Everything tastes better when you’re sitting in the Mediterranean sunshine on a terrace overlooking the sea. The tastiest dishes from Greece, Italy, and Spain are never quite the same when trying to recreate them back home, so make the most of your holiday. Forget the diet and indulge in the finest Greek dishes while you can. Greek Food: here are our picks for the ultimate things to try while you’re in Greece.
Moussaka
When you think of a traditional Greek meal, moussaka may well be the first thing that springs to mind. It’s kind of like a Greek take on lasagne, with layers of sautéed aubergine slices replacing the pasta. There’s a hint of sweetness in the tomato-rich meat sauce, thanks to delicate spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. Combined with the soothing creaminess of the bechamel, it makes this the ultimate Greek comfort food.
In other countries, we often think of moussaka as being made with minced lamb. However, in Greece, beef is used just as often. Indeed, the choice of meat can depend on where you are in the country — and it gives you a great excuse to try both varieties.
Tzatziki
Say hello to the taste of the Greek summer. Tzatziki sauce is a dip that’s simple but oh-so-good. The basic ingredients for a tzatziki recipe are cucumber, garlic and yoghurt —Greek, of course! Small amounts of olive oil and lemon juice, along with some herbs like mint or dill, add extra flavour. Mixed together, they create one of the most refreshing and versatile Greek dips.
Tzatziki is a must with any meze platter, but it can also be enjoyed with all kinds of other dishes. The locals enjoy it with meat, veggies, dolmades, good Greek bread —anything, really! Any excuse to add a dollop of tzatziki to your food is a good one.
Taramasalata
While we’re on the subject of dips, taramasalata is another of our favourite Greek foods. This fresh, zingy dip is made with preserved fish roe, but it’s a whole lot more appetising than it sounds. The disturbingly bright pink dips you can find on supermarket shelves in the UK have nothing to do with the real thing — it’s like comparing Surbiton to Santorini.
Every Greek Yiayia has her own recipe for taramasalata. While the fish roe is the star of the show, the dip can be thickened with bread, potatoes and even different kinds of nuts, such as almonds or walnuts. Try it spread on flatbread for a simple but delicious starter or snack.
Greek salad
First things first: no, the Greeks don’t call it Greek salad. In fact, the word they use is horiatiki, which translates as “village salad”. You might think that’s because every village in the country has its own version of this traditional Greek food, but as always, the truth is stranger than fiction. Greek salad was actually invented by restaurateurs in Athens as a way of spicing up the menu for tourists and making a bit more profit. However, the Greeks soon realised that this salad was more than just a tourist trap, and it spread across the country.
Simple but delicious, Greek salad takes the freshest summer veggies, including tomatoes, cucumber and peppers and mixes them with Kalamata olives. The real star ingredient is the feta, the iconic Greek cheese with its unique texture and tangy flavour. Mixed together, it’s the perfect summer cooler.
Souvlaki
Archaeologists have dug up the ancient remains of a barbecue in Santorini, which dates back almost 4,000 years. They reckon it was used for holding skewers, which just goes to show that the Greeks have been putting meat on sticks since the dawn of time. We reckon they’ve just about perfected it by now, which is why souvlaki is one of our favourite types of Greek food.
You can make souvlaki with any kind of meat. Traditionally, pork and chicken were used, but beef and lamb are both common now, too. In this new, vegan-friendly era, there are even vegetarian versions, but you may not be able to find them outside the bigger tourist destinations. Enjoy your souvlaki skewers wrapped in pita bread, served with a generous helping of tzatziki, for some of the tastiest street food in Greece.
Gyros
What’s the difference between gyros and souvlaki? Both of these iconic Greek dishes consist of meat on a stick, but they’re not quite the same. While souvlaki uses whole chunks of meat, gyros take finely shaved meat from a large, rotating metal skewer — much like the kebabs that are so famous in neighbouring Turkey.
Like souvlaki, gyros are endlessly versatile. Chicken gyro meat is one of the most popular gyro types, but you’ll also find lamb, beef and gyros pork. Just like with souvlaki, these taste best with fresh pita gyros and tzatziki. Yum!
Stifado
Here’s another classic from Yiayia’s kitchen. Stifado is a hearty stew that is one of the most popular Greek foods for family get-togethers. Every family has their own version, and no two are quite the same, so it’s very hard to give a definitive stifado recipe.
Traditionally, stifado was made with rabbit or beef, but adventurous cooks take the basic formula — a slow-cooked sauce made with wine, cinnamon, cloves and a few simple veggies — and put their own spin on it. From Greek marinated chicken to octopus, lamb or even modern vegan versions, there’s a stifado for every occasion.
Keftedes
Have you tried Greek meatballs yet? We can’t get enough of these tasty bite-sized morsels, which are commonly served on meze platters or as bar snacks. Keftedes have a rich, complex flavour because of the range of ingredients. Typically, most cooks mix beef and pork together for the meat, but beyond that, there’s plenty of scope for playing around. Some cooks add fresh herbs, while others throw in onions. There are even versions that use ouzo to add a unique —and very Greek— flavour to the mix.
Keftedes aren’t necessarily meatballs, by the way. You may be able to guess that tomatokeftedes, which are popular in Santorini, are a kind of tomato fritter. You can also find courgette keftedes and broad bean keftedes, so your veggie friends don’t have to miss out.
Sardines
This is one Greek food that may not excite you that much, but come in with an open mind and give it a go. Sardines are the ultimate Greek fish. These humble little fishies have long been a staple of the peasant kitchen, as they’re cheap, easy to prepare and packed with nutrients.
The Greeks love to catch sardines for a quick and easy lunch. Preparations tend to be simple. For example, sardines with garlic, parsley and a generous squeeze of lemon juice is the perfect lunch during the long, hot summer. Before you turn up your nose at this homely meal, remember that fresh sardines are a world away from their canned cousins.
Pastitzada
Every Greek island has its own specialities, and we happen to love this Greek food from Corfu. It consists of a thick, slow-cooked stew in a tomato sauce. Cinnamon gives the sauce that special touch that makes the dish stand out. The meat is not set in stone: choose beef or chicken, depending on your own preferences.
It’s often served as a fabulous pasta dish, but some people prefer to pour it over rice or even mashed potatoes. We reckon it’s delicious no matter which way you choose to serve it.
Spanakopita
Greek pie is an absolute must for any traveller to the country. The Greeks love their pies, particularly when they’re made with flaky filo pastry. This has been a nation of pie lovers since the classical era, and it doesn’t look like it’ll change any time soon. Visit any pie shop in the country, and you’ll find several options to choose from, but nothing is as good as this spinach and cheese pie.
Spinach is the main ingredient in spanakopita, but this pie also includes feta cheese, herbs and a good glug of olive oil. The ancient Greeks used to eat their pies dipped in wine, but we’re happy to leave that one in the past. Spanakopita is definitely good enough without the need for any weird extras.
Dolmades
Dolmades are a highlight of any meze platter and one of the most popular Greek foods of all. These are stuffed leaves. Cabbage leaves, fig leaves and vine leaves can all be used, although vine leaves are probably the most popular. Inside the leafy exterior is a rich stuffing of rice and herbs.
Dolmades are the perfect vehicle for dipping your food. Try them with tzatziki for an all-Greek treat that will absolutely blow your mind. You can even try rolling your own at a traditional Greek cooking class, but be warned: it’s a lot harder than it looks. Even if you have experience rolling sushi, figuring out the twists and turns of a tightly wrapped dolmade may need you to enlist some help. There’s a definite knack to it, and if you get it wrong, your dolmade is likely to explode during the cooking process. It’ll still taste great, but it will look a bit of a mess.
Loukoumades
No list of Greek food would be complete without something sweet, and here it is. Loukoumades are often thought of as a kind of Greek honey cake, but we don’t think that’s quite right. In fact, these bite-sized morsels are more like doughnuts or churros. Some honey does go into their production, giving them a distinctive touch of sweetness.
Loukoumades are one of the oldest Greek foods. We don’t know exactly when they were invented, but we do know that the Greeks took to them right away. Since the classical era, they’ve been eaten on feast days and special occasions. In the early editions of the Olympic Games, successful athletes were offered loukoumades as a reward for their victory. Naturally, nobody thought to ask those athletes if they really wanted loukoumades as a prize or if they’d rather see a bit of cash. To be honest, we’d probably want the money, but we might just spend it on more loukoumades. Really, these doughnuts are that good.
Greek food is one of the best things about a holiday in Greece. The others? How about sunshine, gorgeous landscapes and the chance to go splashing around in some of Europe’s best waters? All of that is waiting for you on our eight-day trip to Corfu. In this whirlwind adventure, you’ll discover one of the best Greek islands, exploring its rugged mountains and mysterious sea caves. McDonald’s will not be on the menu — we’re going to indulge in some of the finest Greek cuisine along the way. Why not join us?
