Greece captivates its visitors from the very first moment. In addition to its numerous islands, crystal-clear sea water, incredible beaches, ancient landmarks, friendly Greeks, and stunning landscapes, the country is also famous for its national cuisine.
Greek food combine the best of Mediterranean cuisine: fresh vegetables and fruits, cheeses, olive oil, and, of course, seafood. Greek cuisine is characterized by its simplicity and the use of a vast array of spices, herbs, and seasonings.
Appetizers
As in many other countries, a meal in Greece starts with appetizers.
The first of these, surprisingly, is a sauce — tzatziki. This unique appetizer and sauce at the same time is made from natural Greek yogurt, fresh cucumber, garlic, and olive oil. The sauce is very aromatic and spicy. This interesting combination makes tzatziki a true “highlight” of Greek cuisine. Tzatziki is also added to many other dishes, such as gyros.
Tzatziki
The next appetizer that Greeks recommend all tourists try is dolmadakia. This is something similar to stuffed cabbage rolls or dolma, with rice and minced meat wrapped in grape leaves. However, in Crete, the meat is replaced with onions and greens and served as a cold appetizer, whereas in the northern part of the country, this dish is a main course.
Hummus is popular far beyond Greece. It is a puree made from chickpeas with added oil and spices. Not only a very tasty appetizer but also a healthy one.
Fava is an appetizer made from yellow split peas and fried red onions. Try it with pita bread or fresh vegetables.
Of course, while relaxing by the sea, you must try appetizers made from fresh seafood and fish. For example, kalamari — baked crispy squid, htapodi scharas — grilled octopus tentacles with a lemon-garlic sauce. It’s hard to even imagine the variety of seafood served here. There are stuffed squids with various fillings, the freshest shrimp cooked in various sauces, and steamed mussels — a true paradise for seafood lovers.
Salads
Who hasn’t heard of Greek salad? It’s a favorite treat for many. But in Greece, it is called horiatiki or “village salad.” It includes tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onions, olives, feta cheese, all seasoned and drizzled with olive oil. Trying this salad in its homeland is a must for anyone visiting Greece.
Melitzanosalata is a salad made from roasted eggplants, sometimes with added yogurt, tomatoes, and green onions. Of course, this dish includes plenty of spices, garlic, lemon, and oil, similar to our eggplant caviar.
Another popular dish in Greece is dakos. This unique dish is somewhere between a salad and an appetizer, and it’s a signature dish of Crete. To prepare dakos, barley rusks are sprinkled with water, topped with tomatoes, seasoned with oregano and salt, then sprinkled with crumbled feta cheese and drizzled with olive oil. It’s a simple yet delicious dish. You can try it in almost any Greek restaurant, and it’s especially delicious with homemade wine.
Horta is a salad of Greek centenarians. It’s made from young dandelion leaves, lemon, and oil. The salad is very healthy, as it contains many vitamins.
Main Courses
As mentioned earlier, the main rule Greeks use in cooking is maximum simplicity. Everything should be prepared easily and quickly.
In Greece, you must try moussaka — a kind of meat casserole with thin slices of eggplant and potatoes. There are countless recipes for this dish, so don’t be surprised by the variety.
Don’t forget about kleftiko — a dish of baked meat marinated in lemon juice and garlic, with potatoes, oregano, and white wine. Mmm, very tasty.
You should also try gemista — stuffed vegetables. They usually stuff bell peppers, zucchini, and even tomatoes with beef and rice! This dish can be served hot or cold.
An essential part of Greek cuisine is pastitsio. It’s a pasta casserole with minced meat, and its incredible flavor comes from béchamel sauce with a hint of nutmeg.
Meat lovers shouldn’t miss out on souvlaki. These are small kebabs skewered on wooden sticks and grilled. Pork or chicken is commonly used.
If you want to immerse yourself in Greek culinary traditions, try spanakopita for breakfast. This is a favorite Greek pie made from puff pastry with a filling of spinach and feta. It’s not only tasty but also healthy.
Of course, the top Greek dishes wouldn’t be complete without gyros. This consists of grilled meat on a vertical rotisserie, wrapped in pita bread, often with added French fries and fried onions, and the distinctive element of this shawarma is tzatziki sauce.
Drinks
Greeks hardly drink tea, as it is considered a medicinal beverage. But they love to indulge in frappe — cold coffee with foam.
Top alcoholic drinks include ouzo, tsipouro, and raki. Ouzo can be considered Greek vodka. It is made by infusing moonshine with anise and adding cloves, almonds, cinnamon, and other spices. It is consumed as an aperitif.
To make tsipouro, the distillate of fermented grape marc is mixed with ethyl alcohol and infused with anise. For raki, they may use melon, quince, plums, and apples.
Desserts
You can’t fully understand the local cuisine without trying traditional sweets.
The simplest dessert Greeks eat is feta cheese with honey. Many know and love this combination.
Loukoumades are similar to doughnuts. They are balls of dough with spices, powdered sugar, and honey.
During Christmas, Greeks make shortbread cookies with almonds, which are entirely covered in powdered sugar immediately after baking. Sometimes, brandy is added to this very tasty treat.
Of course, any Greek dessert list wouldn’t be complete without baklava. This sweet pastry made from thin layers of dough with nuts and honey is familiar from childhood far beyond Greece.
Where to Try
You can try local Greek cuisine in small restaurants called tavernas. Most of them are family businesses, and the owners often sit at the tables themselves. Tavernas typically open at 12, with peak times around 10 PM when everyone, having enjoyed the sun and sea, comes to savor Greek cuisine.
Despite this, we visited such a restaurant even before opening hours, and the friendly Greeks not only agreed to serve us but also offered dessert and wine on the house.
Greek cuisine is very diverse and rich. It will appeal to everyone: lovers of healthy food, seafood, meat, casseroles, and sweets.
