A great way to experience a country is through its food. And here is my list of must-try food when visiting Greece!
Gyros
Gyros is the Greek street food. It is made from pork or chicken meat, cooked on a vertical rotisserie and served wrapped in a pita along other ingredients like potato ships, tomatoes and tzatziki.
Siropiasta
Traditional Greek pastries, they are usually filled with nuts and generously drizzled with syrup. Some examples are Baklavas, Portokalopita (orange cake) and Ravani (Semolina Cake).
Greek Salad
A very simple dish that you can make a home. What makes the difference is the freshness of the ingredients. Greek salad is made with tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, onions and off course feta, dressed in just olive oil and oregano.
Fresh Fish
You can’t go to a Mediterranean country and not try fresh fish. Best way to enjoy is grilled on charcoal and server with ladolemono (olive oil and lemon).
Advice, try to avoid very touristic taverns as you might not get the best products that there is out there.
Octopus
It is served as a meze (snack/starter). It can be grilled on charcoal or marinated in vinegar, either way it is delicious!
Dolmades
Steamed vine leaves stuffed with rice (or meat depending on the region) and folded over to create a small parcel. It is usually served as a meze (snack/starter).
Saganaki
Traditional Greek chesses, like graviera, breaded and then fried and served with a squeeze of lemon.
Gemista
Vegetables, usually tomatoes, peppers and courgettes, stuffed with rice and/or mince meat baked in the oven, served with oven backed potatoes or chips and a scoop of yogurt (or tzatziki).
That’s a very good list Natacha and certainly anyone who visits Greece should try what you have suggested.
If you allow me, I would like to add a couple of more suggestions:
– Greek Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe With Egg & Lemon Sauce (Lahanodolmades Avgolemono)
– Goat soup (for winter time)
– Roasted Lamb
– Grilled Octapus (summer time)
and all the above served with some Tsipouro (distilled spirit produced from the pomace)
In case you don’t agree with the extra suggestions, no problem 🙂
Oh yes, some of them are excellent suggestions. I already have the grilled octopus, but the other one I’ll definitely add them!
Thank you 🙂
Oh, you are absolutely right about the octopus! My apologies. 🙂
I haven’t tried much of Greek cuisine but I have to! Siropiasta looks so good 🤩 Thanks for sharing
Thanks you! Siropiasta are sooo good! And soooo bad for diets haha
I love Greek food and there’s some on here that I haven’t yet tried. Great post!
Thank you 😊
Oh so many great recipes! I. really can’t wait to go to Greece and try some of these! The saganaki and dolmades sound great, we have something similar to Gemista in Italy too x
Thank you! Yes we do have some of Italian and Turkish influences in our food
I went to Greexe and Cyprus within a year of each other back when I was about 19. I loved it. The culture, the architecture, the beaches. I basically lived off of Gyros – my hungover state couldn’t get enough.
Maybe if I were to go now as an older person, I’d be into more foodie bits!
Rosie
Hahaha well all 19 years old live off of Gyro so you did have the authentic teenager experience! But yes highly recommended tried some of the above next time 😉
I love this post! I would like to try a classic Greek salad soon, thanks for sharing x