With its sun-drenched foods and tasty seasonings, Greek cuisine is one of the emblems of the famous Mediterranean diet. Freshness and color are the key words of the specialties we present here. If you are familiar with tzatziki and moussaka, you will surely discover pastitsio or fasoláda. From mezzes to share to desserts and generous dishes, we have selected here our favorite Greek dishes!
You can also check out our selection of typical Italian dishes, another symbol of Mediterranean cuisine.
The dolmadakia, the king of mezzes
Let's start with the Greek mezzes. Among the many dishes that make it up, the dolmadakia is a must. This vine leaf in brine stuffed with rice, onions and garnished with lemon and dill can be served warm or cold and you can't miss it! Summer is the best time of the year to succumb to dolmadakia, as the leaves are still fresh. But if you are visiting Greece out of season, don't worry, the canned leaves will do the trick!
Tzatzíki, a tasty sauce
You've probably heard of it before: tzatzíki has crossed Greek borders to become a summertime meal staple everywhere. Served as a sauce or mezze, it is made of thick Greek yogurt (usually goat or sheep), cucumber, onion and garlic. These few ingredients, seasoned with a good olive oil, are enough to make a tasty dish to enjoy on a piece of pita bread!
The horiatiki salata, the Greek salad
High in color and flavor, the Greek salad is a dish that is both good and beautiful! Black olives, white feta cheese and red tomatoes make for an appetizing summer picture! All this is of course sprinkled with olive oil and oregano. In Cyprus, one can taste its variant just as tasty: the Cypriot salad contains bulgur and possibly halloumi.
The essential moussaka
If there is one dish of Greek cuisine that we all know, it is moussaka. This generous dish made of eggplant, onions, tomatoes and minced mutton has many variations. You can add zucchini, potatoes or béchamel sauce. In any case, it is always a success! The term moussaka comes from the Arabic musaqqa'a meaning "fresh", as it is served cold in some oriental countries.
Gyros, the Greek sandwich
If you want to eat a real Greek, let yourself be tempted by a gyros! A variation of the famous Turkish doner kebab, it is made of meat, tomatoes, onions and tzatzíki sauce. It is served in a pita bread. Gyros means "to turn" in Greek (γύρος) and thus refers to the technique of cooking the meat on a skewer. A low-cost delicacy to enjoy on the go during a long day of sightseeing in Athens!
Fasoláda, a national dish
It is one of the most popular dishes in Greece and is considered by many to be the national dish! Fasoláda, which means "bean" in Greek, is a soup of beans or white beans (preferably gigantes-elefantes and Prespes beans, to honor the original recipe!) and vegetables (tomatoes, carrots, onions...) seasoned with olive oil. It is said that the recipe comes from Greek mythology!
The souvláki, skewer on the go
These meat skewers (mostly pork) are a must in Greek street food. They can be served in a pita bread, on a plate or simply as they are to be eaten on the go. In Athens, this little skewer is called kalamaki, the souvláki term that covers all the meat dishes of Greek street food, from gyros to kalamaki!
The spanakópita, a delicious delicacy
The spanakópita is a kind of turnover filled with feta cheese, spinach, onions and egg. The phyllo dough used, similar to the brik leaf, gives it a crunchy and greedy side! This is a very popular dish in Greece and is easy to make at home, as is its cheese-filled variant, tyropita. Get cooking!
Pastítsio, Greek style pasta
This pasta gratin is a variation of the Italian pasticcio di pasta. Made of pasta (preferably bucatini or macaroni!), cheese, minced meat, tomato sauce, cinnamon and topped with a béchamel sauce and grated cheese, it is a delicious dish to be enjoyed with a green salad. Obviously, this succession of layers of pasta could make us think of the indestructible lasagna, but the spices give a very different touch to this dish.
La fava, praise of the split pea
How to sublimate a food as banal as split peas? The Greeks found the answer! Fava is a succulent split pea purée typical of Santorini, and it is here that Greek fava is grown, essential to the recipe. However, you will be able to taste this dip in all the taverns of the country. Served as a mezze, its taste is spiced up with olive oil, lemon juice, onion and capers. To be enjoyed with a good pita bread and a glass of Greek wine!
Loukoumades, a competitive doughnut!
Fried, covered with a honey and cinnamon glaze and possibly sprinkled with pistachios or sesame seeds, loukoumades are exceptional little fritters! It is said that they were already offered to the winners of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, along with the famous laurel crown. The sportsmen probably only ate one bite, the term loukoumades comes from the Arabic luqma which means "bite".
The amygdalota, an irresistible almond rock
A festive confection, the amygdalota is eaten during weddings or Greek baptisms, but also at Christmas. It has nothing to do with tonsils, except for their shape and etymology(amygdala, which means almond). This fruit is the main ingredient of the amygdalota associated with egg whites, semolina and cinnamon. Then, we sprinkle the rocks with powdered sugar before cooking them in the oven and tasting them!
The kourabiedes, cookies to crunch during the holidays
During the festive season in Greece, we don't only succumb to the amygdalota, but also to the kourabiedes! These butter-based shortbread cookies can also be flavored with almond and sprinkled with powdered sugar. For a typically Greek touch, the ideal is to use sheep's milk or goat's milk butter that make these cookies so characteristic. A delight to make at home!
La fanourópita, a traditional dessert
This cake made with raisins, crushed nuts, orange and cinnamon is not only delicious, it's also great for any head in the air! La fanourópita is, in fact, served on August 27th, the day of Saint Phanourios, patron saint of lost things. So, if you make this cake, chances are that you will find what you misplaced a little while ago! The legend doesn't say if it works for those who only eat it..
Ouzo, a little digestive?
After all that, would you like to have a digestive? If there is one thing you must try in Greece, it is ouzo. Typical Greek alcohol made from grapes and with an aniseed taste, it can be drunk neat or with water, like pastis in Marseille. Most of the distilleries that produce ouzo are located in the city of Plomari, south of the island of Lesbos. Be careful, ouzo is quite strong (between 38 and 50 degrees)!
Are you planning to visit Athens during your trip to Greece? Check out our article on the 15 must-do's in Athens!
