Whenever someone mentions Greek cuisine, most people immediately think of gyros. On the other hand, I discovered that there is a tremendous amount of variation in Greek cuisine. The bulk of the Greek recipes I sampled were straightforward and made use of ingredients that were available at that time of year, but they were all well prepared.
The Greek cuisine is characterized by an abundance of fish, meats roasted over charcoal, cheese, fresh vegetables, olive oil, and savory pastries. In point of fact, the food in Greece is often regarded as being among the healthiest in the whole globe.
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After spending nearly a month eating my way through Greece, I present to you the best Greek dishes:
Greek coffee
While I’m not much of a coffee drinker myself, the Greeks seem to be obsessed with the beverage. You may find a coffee shop packed with residents at any hour of the day and on almost every corner of the city. Albania is the only other country that comes to mind that has a culture that is even somewhat equivalent to the coffee culture.
Don’t tell a Greek person that Turkish coffee is similar to Greek coffee since it did remind me very much of the Turkish coffee I had in Istanbul when I was on a walking food tour there. They take their coffee extremely seriously, which is appropriate given that the Greeks were the ones who first devised the frappe.
Souvlaki
The majority of you should already be acquainted with this meal due to its ease of preparation. The ubiquitous and much-loved souvlaki is Greece’s national fast food and can be found almost everywhere.
You have the option of getting your souvlaki skewered or in the gyro variant, which is the one most common in the United States, where I was born and raised.
The pita bread may be loaded with any grilled meat of your choosing (pork is my personal favorite), onion, tomato, and frequently some kind of sauce, most commonly tzatziki, which is made of yogurt and cucumber. Fries may also be included inside a souvlaki in rare cases.
Even though I’m not accustomed to having the fries on it, I can’t say that I was upset about it. Also, make sure you ask for additional tzatziki because even though it’s messy, it’s well worth it!
Koulouri
Full disclosure- I didn’t really care much for koulouri. Nevertheless, I thought it would be remiss of me not to add it given how widespread its usage is.
Koulouri is traditionally consumed as a portable breakfast food in Greece. I had the impression that it was similar to a sesame-covered pretzel, but it was much drier. Give one of these traditional regional dishes a try for yourself!
Fennel pie (marathopites)
The delicious fennel pie that can be found on the island of Syros, which is part of the Greek archipelago, is well known.
These straightforward pies get their robust flavor from the use of onion and fennel, two aromatic vegetables, in a buttery crust that has been cooked to golden brown perfection. Be on the lookout for these things when you travel to the island, since you won’t want to miss them!
Tiropita (Greek cheese pie)
Tiropita, often known as Greek cheese pie, is a kind of pie that is available almost everywhere in the United States.
This savory pie is made with phyllo dough and drizzled with either olive oil or butter. Inside, there are a variety of cheeses wrapped in phyllo dough. Even if it’s not really a light snack, it certainly is a tasty one!
Fava
Anyone who followed me on social media when I was in Greece is aware of my infatuation with fava, which is a traditional Greek bean dish.
My friends teased me that they thought I was turning into a fava connoisseur since I insisted on having fava as one of the appetizers for virtually every dinner.
The meal known as fava consists of a puree of split peas that has been doused in olive oil, given a significant amount of lemon juice, and then topped with capers and onions. That’s all; it really is that easy, but it packs a lot of flavor. If you spread it over some fresh bread, you’ll have the ideal snack or appetizer on hand.
I would liken the flavor of fava to that of hummus, although I think I would prefer the flavor of fava. During your stay in Greece, you absolutely cannot leave without having this meal at least once.
Tirokafteri- Greek spicy cheese dip
This spicy cheese dip is my second favorite Greek dip. I saw it on numerous different menus before deciding to give it a try, and I’m glad I did.
I don’t know why I waited as long as I did since it’s incredible!
A spread that is excellent for crusty bread is produced by combining feta cheese and yogurt with hot peppers in the appropriate proportions. This quickly became another one of our group’s favorites!
Lemon chicken & potatoes
When done properly, this is yet another example of a classic Greek meal that, despite its apparent lack of complexity, provides a sense of utter satiety when consumed.
Chicken and potatoes that have been roasted and then drizzled with fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic. Both the chicken and the potatoes are infused with a strong lemon taste, which gives the meal a very refreshing quality.
Moussaka
Moussaka is perhaps the second most well-known Greek dish after souvlaki, in my opinion, and it is right up there with gyros.
If you’ve never had moussaka before, it’s a layered meal that may be cooked with either eggplant or potatoes. Before being baked off, it often includes ground pork and is topped in a white cheese sauce before being finished.
Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice are frequently used in the recipe. These spices, when mixed, provide a nuanced taste to the finished meal.
Instead of eggplant, my preferred version has ground lamb or beef and potatoes as the main ingredient.
Olive oil
Olive oil is a fundamental component of the Greek diet, but most people in other parts of the world believe it to be nothing more than a simple component.
In point of fact, Greeks are responsible for the highest global use of olive oil. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that they are also responsible for producing some of the finest olive oil in the world.
At the olive oil tasting that I went to, we were given information on the different oils and the unique purposes for each of them. For example, the lighter oil is best for salad dressings, while the other oil is best for baking and the other is best for frying, etc., etc.
After traveling the globe and tasting olive oils from different regions, I can confidently say that Greece produces some of the greatest olive oils I’ve ever had.
Seafood
Even though this is more of a general topic than a particular meal, I feel obligated to bring it up because of how nicely fish is prepared in Greek cuisine.
Because the nation has such incredible access to such a wide variety of fish, it has been able to refine its seafood recipes.
The consumption of seafood on a regular basis is one of the key reasons why the Mediterranean diet is regarded as being one of the healthiest diets in the world.
Koliva
I’ll leave you on a pleasant note by saying that koliva, a traditional Greek dessert, is an exceptional meal the likes of which I’ve never had before.
The ingredients that go into koliva include wheat berries, almonds that have been roasted, and dried fruits. Even fresh pomegranate seeds were used in this rendition of the dish.
This dish is typically prepared and given during funerals in Greece. The components of the dish each have a symbolic meaning: the wheat berries stand for the assurance of a life without end, the fruits symbolize the pleasure of living, and the spices are emblems of plenty.
I often stress the point that I don’t have a need for sweet things. However, I found that Koliva was rather tasty since it reminded me of a granola dish that also had fresh fruits. This is something that I would willingly consume again.
Visiting other destinations in Greece? Check out our other delicious guides:
- The 10 Best Chania Restaurants
- The 8 Best Restaurants in Athens, Greece
- The Best Walking Food Tour Of Athens
- 10 Amazing Things To Do In Greece
Which Greek food looked the best to you? Are you a fan of Greek food? Let me know in the comments section below!
FAQs
What are the most popular Greek dishes?
Don’t leave Greece without trying…
- Taramasalata. Classic dips like tzatziki (made from yogurt, cucumbers, and garlic), melitzanosalata (made from aubergine), and fava (made from a creamy purée of split peas) are essential components of every Greek dinner.
- Olives and olive oil, among other things…
- Dolmades. …
- Moussaka. …
- Meat that has been grilled….
- Fresh fish. …
- Courgette balls (kolokythokeftedes) …
- Octopus.
What is the tastiest Greek dish?
Moussaka (Μoυσακάς)
Moussaka is not just one of the most labor-intensive dishes, but it is also often considered to be the meal that best represents Greek cuisine abroad. When making this dish, the ground pork, potato slices, and eggplant slices are each cooked in their own skillet before being piled in a baking dish and covered with a bechamel sauce.
What are 5 main foods the Greeks ate?
Bread, which was manufactured from wheat, and porridge, which was created from barley, were the most common meals eaten by ancient Greeks. They cooked using a lot of olive oil, which added a lot of flavor to the food. In addition to that, they consumed a variety of vegetables, such as chickpeas, olives, onions, garlic, and cabbage, among others.
What is a typical Greek lunch?
Traditional Greek lunches are often somewhat light meals that are prepared at home and consist of a vegetable casserole or stew. It is served with cheese, bread, salad, and most significantly, wine. These are the standard accompaniments.
What food do people eat in Greece?
Bread, cereals, potatoes, rice, and pasta are staples in the Greek diet, and they are consumed practically every day. Olives (and olive oil), eggplant, cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach, lentils and other kinds of beans, lemons, almonds, honey, yogurt, feta cheese, eggs, fish, chicken, and lamb are all staples in the Greek diet. The Mediterranean diet is known for its emphasis on fresh, whole foods.