the accusative form when relevant.

Here:

• αντί για πολύ αλάτι = instead of a lot of salt

This is a very common expression in Greek.

Examples:

• Καφέ αντί για τσάι. = Coffee instead of tea.
• Πάω με τα πόδια αντί για το λεωφορείο. = I go on foot instead of taking the bus.

Και means and.

It links the two ingredients:

• βασιλικό
• λίγο θυμάρι

So the speaker adds basil and a little thyme.

The given word order is natural, but Greek word order is more flexible than English.

This sentence starts with Στη σαλάτα to set the context first:

• In the salad, I add...

That sounds very natural in Greek.

Other orders are possible, for example:

• Ρίχνω βασιλικό και λίγο θυμάρι στη σαλάτα αντί για πολύ αλάτι.

This also works. The original version simply foregrounds the salad first.

Not exactly. It is more specifically:

• instead of a lot of salt
• or rather than using much salt

So the sentence suggests the speaker prefers herbs as a substitute for using too much / a lot of salt, not necessarily that they use absolutely no salt at all.

A very close Greek version would be:

Ρίχνω βασιλικό και λίγο θυμάρι στη σαλάτα αντί για πολύ αλάτι.

This keeps the same meaning but puts the verb first, which may feel more familiar to an English speaker. The original sentence is still perfectly natural Greek.