Greek Dishes To Try In Greece

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Are you wondering about Greek dishes to try in Greece? The ones you can’t leave the country without trying? Then I can assure you, you’ve come to the right place! The number one thing I get asked when I tell people I’ve been to Greece is this, “How was the food?”. Greece is so well known for their Mediterranean diet, and let me tell you, if you’re a foodie, you need to go to Greece!

What is the Mediterranean diet? Lots of fresh fish, olive oil, fruits and vegetables, yogurt, cheese, and wine!

We all know the most popular Greek dishes; Greek salad, gyros, and tzatziki, but what other Greek dishes are there awaiting you in Greece?

Here are the Greek dishes to try in Greece!

Greek Salad. A dish this simple shouldn’t taste so good, right? Wrong. The Greeks know that simple is often best. Using high quality ingredients, you only need a few veggies to make a tasty dish. I ate the best Greek salad of my life at our hotel, Paradise Beach Resort, in Mykonos. I was hungry but didn’t really want anything on the menu, so just decided to order a Greek salad. I don’t know what magic they put into this dish, but it was the perfect Greek salad!

Tzatziki. Not a day went by when I didn’t order tzatziki! I’ve always liked tzatziki, but in Greece, I loved it. I thought you couldn’t go wrong with yogurt and cucumbers, but the tzatziki in Greece was so fresh, it just tastes watery in Canada now.

Gyro. I love the availability of gyros for a cheap, quick, easy meal all over Greece. Lamb or beef rolled onto a pita, with yogurt, onions, tomatoes, and maybe some lettuce or fries stuffed in. As a vegetarian, the restaurants would happily take out the meat, or add in some falafel to mine.

The best place I went to gyros was on Paros island, Tou Pepe’s. The food was incredible, after a night out all we were craving was a gyro from Tou Pepe. I bet our group alone could keep that restaurant running! Here you had the option to sit and dine in, or head to the back to order to go. I dream of going back to Paros, A) because it was amazing, but B) for a gyro from Tou Pepe’s.

Loukoumades. Loukoumades have been a part of Greek food culture for well over a thousand years. In fact, there is evidence of them being around for the first Olympic games in 776 BCE.

But what are they? They are fried dough balls that have been drizzled in honey and cinnamon. But when I was in Paros, we also got some covered in different kinds of chocolate. I tried both kinds, and while the original honey is delicious, I am a chocolate girl at heart.

Briam. Briam are thinly roasted vegetables, sort of the Greek version of ratatouille. The vegetables used are eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, onions, occasionally cucumbers, and sometimes cheese. It can be layered thinly in a circle, or cut up into cubes.

I had some really good briam, and some pretty mushy briam, so it really depends on where you order it from.

Keftedes. Keftedes are a traditional Greek meatball, usually made from ground beef or pork.

I am vegetarian so I never tried one, but the people in our group all seemed to really enjoy them!

Souvlaki. Souvlaki is meat grilled onto a skewer. It is a typical fast food which is cheap and yummy for filling your belly after a night of drinking. Or just because you crave one!

Melitzanosalata (Greek eggplant dip). This eggplant dip is healthy and tasty. Another simple Mediterranean dish, this dip consists of eggplants, olive oil, parsley, red onions and garlic.

Tomato paste. A part of me feels like tomato paste is a very random addition to this list of Greek foods to try in Greece, but actually, tomato paste in Greece is really delicious! The tomatoes are grown without using water, giving the tomatoes a rich flavour.

We had tomato paste at most tables for dipping bread into, and let me tell you, if tomato paste tasted as good in Canada as it does in Greece, it would be my new dip of choice.

Moussaka. I would describe moussaka as the Greek version of lasagna. It has layers of eggplant, ground beef or lamb, tomato, and bechamel sauce.

I always thought moussaka was created in Greece, but as it turns out it is actually a dish the Balkans and Middle East were originally known for. The Greek version was created in the 1920’s, but now Greece is well known for their moussaka.

I had a veggie moussaka that was delicious, albeit quite rich. I could only eat a bit of my meal.

Baklava. I have never liked baklava. I don’t like nuts or dishes that are drenched in honey, but baklava in Greece? Give me more please!

I could easily eat the baklava in Greece. It wasn’t overly sweet, and the nuts were diced up finely, adding the perfect crunch to eat bite.

What is in baklava? Crushed pistachios and honey are rolled into a phyllo dough and baked. After eating it in Greece I can see why it is such a popular dessert.

Dolmades. The first time I heard of Dolmades was while reading Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants. One of the characters family lives in Greece, and Dolmades were mentioned. Since then I had always wanted to try them.

Dolmades are grape leaves stuffed with rice and sometimes meat, rolled up into small rolls you can easily eat with your hands. This may be one of the most typical Greek dishes. The rice ones I had were good, but I can imagine the meat ones are even better.

Tomato fritters – Tomaotokeftedes. After discovering that tomatoes in Greek are supreme, I knew I had to try a tomato fritter after so many locals telling me to. They were really good, but also quite sweet! I don’t think I’d eat them every meal out because I prefer savoury foods, but for a treat every now and then, these would hit the spot!

Greek Fava Dip if you’re in Santorini. Technically you can get fava dip anywhere in Greece, but it is especially popular in Santorini since the yellow split peas they use in the dip grows on the island. Yes, the fava dip doesn’t actually even have fava beans in it.

The yellow split peas are combined with olive oil, onions, and garlic, and then blended until smooth.

Feta Me Meli. When I think of Greece I will forever think of feta, and feta me meli is like feta on crack. The feta is wrapped in phyllo dough then drizzled with honey, and sometimes sesame seeds, then baked in the oven.

I could eat this daily.

Freddo Cappuccino. The thing I miss the most about Greece isn’t the gyros, or the cobblestones. It isn’t the islands or the historic sites. I really miss freddo cappuccinos.

A freddo cappuccino is hot espresso blended with sugar and ice, and then topped with cold foamy milk. I usually don’t like sugar in my coffee so I would get medium sugar, but even full sugar was delicious for me.

I cannot even begin to tell you how many freddo cappuccinos I consumed while in Greece, they are just sublime.

Pasteli. Pasteli is a very simple snack made with just two ingredients, honey and sesame seeds. They are mixed together and heated, then formed into a bar.

I personally didn’t love this snack, but my tour guide grew up on them and loves them.

Revani. Revani is another sugary treat that I didn’t like, but most others seemed to enjoy. It is a semolina cake that is soaked in syrup and has coconut on top.

On our last evening in Greece we were served large slices of this delicacy, but after one bite I passed it off to my sister, as they have a sweet tooth.

Saganaki. Saganaki is a very simple side dish. It is simply fried cheese. The cheese needs to be a firmed cheese, such a halloumi, to hold it’s shape and texture after being grilled.

Spanakopita. Fun fact about me is I do not like pie. I wish I did, but I don’t like the crust. Spanakopita though? I could eat that all day!

A savoury spinach and usually feta pie wrapped up in phyllo dough, and the end result is pure deliciousness. The first thing I ate when I got to Greece was spanakopita, and it was the perfect start to the trip!

Tiropita. Tiropita is very similar to spanakopita, however there is no spinach in this pie, just cheese.

Yemista. Yemista was one of my favourite dishes I ate while in Greece. They are peppers and tomatoes stuffed with rice. Very simple, yet very filling and delicious.

Out of all the Greek dishes to try in Greece, my favourites were freddo cappuccinos, Tou Pepe’s gyros, tomato paste, yemista, and tzatziki. But I can truly say, the Greeks have food figured out, as everything I ate was delicious!

Do you have a favourite Greek dish? Which of these would you most want to try?