Greece is a country that’s known for its delicious, richly flavoured cuisine. From the famous gyro and moussaka dishes to the lesser known spanakopita, Greece has an abundance of amazing dishes to choose from. Greek food is known for being full of flavour with a mix of herbs and spices including oregano, garlic, and dill combined with ingredients such as feta cheese, olives, and olive oil. Greek recipes have been passed down through generations and continue to delight food lovers around the world. Here’s a look at some of the most popular Greek recipes.
1. Greek Salad (Horiatiki)
This classic Greek salad is known for its fresh, delicious flavour. It’s made with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, feta cheese, olives, and oregano. The salad is dressed with olive oil and vinegar and it’s a great side dish for a variety of Greek dishes. Greek salad is also a great way to add a salad to a meal without a lot of fuss.
Ingredients:
- 3 tomatoes, diced
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
- In a bowl, combine tomatoes, cucumber, onion, feta cheese, and olives.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Pour dressing over the vegetables and toss to combine.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition:
This Greek salad is a healthy and delicious side dish. Each serving contains approximately 115 calories, 8 grams of fat, 4 grams of protein, and 8 grams of carbohydrates. It also provides a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins A and C, and iron.
2. Gyros (Yiros)
Gyros is a classic Greek dish that consists of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, often served wrapped in a pita bread with tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki sauce. Lamb and pork are the most popular meats used for gyros, but chicken and beef are also common. Gyros are a popular street food in Greece and can be found in many restaurants around the world.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. ground lamb or pork
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 pita breads, warmed
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- 1/2 cup tzatziki sauce
Instructions:
- In a bowl, combine the ground lamb or pork, chopped onion, garlic, oregano, thyme, cumin, salt, and pepper.
- Form mixture into 8 patties.
- Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill patties for 5 minutes per side or until cooked through.
- Meanwhile, warm pita breads in the oven or toaster oven.
- To assemble gyros, place a patty in each pita and top with tomatoes, red onion, and tzatziki sauce.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition:
This delicious Greek dish is a great way to enjoy lean protein. Each serving contains approximately 375 calories, 17 grams of fat, 30 grams of protein, and 26 grams of carbohydrates. It also provides a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins A and C, and iron.
3. Moussaka
Moussaka is a traditional Greek dish made with layers of potatoes, eggplant, ground beef, and a creamy béchamel sauce. It’s a hearty, comforting dish that is often served as a main course. Moussaka can be served hot or cold and it’s a great way to use up leftovers.
Ingredients:
- 3 potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 eggplants, thinly sliced
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In a large bowl, combine potatoes, eggplant, onion, garlic, beef, oregano, thyme, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Spread mixture in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Top mixture with tomato sauce.
- In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add butter and flour and whisk until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Gradually whisk in milk, stirring constantly until mixture is thickened. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese.
- Pour sauce over top of the tomato sauce.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.
- Serve hot.
Nutrition:
This hearty dish is a great way to enjoy a comforting meal. Each serving contains approximately 340 calories, 20 grams of fat, 25 grams of protein, and 19 grams of carbohydrates. It also provides a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins A and C, and iron.
4. Spanakopita
Spanakopita is a Greek spinach and feta cheese pie. It’s made with layers of phyllo dough filled with spinach, feta cheese, and herbs. The dough is brushed with butter to create a golden, flaky crust. Spanakopita is a popular appetizer or snack and it can also be served as a main course.
Ingredients:
- 1 (16 oz.) package frozen spinach, thawed and drained
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1 (16 oz.) package phyllo dough, thawed
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes or until softened. Add spinach, oregano, dill, salt, and pepper and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in feta and Parmesan cheeses.
- Brush a 9×13-inch baking dish with melted butter.
- Lay one sheet of phyllo dough in the bottom of the dish and brush with butter. Repeat with remaining phyllo dough, layering and brushing with butter between each sheet.
- Spread spinach mixture over top of phyllo dough.
- Fold edges of phyllo dough over top of spinach mixture and brush with butter.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve warm.
Nutrition:
This delicious dish is a great way to enjoy the flavors of Greece. Each serving contains approximately 190 calories, 14 grams of fat, 8 grams of protein, and 10 grams of carbohydrates. It also provides a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins A and C, and iron.
Greek food is full of delicious flavours and exciting recipes. From gyros to moussaka to spanakopita, there are plenty of dishes to enjoy. Whether you’re a fan of traditional Greek cuisine or you’re looking to explore something new, these popular Greek recipes are sure to please.