Discover 15 specialities to try in Greece. I started this series of articles on specialities after my stay in Nova Scotia. When I travel I like to discover local specialities, so I was looking for a list to follow to help me figure out what to try. Surprisingly, I didn’t find anything. Good news, I’ve created a new series. In this article you’ll find the 15 specialities to try during your stay in Greece following my trip to Santorini and Athens.
Before you go any further, don’t forget to find me on Instagram, Pinterest and Youtube. You can also watch my vlog in Santorini and Athens.
Moussaka
Moussaka is one of the most popular Greek dishes. You’ll find it almost everywhere. The traditional version contains eggplant and potatoes. A sauce based on beef or lamb and a béchamel sauce. This was my boyfriend’s favorite, and he talked about it for weeks, even months, after our trip to Greece. A real delicacy to be placed at the top of your list of specialities to try in Greece.
Loukoumades
For our second speciality, we’re going for something sweet. Loukoumades are little balls of fried dough, like little doughnuts, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. You can have different accompaniments with them. Chocolate or caramel, for example. We tasted in Athens at LUKUMAΔΕΣ which was super viral on social networks during our trip. The wait was long, but it was worth it: it was delicious!
The Kalamata olive
How can you talk about Greek salad without mentioning olives? And Kalamata olives in particular. If you don’t know, I’m from Ardèche, in the south-east of France. And not far from where I live is Nyons, in the south of the Drôme, and there are Nyons olives in particular. So for the purposes of this article, I’m a self-proclaimed olive specialist, and thanks to this title you should trust me and absolutely try Kalamata olives. They’re known to have more flavor than other black olives, and some research even says they’re better for your health.
Greek Salad
It seems to me that Greek salad is very well known, well beyond the borders of Greece. So yes, it might not be your first Greek salad. But it will be your first Greek salad in Greece. There’s nothing like trying a speciality in your own country or region. I love Greek salads: tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, feta cheese and olives. All accompanied by a very simple salad dressing based on lemon juice and olive oil. My mouth is watering!
Tzatziki
On to a refreshing Greek speciality, and you’ll be needing it during your visit as it can be so hot. Tzatziki is more of an accompaniment than a dish in its own right, but it’s definitely one to put on your list. It’s a mixture of Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, lemon juice, olive oil and herbs. It’s so good, fresh (I’m repeating myself, I know!) and light.
Souvlaki
Once again, this may well be one of the specialities to try in Greece that you’ve already had the chance to try elsewhere, as souvlaki has been exported all over the world. At the risk of repeating myself: nothing beats tasting it in the country of origin. Souvlaki are pieces of meat cooked on skewers, often accompanied by vegetables. The meat can vary from pork to chicken or lamb, for example.
Mézé
So for this specialty, it’s more a concept and a way of eating than a recipe that I’m going to tell you about. Mézé is a collection of small dishes like the tzatziki we’ve just been talking about, but you can also find tomatoes, keftedhes, cucumbers and other specialities. It’s a convivial moment to share.
Feta cheese
Do I really need to introduce feta cheese? I love this cheese, but eating it in Greece is another level for your taste buds. It’s a cheese that dates back to ancient times, made from goat’s or sheep’s milk. The origin of the word comes from an Italian word “fetta” meaning slices, for the way the cheese is cut.
Tarama
This may be the first Greek speciality I’ve featured in this article, so I’m not a fan. Tarama is made from fish roe. It’s rather creamy and you can eat it with bread or raw vegetables.
Spanakopita
We continue this list of must-try specialities during your stay in Greece with spanakopita. It’s like a pie and a spinach pastry come together to simplify the idea as much as possible. Cooked in a large portion that’s cut up and served. It’s a spinach and cheese dish, with layers of phyllo pastry. That simple description alone should make your mouth water. At least it works for me. Its origins can be traced back to the Byzantine Empire, when the Greeks combined their love of fresh vegetables and herbs with the pastry-like flavour of phyllo dough.
Baklava
Just when you think there’s no more, there is! Here are a few more suggestions for a successful culinary stay in Greece. My next specialty is also based on phyllo dough: we’re going to talk about baklava. To be perfectly honest, this isn’t a specialty you’ll find exclusively in Greece, but versions can vary from one culture to another. It’s a dessert that is prepared in a large portion and cut up for serving. I found several interesting facts about the origins of baklava. Apparently its origin is very much linked to religion, and the traditional version has 33 layers of pastry representing the 33 years of Jesus’ life.
Gyros
As I prepare this list, I realize that Greek cuisine has traveled far and wide internationally. Whether in France or Canada (the two countries where I’ve lived and still live), it’s very easy to find. Obviously, it’s nothing like what you’ll taste in the country of origin, but let’s just say that you’ll already be familiar with certain dishes. In this case, I wanted to talk to you about gyros. Meat cooked on a vertical, rotating spit, finely sliced and placed in a pita. So good!
Seafood
It’s a bit of a given if you’re traveling to a country surrounded by water… but just in case! Take advantage of being in Greece to eat as much seafood as possible if you like it. I love it, and I also enjoyed visiting Nova Scotia and Morocco: it’s fresh, it’s well cooked, it’s delicious.
Halloumi cheese
More cheese? Yes, more cheese. Maybe you don’t know because you read my blog in English, but I’m French and cheese is an integral part of my life. I love halloumi cheese and I must confess that I’ve always eaten it in restaurants but never cooked it at home. Halloumi has a salty taste that I really like, and it’s also a cheese that doesn’t melt when cooked, which is why it’s often used in salads.
L’Ouzo
And we end this long list of specialities that will delight you during your trip to Greece with ouzo, an alcoholic beverage. It’s a rather surprising drink when you look at its composition: grape or grain alcohol, distilled with aniseed, fennel and herbs. The recipes are a bit secret, so you can’t always know exactly what’s in them, but if you drink alcohol, don’t hesitate to ask for advice in the restaurants you test.
And so we come to the end of this list, which I hope will help you enjoy the country of Greece. Several articles are also to come to share with you what to do in Santorini and what to do for a few days in Athens.
