Want to know what to try in Greece? Go to Grevena for the mushroom festival (participants will attend educational seminars, listen to blues and rock, taste pickled mushrooms, jam, liqueur, nougat and other mushroom-based dishes), on the island of Tinos - for the artichoke festival (guests are treated with artichokes baked with minced meat stuffed with artichokes and other dishes), to the island of Lesvos - for the sardine festival (with sardines here you can drink ouzo for free, enjoying live music), in Chania - for the snail festival (everyone is invited to drink a drink of raki and enjoy dishes from snails that are fried or they make a stew based on them, and eaten with foods such as zucchini, potatoes, artichokes, herbs).
Food in Greece
Those who come to Greece can enjoy olives and oils based on them, seafood, feta cheese, wine, vegetables, legumes, as well as drink uzeri, Metaxa, aniseed and grape vodka. The dishes here are seasoned with oregano, mint, nutmeg, basil, dill, cloves and other spices.
You can eat in Greek cities in taverns (their menu contains various dishes, and in the evenings guests are often pampered with dancing), psistario (people flock here for fried over an open fire and meat dishes), tyropitadiko (these establishments are aimed at lovers of puff pies; filling serves cheese, spinach and other ingredients), psarotaverns (fish dishes and seafood dishes are prepared here) and hasapotaverns (lovers of meat dishes are waiting there).
It is advisable to drink fish and meat in Greece with retsina (this wine has a coniferous aroma), and desserts and fruits - moscato (dessert wine)
Top 10 Greek dishes
Moussaka
Greek moussaka is a casserole based on eggplant and meat with béchamel sauce (often moussaka is also made from mushrooms, potatoes or zucchini). The dish is baked in layers:
- eggplant is spread on olive oil;
- the middle layer is occupied by tomatoes and lamb;
- the dish is poured with béchamel on top.
A portion of moussaka costs about 6-7 euros, and when planning to taste it in a tavern, it is worth considering that 2 people can get enough of this one dish.
Stifado
Stifado is a stew in the classic recipe of which there is a rabbit (veal, beef and even poultry can be used instead), finely chopped shallots, dry red wine. The rabbit is cooked in tomato sauce with cinnamon and other Mediterranean spices.
Stifado will cost tourists about 10 euros.
Suvlaki
Souvlaki - Greek kebabs of small size, strung on wooden skewers. Suvlaki is made from pork, less often from chicken and lamb. The meat, cut into pieces, is placed in a marinade (olive oil + salt + pepper + lemon juice + oregano). For the preparation of kebabs, use an open fire or a baking sheet, which is placed on the coals.
Souvlaki can be purchased at any snack bar and restaurant with fast service (the cost of one barbecue stick is 2 euros). Serving the dish - on a skewer or in a pita (in this case, in addition to souvlaki, the dish will contain onions, tomatoes and tzatziki sauce), and in addition to souvlaki - lemon wedges and white bread.
Fasolada
Fasolada is a lean soup. Beans are prepared from beans soaked in the evening: they are stewed along with vegetables, spices and onions fried in tomato paste until the beans become soft. Water must be constantly added to the dish to maintain the consistency of a thick soup. When serving, lemon juice, olive oil and fresh herbs are added to the soup.
Pastizio
Pasticio is a pasta-based Greek dish. When baked, bechamel sauce and minced meat are added to them. The bottom layer of pastizio is occupied by spaghetti bucatini (an alternative is any pipe pasta), eggs and cheese, the next layer is meat and sauce (it contains allspice, tomatoes and nutmeg), the penultimate layer is pasta, and the top layer is béchamel sauce, grated cheese and nutmeg. The "bonus" to the pastizio is the salad.
Pastizio can be tasted for 6-8 euros. Tip: Pastizio is worth ordering in Corfu, where it is made from filo dough, pasta, tomatoes, boiled eggs, slices of ham and cheese.
Lucumades
Lucumades - sweetness in the form of small donuts (the recipe contains yeast dough and cinnamon, and sometimes lucumades is made with apples or cheese filling). They are deep-fried. Before presenting lucumades to those with a sweet tooth, donuts are poured with sugar syrup or honey, and cinnamon is sprinkled on top of them. A fork is served to the dessert or it is brought out strung on a skewer. Those wishing to enjoy Lucumades will be served a variety of syrups, ice cream or chocolate sauce. You will be able to buy lucumades at every corner, as well as at fairs, which open counters where Greek donuts are fried.
Melomakarona
Melomakarona is a sweet biscuit in the form of an oval crust (it is a symbol of prosperity and abundance), which is impregnated with sweet honey syrup, and chopped walnuts for sprinkling. This cookie smells like orange and spices (cloves and cinnamon). Distinguish between lean (olive oil) and smooth (milk + butter) melomakarona, which must be prepared for Christmas.
Kleftiko
Kleftiko is a meat dish that is cooked in a clay oven in restaurants, and in a foil oven at home. Before baking, lamb and vegetables (tomatoes, cumin, oregano, rosemary, bell peppers, garlic, onions) are placed in a special marinade for 3-6 hours. Kleftiko is served with baked potatoes and rustic (Greek) salad. The approximate cost of kleftiko is 15 euros.
Kolokyfoanthy
Kolokyfoanthi is a dish based on zucchini flowers. They are stuffed with fillings such as rice and meat or cheese and herbs and then fried in batter until golden brown. For those wishing to try kolokyfoanthi, it makes sense to head to the island of Lesvos: in the island eateries and restaurants they prepare their own unique types of kolokyfoanthi.
Briam
Briam is a vegetable stew, perfect for satisfying hunger on hot summer days. Potatoes, tomatoes, herbs, zucchini, eggplants, bell peppers, parsley, onions, put in a baking sheet, poured with olive oil, and placed in the oven. Briam can be found on the main course menu in Greek restaurants and taverns.
