What to Eat in Greece: 10 Typical Greek Dishes

Greece is without doubt one of the high culinary locations on this planet. If you’re questioning what to eat in Greece, these are ten typical dishes value attempting.

Greece, attributable to its lengthy historical past and its geographical place between the West and the East, has a definite culinary custom. Recipes from historic Greece and Byzantium are mixed with influences from the Balkans and the Center East. On the similar time, throughout the twentieth century, western influences primarily from Italian and French delicacies have been integrated into the Greek eating regimen.

Every area of Greece has its personal distinct dishes which can be formed in another way in accordance with traditions and the obtainable uncooked supplies. In fact, there are additionally dishes and methods of cooking which can be discovered all around the nation, and thus we are able to discuss a Greek Mediterranean delicacies and eating regimen.

Try our information to road meals in Athens!

What to eat in Greece: 10 typical Greek dishes

When planning out your want record of meals to eat in Greece, be sure to incorporate as lots of the under dishes.

Mousaka

Maybe one of the crucial well-known Greek dishes worldwide is mousaka. Though it’s a conventional meals of the broader area of the Balkans and the Center East, it turned recognized by way of the Greek variation. This model was created by the Greek chef and author Nikolaos Tselementes. It’s a meals that’s baked within the oven and consists of three layers. The primary layer consists of baked or fried greens, often eggplants (but additionally zucchini or potatoes). The second layer consists of minced meat cooked with tomato sauce. And at last, the final layer is a milk-based sauce thickened with egg or flour.

Mousaka was once a favourite specialty of many eating places, however lately, as a result of complexity of its preparation, there have been fewer eating places that make it. However it’s actually value on the lookout for and attempting this distinctive dish that may fill you with the flavors and aromas of the Mediterranean.

Mousaka

Pastitsio

Pastisio is one other well-known Greek dish, considerably just like mousaka, that’s an invention of Tselementes. Though it began as a chef’s recipe, it turned so liked by the Greeks that it turned a favourite meals in lots of houses.

It’s a meals that’s made within the oven and consists of three layers: boiled pasta, minced meat with tomato sauce, and béchamel. In lots of circumstances, the pasta and minced meat are blended in a single layer. Over time, pastitsio turned one of many dishes that housewives ready on Sundays and holidays, whereas on the similar time, it turned one of the crucial in style dishes in Greek taverns.

Pastitsio

Kalamarakia

One of the crucial consultant dishes of the Greek summer time is kalamarakia, which really are fried squids. The squids are lower into slices and dipped in batter, earlier than they’re fried in oil. The standard of the squid (whether or not it’s onerous or tender) varies, however the style is superb. You can find kalamarakia in all fish eating places, and it may be eaten as an appetizer or major dish. It goes completely with a chilly beer by the ocean.

Kalamarakia

Htapodi Xidato

One other glorious and attribute dish of the Greek summer time is htapodi xidato (octopus marinated with vinegar). It’s a conventional Greek dish filled with Mediterranean aromas that’s an integral a part of a seafood meal. The octopus is boiled for a number of hours after which marinated in vinegar, olive oil, and different herbs.

Served with olive oil and oregano, it’s the most well-liked appetiser to accompany ouzo. In taverns on islands or in fishing villages on mainland Greece, you’ll style the tastiest octopus as a result of, a lot of the occasions, it’s freshly caught.

Htapodi Xidato (Octopus marinated with vinegar)

Ntolmadakia

Ntolmades or Ntolmadakia is without doubt one of the most common Greek dishes. Though some students consider that they’ve an historic origin, what is definite is that they’re a meals from the Center East and the Balkans (the place they’re discovered as sarmas). In Greece, they turned recognized primarily by the refugees from Asia Minor.

Ntolmadakia are tender vine leaves stuffed both solely with rice and spices (also referred to as yalaji) or with rice and minced meat. It’s thought-about a dish of spring, as that’s when the leaves are extra tender. It’s typically served with yoghurt and is a novel style expertise.

Ntolmadakia with yoghurt

Fava

A kind of dishes that you simply don’t learn about until you go to Greece is fava. Additionally, though it’s a conventional meals, you don’t discover it in all eating places. It’s a meals originating in historic Greece. The identify fava seems within the textual content of a tragedy by Aeschylus within the sense of a lowly meals. Nonetheless, the primary point out of it as a meals in its present type was made by the Greek Dioskouridis within the 2nd century AD.

The fava beans are ready from the peeled seeds of the legume lathuri. The seeds are boiled, floor, and served chilly or scorching with olive oil and onions. Probably the most well-known fava beans in Greece are produced in Santorini. It’s a very tasty and funky vegan dish that you should attempt.

Fava with caramelised onions

Kayana

A conventional dish based mostly on eggs is Kayianas. It’s discovered primarily within the Peloponnese but additionally within the Ionian Islands, the place they name it strapatsada. Its origin might be Turkey or Persia, the place you could find variants of the recipe. It’s a easy dish that appears like an omelette.

It’s made with scrambled eggs, tomatoes, feta cheese, and generally olives. The key to the recipe is sweet components. The tomatoes create a candy aftertaste that’s balanced by the feta cheese and the olives. It’s a dish that, lately, has been included in eating places with up to date Greek delicacies and in locations that serve brunch.

Kayianas with feta

Spanakopita

Pies are an integral a part of the Greek eating regimen and delicacies. Recipes for pies might be discovered virtually throughout Greece. A pie that, nevertheless, has stood out and might be thought-about purely Greek is unquestionably spanakopita. It’s made both with conventional thick phyllo or with puff pastry in two variations. One model is just made with spinach and different herbs and spices (it’s often made in periods of fasting), and the opposite additionally has feta cheese.

It’s a dish that’s often eaten as a fast meal or as a primary course in a correct meal. A chunk of spanakopita is a bit of Greece and is a pleasant approach to fulfill your starvation.

Spanakopita (Photograph by kbmars from Pixabay)

Kokoretsi

Roast lamb (or goat) is a typical meal that’s often mixed with festive events (similar to Christmas and Easter). It’s a meals discovered all around the Balkans and throughout Greece (even on the islands). Nonetheless, a dish that could be a particular delicacy and in actuality utilises all these components of the lamb that can’t be cooked along with the meat is kokoretsi.

It’s lamb or goat intestines wrapped round offal. They embrace sweetbreads, hearts, lungs, and kidneys. The origin of the dish is Byzantine, however its identify is Albanian. It’s undoubtedly a meals for individuals who like heavy flavours and plenty of spices, however it’s a very tasty meat dish that deserves to be tried.

Lamb kokoretsi

Souvlaki

Probably the most well-known and in style Greek road dish is souvlaki (also referred to as kalamaki). Though it might be obtained elsewhere, “souvlatzidika” are specialised eateries the place it’s primarily served. Historic Greece might have been the place the place souvlaki first appeared.

In his well-known work “Deipnosofistes,” the traditional writer Athinaios mentions a dish referred to as kandavlos, which consisted of grilled meat items served with bread, cheese, and dill herb. Small slices of meat and infrequently greens are roasted on a skewer to make a contemporary souvlaki. Though pork was used to make souvlaki to start with, at present it’s also made with rooster, beef, and lamb. It’s usually eaten with bread however might also include fried potatoes, pita bread, and lemon.

Souvlaki with fried potatoes

These ten dishes are only a small introduction to the culinary treasures of Greece. It’s virtually unattainable to cowl every thing in a single article.

Let your senses run free and uncover with out preconceptions the magic of Greek delicacies within the taverns and eating places that you will see in each a part of the nation, and at all times take note of the ideas of the locals.

Travelling is a approach to escape, study, uncover unforgettable locations, meet attention-grabbing folks, and take a look at distinctive gastronomy. After many journeys to Europe and Greece as a bunch of buddies, we determined with our web site Meals and Journey (byfoodandtravel.com) to share our journey and gastronomic experiences with others. We wish to strategy in style locations another way and uncover new unexplored locations.

View all posts

Supply hyperlink