“Food is everything we are. It's an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It's inseparable from those from the get-go.”
- Anthony Bourdain
Dear Travellers and food enthusiasts from all over the world,
Hello!
It's been a while since I posted my last blog entry!
With so many blogs out there, I doubted whether sharing additional content on topics others have already covered was worth it.
However, after considering and appreciating the feedback from our Vespa travellers, especially those visiting Greece for the first time, I have decided to write a blog post on what you must eat when in Greece!
We know your time is valuable, so I have decided on "What to Eat in Greece" blog content to appear as it would in a restaurant menu. In addition, I have included pictures of each dish to provide you with a better visual representation of what you can expect.
Please keep reading to find out what I mean!
Navigate easily to each food category:
SOUPS
"Kakavia", the Greek Fisherman's soup! It contains different fishes depending on the catch of the day (usually white fishes), prawns, lobster, molluscs, tomatoes and vegetables.
"Fasolada" White bean soup contains tomato, carrots, and olive oil.
The authentic dish recipe is 🍃Vegan-friendly. Always double-check before ordering.
"Fakes" Lentil soup contains garlic, bay, black pepper, oregano, olive oil and sometimes onion, leek, tomato and carrots.
The authentic dish recipe is 🍃Vegan-friendly. Always double-check before ordering.
"Revithia" Chickpea soup contains garlic, black pepper, bay, rosemary, oregano, onion, lemon juice and olive oil.
The authentic dish recipe is 🍃Vegan-friendly. Always double-check before ordering.
"Polysporia" is a mixed legumes and grains soup; it might contain beans, chickpeas, lentils, corn, broad beans, or wheat seed, garlic, onion leek, carrots, black pepper, bay and oregano.
The authentic dish recipe is 🍃Vegan-friendly. Always double-check before ordering.
Traditionally, legume soups and dishes are served with bread, pickled vegetables (preferably peppers and olives), "lakerda" (pickled Bonito fish), or smoked herring and are often served as a main course.
APPETIZERS
Spreads
"Taramosalata" is made from fish roe, olive oil, lemon juice, grated onions, bread, or, instead of bread, mashed potato.
"Tzatziki" contains Greek strained yoghurt, cucumber, garlic, and olive oil.
"Tirokafteri" Spicy Cheese spread contains feta cheese, yoghurt, garlic and hot chilli pepper.
"Melitzanosalata" Roasted (sometimes smoked) aubergines, onion, garlic, parsley, and vinegar. Sometimes, it also contains walnuts.
The authentic dish recipe is 🍃Vegan-friendly. Always double-check before ordering.
"Fava" contains yellow split peas, red onions, lemon juice, oregano and thyme. Sometimes, it is served with cappers or caramelized onions!
The authentic dish recipe is 🍃Vegan-friendly. Always double-check before ordering.
Filo Pastry pies
There is a wide range of pie fillings like spinach, feta cheese, mixed cheese, minced meat, leek, mixed wild greens, mushrooms etc.
Some pie-filling mixtures are Vegan-friendly like spinach, wild greens, mushrooms, pumpkin, and zucchini.
If you have never tried cheese pie with Mizithra cheese and honey, give it a try! It can be enjoyed as an appetizer or a dessert! Sometimes, the pie is drizzled with nuts or sesame seeds!
"Cheese Saganaki" pan-seared semi-hard, dry Greek cheese.
"Feta Cheese Buyourdi" baked feta with tomatoes, garlic and chilli. Served with toasted bread!
"Shrimps or prawns Saganaki" shrimps or prawns cooked in tomato sauce with feta cheese, ouzo and parsley.
"Kolokithokeftedes" Zucchini fried patties- fritters sometimes contain Feta cheese or other semi-hard Greek cheeses.
This dish recipe sometimes is 🍃Vegan-friendly if the dish does not contain an animal protein as an add-on.
"Spetzofai" is a Spicy Greek traditional sausage cooked in tomato sauce with peppers.
"Bekri Maze" is a Greek drunken pork (sometimes chicken) stew. It contains pork, tomato, wine, peppers, garlic, cumin and sometimes cheese. This dish can also be eaten as a main course (it pairs nicely with french fries or rice).
"Keftedakia" are fried meatballs that contain herbs (parsley, oregano, etc), garlic and onion. This dish can also be eaten as a main course (it pairs nicely with french fries and tzatziki).
"Dolmadakia" stuffed grape-vine leaves or cabbage leaves with rice and herbs. Sometimes, the rice mixture also contains minced meat.
This dish recipe sometimes is 🍃Vegan-friendly if the dish does not contain an animal protein as an add-on.
'Melitzanes papoutsakia'' Stuffed eggplants with minced meat tomato, bechamel sauce and cheese. There is also a vegetarian option that does not contain minced meat and a version without a bechamel sauce. This dish can also be eaten as a main course (it pairs nicely with rice).
Main Dishes
"Mousaka" is an oven-baked dish that contains aubergines, potatoes, minced meat and bechamel sauce. Some versions include extra seasonal vegetables such as peppers and zucchini.
"Gemista" stuffed vegetables (traditionally peppers and tomatoes) filled with rice and herbs and baked with potatoes in a tomato sauce. Sometimes, the filling mixture also contains minced meat.
This dish recipe sometimes is 🍃Vegan-friendly if the dish does not contain an animal protein.
"Pastitsio" is the epitome of all Greeks' childhood comfort food!
Pastitsio is an oven-backed pasta dish that contains layers of minced meat sauce (Bolognese) and bechamel sauce.
"Briam" Roasted summer seasonal vegetables with potatoes, herbs and tomato.
The authentic dish recipe is 🍃Vegan-friendly. Always double-check before ordering.
"Gigantes Plaki" is baked giant beans cooked in tomato sauce with parsley and sometimes other herbs.
The authentic dish recipe is 🍃Vegan-friendly. Always double-check before ordering.
"Youvetsi or Giouvetsi" Is a stew with orzo pasta cooked in tomato sauce. It might contain meat such as beef or lamb, but you can also find a seafood version containing octopus or cuttlefish.
"Stifado" is a rabbit or beef stew simmered in a rich and delicious tomato and wine sauce that contains pearl onions.
"Kontosouvli" Spit roasted bbq pork. Kontosouvli is an extra large pork souvlaki traditionally slow roasted on a spit over an open charcoal pit.
Salads
"Greek salad" contains tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, onion, olives and feta cheese. Sometimes, restaurants add rusk or capers.
"Politiki salad" contains garbage, carrots, celery, peppers and lemon. Sometimes, it might also have pomegranate seeds, pine seeds, raisins and parsley. The authentic dish recipe is 🍃Vegan-friendly. Always double-check before ordering.
"Horta Vrasta" is a boiled greens salad drizzled with freshly squeezed lemon and olive oil. It pairs perfectly with fried cod fish or kalamari, or grilled fish dishes.
This warm salad is 🍃Vegan-friendly.
Deserts
Greek strained yoghurt
Greek strained yoghurt is a type of yoghurt that has been strained to remove most of its whey, resulting in a thicker consistency compared to normal unstrained yoghurt. It still maintains the distinctive sour taste of yoghurt.
It can be served with a variety of toppings, such as honey, walnuts, fruits, granola, and many other options! It is a perfect option for breakfast, a snack - a light meal or a dessert!
"Galaktoboureko" is a custard pie wrapped in phyllo dough and covered with a lemony syrup.
"Ekmek kataifi" Layers of baked kataifi dough, custard cream with mastic essence and whipped cream soaked in syrup.
"Portokalopita" is a syrupy phyllo yoghurt orange cake.
"Karydopita" walnut cake covered in sweet syrup.
"Halvah simigdalenio" is a Soft semolina cake with a cinnamon and clove aroma that might contain raisins and nuts.
The authentic dessert recipe is 🍃Vegan-friendly. Always double-check before ordering.
"Rizogalo" Rice pudding flavoured with vanilla and cinnamon. You can have it as breakfast also.
"Ravani or Revani" is a light semolina sponge cake made with butter, olive oil, Greek yoghurt, and syrup. Sometimes, it contains coconut.
"Sokolatopita" is a moist chocolait cake.
"Mosaiko" is a biscuit chocolate salami infused with Metaxa. Sometimes, it contains nuts and raisins.
"Baklava" is a layered dessert made of filo pastry, filled with chopped nuts (mostly walnuts or almonds) and sweetened with syrup or honey.
Instead of Mignardises
"Moustokouloura" are grape molasses cookies. They might be soft and chewy or crunchie with clove and cinnamon aromas. You can pair them with a Greek coffee or a warm cup of Greek mountain tea.
The authentic cookie recipe is 🍃Vegan-friendly.
Bite-size phyllo dough desserts!
Baklava - Kantaifi - Kourkoubinia - Galaktoboureko - Saragli - Roxakia.
Some of them are 🍃Vegan-friendly.
Greek street food
Pitta Gyros or Souvlaki
Pita bread wraps with pork gyros or chicken or pork souvlaki, tzatziki, french fries, fresh tomato and onion. There are vegetarian and vegan options also available.
Filo Pastry pies
In the Greek language, Pita translates to pie!
There is a wide range of pie fillings like:
"Spanakopita" spinach pie sometimes contains feta cheese.
"Tyropita" feta cheese pie.
" Kimadopita" minced meat pie.
"Prasopita" leek pie.
"Hortopita" mixed wild greens pie.
"Manitaropita" mushroom pie.
"Bougatsa me Krema" custard cream pie sprinkled with cinnamon and icing sugar.
Loukoumades
Loukoumades are the Greek version of doughnuts. They are traditionally soaked in honey syrup sprinkled with cinnamon and garnished with chopped walnuts or toasted sesame seeds. Nowadays, you can find "Loukoumades" with various toppings such as melted dark chocolate, white chocolate, Oreo, etc.
The authentic recipe is 🍃Vegan-friendly. But please always double-check before ordering.
We have kept our food menu as short as possible, including the most iconic Greek dishes one should savour. Of course, there are countless other signature Greek flavours and dishes to explore. Don't forget to taste some fresh grilled fish while in Greece!
Each region has unique culinary specialities that are worth trying when there, as nothing is more important than consuming fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients when it comes to food.
After reading our post, we hope we have helped you decide what to eat during your holiday in Greece!
If you are looking at what to taste, especially on Corfu Island, please visit our blog post "Corfu Must Eat" for Corfu signature dishes - flavours!
Have a lovely rest of your day, and enjoy your holiday in Greece!
Yours sincerely,
Katerina
