Great Greek Grub! February 1, 2023
Dining out in Greece is an event of itself. Traditional meals begin with an array of delicious dips followed by dishes of pastries stuffed with fresh seasonal vegetables, then onto a main course of seafood or meat kebabs, before ending with sweet and sticky treats like Baklava.
Here are some of our recommendations of must-try Greek foods.
Gyro
With an age-old debate of how to properly pronounce it, the Greek “Gy-ro”, ”Geer-yo,” “Year-oh,” (or “I don’t know”) is agreeably one of the most celebrated staples of Grecian delectable delights. Lamb kebob meat served on a warm pita bread, topped with a tzatziki sauce, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and crumbled feta cheese! Offered in both sit-down restaurants to Main Street food carts, it is a MUST when staying in Greece.
Moussaka
Moussaka is one of the best-known Greek dishes – a baked casserole consisting of ground lamb meat and layers of sliced eggplant, covered with a thick layer of bechamel sauce that gets golden and crusty as it bakes. The lamb is sometimes replaced with beef, while the eggplants might be replaced with zucchini or potatoes.
Spanakopita
Spanakopita is a Greek spinach pie consisting of a buttery, flaky phyllo pastry with a filling of cooked spinach, lemon juice, feta cheese, and sometimes dill. It can be served either as a small snack, an appetizer, or a light main course. Due to a farming tradition of handheld foods, the pies were originally invented for the field workers who would carry them in their pockets and consume them while working.
Horiatiki (Greek Salad)
Greek salad, also known as village salad or horiatiki is the national dish of Greece, consisting of quartered tomatoes, sliced red onions, and chunky slices of cucumber. Depending on the region, there can also be olives, green peppers, feta cheese, oregano, salt, pepper, or a typical dressing made from olive oil and lemon or vinegar.