Traditional Greek Food: 10 Tastes of Greece

Like many other cuisines, Greek food has been subtly entering the global palate. You may think you don’t have any idea what Greek food is (apart from perhaps the infamous Greek alcohol, ouzo), but I’m pretty sure you know some of the food on this list! Traditional Greek food is delicious, check out the list and let us know when you try them out!

#1 Tzatziki

Yes, this refreshingly delicious dip or appetizer is very Greek. A simple combination of yogurt, cucumber, and garlic with a dash or two of olive oil, served chilled, tastes great on its own or served with bread triangles, corn chips, or warm pita. If you have not tried it, it works very well as a side dish to grilled dishes, too.

Fancy making your own? Just follow these simple steps. All you need is:

• 2 cups of Greek yogurt
• half a medium-sized cucumber
• 1 or 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
• pinch of salt
• 2-3 dashes of olive oil

Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Chill it for at least 30 minutes before serving. If you want to decorate it, dill is a good option as its taste blends well with the rest of the ingredients.

TIP: To avoid the tzatziki being too watery, remove the center of the cucumber. To do so, cut it lengthwise into four pieces so that you can cut out the seeds in the middle. Once done, you can either dice the cucumber or grate it. A professional recipe will tell you to mix salt into the diced/grated cucumber, wait 30 minutes, and remove the liquid by placing the cucumbers in a clean dishtowel and squeezing out the juice. Since I prepare this an hour before eating it and Greek yogurt is quite firm anyway, I don’t mind the extra moisture that the cucumber provides.

#2 Courgette Balls

This fritter is a must-try starter whenever you find it served on the menu. It is made of grated courgette, flavored with mint and dill, and other spices according to the chef. For me, this works great as a savory afternoon snack. You can also serve them with tzatziki.

#3 Moussaka

Moussaka is a baked dish consisting of layers of sautéed aubergines, minced meat, tomato purée, garlic, onions and mild spices like cinnamon.

Some people serve moussaka with a bit of potato as part of the topping, but a béchamel sauce, and cheese topping is more common.

#4 Feta Cheese

This is a salted curd white cheese made from sheep’s milk. Its creamy texture and savory flavor makes is a favorite addition to my salads.

According to EU legislation, the name “feta” is only designated for cheeses that are traditionally produced in certain parts of Greece where the main ingredient must be sheep’s milk, or a mixture of sheep and goat’s milk. So if you find feta in your supermarket, you can be assured that you’re buying the genuine Greek product.

#5 Spanakopita

Speaking of feta cheese, spanakopita is a Greek spinach pie that contains feta. This dish is great for vegetarians. I myself love it because spinach is always a nutritious vegetable, while the feta provides protein and complements the spinach pie well.

#6 Dolmathakia

Dolmathakia are those stuffed grape leaves that contain rice, pine nuts, and fresh herbs. It is normally available in cans on supermarket shelves.

To eat it, simple sprinkle lemon juice over them before popping one into your mouth. Alternatively, you can prepare some vinaigrette to dip them in.

#7 Fassolatha

This is known to be a Greek household staple. It is a white bean soup with tomato-based flavor, coupled with vegetables like carrots and celeries. It’s heartily nutritious and perfect for those cooler nights.

#8 Gyro

Gyro is a Greek wrap containing thinly sliced seasoned roasted meat paired with tomato and onion slices. It is often served with fries. In Europe, you can easily find gyro in fast food places as it is very convenient as a take-away food.

While this list is mostly appetizers and main dishes, let us not forget the sweets!

#9 Honey Baklava

This is a lovely nutty dessert containing ground nuts, filo pastry, and honey.

#10 Kourabiethes

These are rich buttery almond cookies that are commonly found at Greek parties. It literally melts in your mouth, and all too quickly, it’s gone and you’ll want another one.

This list of traditional Greek food, of course, is not exhaustive. Like any cuisine, Greek food can’t be just summarized in just a list of 10. Remember that the Greeks love their hearty meals prepared with fresh ingredients. So, be adventurous and make sure you try their fresh meats and seafood dishes if you ever find yourself in Greece.