There are two major reasons why we should all give Greek food a try. Firstly, Greek cuisine is a mother of all western cuisines. Its 4000 thousand years long culinary tradition and ingredients adopted from the East have influenced the cuisines of Europe and beyond in the best ways possible!

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Secondly, Greek cuisine is a Mediterranean cuisine. We have already discussed the benefits of the Mediterranean diet and stressed the importance of using fresh ingredients like olive oil, vegetables, grains, seafood, and fish. Greek cuisine encompasses all of these, but also adds meat, both white and red (including poultry, lamb, pork, and rabbit). Other widely used foods include cheese, yogurt, bread, olives, zucchini, eggplant, herbs, and lemon juice. As far as sweets are concerned, there’s an abundance of fruits, nuts, and honey; however, that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

The good news is we don’t need to travel to Greece in order to enjoy delicious Greek food! Imagine days filled with tzatziki, gyros, baklava, and frappes. Ready to go to Greece? Brace yourselves, some seriously tasty food is coming your way!

#1 Gyros

Gyros are the first Greek food to try after setting foot in this country. There are gyro stands and restaurants at almost every corner throughout the country. Gyros are not only utterly tasty and authentic; they’re also very fulfilling and, on top of it all, ridiculously cheap!

Gyros are made of pita bread, a slightly leavened flatbread, wrapped around chicken or pork. The meat, which is roasted vertically and turning on the spit, is called ‘gyro’. The meat is sliced and then combined with tomatoes, onions, French fries, lettuce, tzatziki, and various condiments (ketchup, mustard, etc.) Warning: Gyros are quite messy to eat, which makes them even more satisfying!

Dilly Grecian Gyros

#2 Greek Salad

People in Greece serve Greek salad with almost every meal, as a starter or side dish. It contains tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and feta cheese cubes. Onions, bell peppers, and lettuce can be added optionally. Dressings can vary depending on personal preferences but they usually include olive oil, vinegar (or lemon juice), salt, and pepper. Oregano is often added for an extra Mediterranean twist!

Sunshine Greek Salad

#3 Moussaka

When you and your big hungry family decide to have Greek food, enter the first taverna and order a moussaka. This juicy and creamy dish has a number of versions in the Balkan and Middle Eastern countries but in Greece, the traditional recipe is made with sautéed eggplant, minced meat (usually lamb), and tomato, all covered a white, savory sauce and baked until brown. Onion, garlic, and spices (salt, pepper, cinnamon, allspice) are also commonly added. When it comes to moussaka, the serving temperature is very important; it should be served warm in order to prevent it from falling apart.

Light and Easy Moussaka

#4 Tzatziki

To most people in the western countries, tzatziki is the first association for Greek food. This simple and yet spectacular sauce has many variations but it is essentially made of yogurt, garlic, olive oil, as well as fresh herbs like mint and dill. Cucumbers (finely chopped or grated) can also be added. Tzatziki tastes best when served chilled and makes beautiful combinations with freshly-fried foods like potato pancakes, breaded vegetables, fried chicken and more!

Creamy Tzatziki Sauce with Garlic and Dill

#5 Souvlaki

Souvlaki translates as ‘skewered meat’ and is one of the most beloved Greek foods. It is comprised of skewered & seasoned meat, complemented with tzatziki sauce. However, the fact that the word ‘souvlaki’ is also used to refer to any type of meat wrapped in a pita can be rather confusing to inexperienced Greek food enthusiasts, so beware when you order it!

Pork Souvlaki with Lemon Rice

#6 Saganaki

Saganaki is a term which encompasses a number of dishes prepared in a small pan. The most famous Greek food belonging to this category is the appetizer made of cheese, fried until bubbly, seasoned with lemon juice & pepper and served with bread. Other Greek foods cooked in a saganaki frying pan include mussels saganaki and shrimp saganaki, both of which include tomato sauce, spices, and feta cheese.

Shrimp Linguine in a Tomato and Feta Sauce a.k.a Shrimp Saganaki Linguine

#7 Pastitsio

Pastitsio, also known as Greek lasagna, is a baked pasta dish which includes ground meat and sauce. The typical Greek version is made with a bucatini layer on the bottom (or another kind of tubular pasta), followed by ground meat (beef is most commonly used, sometimes lamb and veal), tomatoes, as well as spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice. Pastitsio is covered in a sauce which can be either Béchamel or egg-based custard. Finally, cheese is sprinkled on top. This Greek food is usually served as a main course, accompanied by a salad.

Pastitsio (Greek Lasagna) with Greens

#8 Baklava

If you’d been to Greece without tasting baklava, you’ll need to go back as soon as possible and remedy this wrongful doing! Baklava is a rich, very sweet dessert made of layers of crispy filo pastry and filled with chopped nuts.

After baking, this sweet Greek food is covered in a sticky sherbet (boiled water & sugar) or honey, which is then left to get absorbed into the pastry. Besides in Greece, baklava is also found in almost all Levant, Balkan, and Middle Eastern countries. What sets the Greek variety apart, though, is the fact that it is supposedly made of 33 layers of filo pastry, one for each year of Christ’s life.

Baklava Rolls

#9 Loukoumades

You’re relaxing on a beautiful Greek beach when suddenly you’re startled by a loud “Loukoumadeeeees!” Don’t worry, it’s only the vendors who sell tasty Greek donuts. Traditionally, loukoumades are small golden balls of fried dough sprinkled with sweet syrup, nuts, powdered sugar, and/or cinnamon. Modern varieties of this sweet Greek food can be filled with chocolate cream or fruit jams. Whichever variety you decide to try, you can expect a soft & fluffy inside and a crispy outside. Don’t forget to pair them with a frappe for a perfect summer satisfaction!

Loukoumades – Greek Donuts

#10 Greek Coffee

When it comes to coffee, there are two authentic Greek varieties to choose from. The first one is Ellinikos, a type of coffee regularly made in almost every Greek household and usually served in a traditional copper pot called ‘briki’. Ellinikos can be made with three different levels of sweetness – very sweet, medium, and no sugar.

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The other popular coffee variety is frappe. Frappe is an iced, foamy drink made of instant coffee granules and water. Besides refreshment, Greek frappe offers an instant wake-up at zero calories!

I believe that food should not only taste good, but make you feel good as well and that is why I am so interested in exploring ingredients, preparing meals, and finding ways to make the whole cooking experience fun and exciting! Being a blogger for MyGreatRecipes unites my two passions – food and writing, and I am enjoying every second of it!