Tom Visiting the Greek islands and not sure what to eat in Greece? No worries! In this post, we’ll cover some of the must try traditional Greek Foods that are not to be missed! From the traditional Greek foods such as Moussaka to the delicious wines of the Greek islands, we’ve got it covered. Stay tuned as we find out more what traditional foods in Greece that are not to be missed!
Greek Food
What to eat in Greece: #1: Greek Yoghurt
Greek yoghurt is famous because of the way it is produced. Whey is drained from Greek yoghurt such that it forms a richer and creamier yoghurt, that also packs more protein per gram. At restaurants, you may have the opportunity to have them as desserts at the end of your meal (such as Meze Meze in Naxos). Otherwise, simply pop by one of the many yoghurt joints in town have them in the form of smoothies!
What to eat in Greece: #2: Greek Pies (Pastries)
Greek pies (Pites) can be easily found in Greece and the most famous of these pies are probably Tyropitas (cheese pies) and Spanakopitas (spinach pies). In the past, pies were easily whipped up by mothers because the ingredients such as flour, olive oil and vegetables, could be easily found. Today, this taste for pies remain with its thin, flaky crust as one of the distinctive features of this traditional Greek food.
What to eat in Greece: #3: Pita and Gyro
Greek breads, also known as pita is one of the most common Greek staple that you can find. Usually, you’ll find them served with pork in Greece. If you’re thinking of having a “Greek Sandwich”, “Pita” or “Gyro” (wrap) would be the version that you should be ordering, instead of Kebabs/Souvlaki…
What to eat in Greece: #4: Kebabs and Souvlaki
If you’re going for meats, instead of ordering “Pita”, go for “Kebabs” or “Souvlaki”. These would be meats grilled and served over skewers (which is also what “Souvlaki” means). So this begs the question: “What is the difference between Kebabs and Souvlaki“? Essentially, they are both meats on skewers. However, Souvlaki has its origins in Greece and are mostly served with pork and may even come with pieces of vegetables (green peppers, tomatoes etc) in between. Kebabs on the other hand has origins from the east and more likely than not, be served with lamb or minced meats.
What to eat in Greece: #5: Greek Salad
Greek salads are famous for its incredible freshness and simplicity. Anyone can whip one up easily. All you’ll need are some fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, drizzled with that world-renowned Greek olive oil. Enjoy!
What to eat in Greece: #6: Greek Meatballs
Greek meatballs (Keftedes) are usually made with ground beef, garlic and fresh herbs. They can be served with the Greek Tzatziki sauce (made of strained yogurt and finely diced cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil with a dash of lemon) or the version we had, with a tomato-based sauce.
What to eat in Greece: #7: Pizzas
On the Greek islands of Santorini, Naxos and Paros, we found that pizzas could be easily found. This was also the case in Athens. Later, we realised that due to its proximity to Italy, these cheesy goodness have now become part of the Greek diet as well.
What to eat in Greece: #8: Eggplant Salad & Grilled Squid
We love our eggplants. When we heard that there’s a Greek take on eggplant (known as Brinjal in Singapore), we decided to give it a try. The version that we had was an appetizer that had the eggplant mashed up and mixed with herbs, lemon juice and olive oil. A refreshing take on one of our favourite ingredients. While we were at Taverna Simos Restaurant (on the island of Santorini), we also tried out the Grilled Squid. Fresh and beautifully executed, with smoky goodness infused into the dish. Shiok!
What to eat in Greece: #9: Pasticcio
Pasticcio is a baked Greek pasta dish that is made with ground meat, béchamel sauce as well as the Ziti pasta. On first sight, it may resembled a typical Italian baked pasta. However, as you dig into the pasta, you’ll find that tubular Ziti pasta (hollow in the centre) that makes it look a little different. With the feta cheese and bechamel sauce (milk, flour, butter mix), you’ll find a distinct taste to Pasticcio as well.
What to eat in Greece: #10: Moussaka
Another famous Greek dish is the Moussaka. Made with eggplant and ground meat, it is a mouth-watering alternative to the baked pasta (Pasticcio) in Greece.
What to eat in Greece: #11: Greek Seafood
Because of its location by the Aegean Sea, you’ll find seafood dishes common in Athens and also on the Greek islands. We found the portions of the seafood to be generous, reasonably-priced and fresh. Check out the freshest catch by going for “whole fish” options on the menu.
What to eat in Greece: #12: Pork Chops
Although it’s not a commonly found food on “Greek Food Recommendations”, we discovered pork chops in Greece to be tender, flavourful and very reasonably priced. On a couple of occasions, we were not very sure what to order and in such instances, we would turn to pork chop as an option – they never went wrong.
What to eat in Greece: #13: Naxos Cherry Waffle
To end off the Greek Food section, we’ll be recommending the Naxos Cherry. During our visit, we had it with the waffle. Slightly candied and sweet on the inside, the Naxos Cherry complemented the freshly-made waffle, making it a refreshing dessert or snack any time of the day.
Greek Drinks
What to drink in Greece: #14: Greek Coffee
Greece and Turkey are known for their coffee. Robust and rich in flavour, we thoroughly enjoyed them during our trip to these countries. More recently in Greece, there’s a trend for the “Freddo” version of the Greek coffee (Freddo Espresso or Freddo Cappuccino), characterised by a nice foamy layer on the top.
What to drink in Greece: #15: Greek Wines
During our travels in Greece, we found the Greek island wines to be of particularly good quality and excellent flavours. Santorini is famous for its Nykteri wines while Paros is famous for its Malagoussia and Assyrtiko variety. Their distinct flavours are derived from the volcanic elements of the soil as well as the excellent climate that aids the cultivation of these grapes. If you’re a wine-lover, don’t miss out the Greek island wines. While in Paros, we’d definitely recommend a trip to Moraitis Winery to be educated on Greek wines and the wines of Paros.
What to drink in Greece: #15: Greek Beers (Red Donkey, Volkan)
Besides the usual draft beers such as Mythos and Alfa, the craft brewery scene is also “brewing” on the Greek islands. Check out craft beers such as Volkan and Red Donkey where you can indulge in choices such as wheat beers, dark beers or IPAs.
What to drink in Greece: #15: Raki / Ouzo
Both Raki and Ouzo are aperitifs derived from anise. This time, we had a home-made Raki from Rotonda Restaurant in Naxos and were totally intrigued by it. Sweetened and infused with herbs, the version was a great dessert aperitif on the rocks.
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We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of What to Eat in Greece as well as What to Drink in Greece. If you have tried some of these traditional Greek food, let us know what you think in the comments section below!
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What to eat in Greece: Traditional Greek Food not to be missed in Greece!
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