10 of the Best Greek Foods to Try

Lifestyle

16.10.2023

The Greek diet is one of the healthiest and also the most delicious on the planet. Greeks still eat some of the foods that were popular in ancient times, like legumes, olive oil, and olives. Greek food is fresh and often comes from local sources. No meal is complete without a local Greek wine and good company. Sit back and enjoy these 10 Greek dishes.

1. Moussaka

One of the most favorite Greek dishes is moussaka. It has layers of aubergine, meat, and potatoes. At the top is a bechamel sauce, which is baked until golden and brown. Sometimes you can also find a vegetarian version, which is sometimes equally as delicious.

2. Stuffed Gemista

Translating to “stuffed” in Greek, this traditional dish is local vegetables which are stuffed with rice and then roasted in the oven. The most common vegetables to use are tomatoes or peppers, and they may or may not have minced meat in the mixture.

3. Dolmades

Dolmades are vine leaves wrapped. Each region and even every household has its own variety of dolmades. Usually, the mix inside the vine leaves is a combination of rice, herbs, fennel, thyme, and sometimes meat. Pine nuts are another optional ingredient. On the island of Crete, Easter lamb soup can be combined with dolmades.

4. Tzatziki

How did a side dish make the list? There are few dishes which represent Greece as much as tzatziki. Greek yogurt and cucumber are the base, and it’s ideal paired with Greek meats or as an appetizer by itself. You can eat it with bread or fried eggplant. The lemon and dill add Mediterranean flavor, and this dish has its roots in the Ottoman Empire.

5. Greek Village Salad (Choriatiki Salata)

I know what you’re thinking - how did a salad make the list of the best foods to try in Greece? There is nothing like a simple Greek village salad with fresh Greek tomatoes, bell peppers, red onion, and feta cheese. The freshness of the ingredients is the highlight. Greek salad is a summer favorite in Greece during the hotter months, and it often includes Greek olives.

6. Courgette Balls (kolokythokeftedes)

Courgette balls are one of the best side dishes to get in Greece. It is a vegetable fritter sometimes mixed with onion, potato, or carrot, and then fried in a pan. It’s a perfect pair for tzatziki and is a necessary part of an ideal taverna meal.

7. Papoutsakia

Papoutsakia in Greek means “little shoes,” and it is a dish with eggplants that are stuffed with eggs, peppers, meat, tomatoes, lemon, and oil. A local cheese is melted over the top. It is often found at the so-called “magireia” - local family-owned restaurants with a selection of pre-cooked dishes that you can mix and match.

8. Pastitsio

Pastitsio is the Greek version of lasagna, but it is made with small macaroni. This is one dish that is especially delicious in Kefalonia, where there was an influence from Italy. In Pastitsio, ground lamb or beef is layered on macaroni with bechamel, and then is flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, and herbs before getting baked in the oven.

9. Galaktoboureko

Now it’s time for dessert. Galaktoboureko is one of the best Greek desserts with phyllo pastry. It features a cold, creamy custard with melted butter and a sweet syrup. Some restaurants in Greece will bring a dessert for free - you would be lucky to get galaktoboureko served to you!

10. Loukoumades

Loukoumades are little golden puffs of fried dough with sweet syrup, walnuts, and cinnamon. Like donuts, they are crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside. It is a late-night favorite in the Greek islands.

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