Greek Cuisine

Greece, a Mediterranean country, is renowned for promoting the Mediterranean diet, which is widely recognized as one of the healthiest diets in the world. Vegetables, olive oil, cheeses, beans and herbs, with lemon juice on top. Because of the warm climate, many aromatic herbs and spices grow in Greece, which are added to almost all Greek dishes. The greek ration varies in different regions. In coastal areas, seafood and vegetables will be more often on the table, and in mountainous areas there is more meat and herbs. Because of the mountainous relief greeks don’t breed cattle, the locals mainly breed and then eat lamb, goat and pork. Ingredients like greek yogurt, feta cheese, olive oil, olives, onions and garlic are present in every region of the country, on every table.

One of the most recognizable Greek dishes in the whole world is moussaka, it takes time to cook it, but it’s delicious. Eggplants and potatoes should be fried and put in layers in a high baking dish, then fry the minced meat with onions, tomatoes and herbs and put on top of the vegetables. Make homemade bechamel cream and pour it over all the ingredients, sprinkle with cheese and put in the oven for 20 minutes.

In general, Greek cuisine is simple, and you can cook a whole dish from just a couple of ingredients. For example, «tzatziki» is Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic and salt, or “saganaki» cheese is a fried piece of any soft cheese in breadcrumbs and poured with lemon, as well as «dakos» – a rye flour cracker seasoned with grated tomato, feta and oregano. There are a lot of such snacks in Greece, they are called «meze», usually with all those dishes and with the salad “horiatiko», Greeks start any meal.

After that Greeks eat some hot dishes, it can be all kinds of stewed meat, or grilled on coals, or seafood. And later Greeks eat dessert, which is often served as a compliment from tavern free of charge in combination with local grape brew «raki», fruit, nuts and honey which is used in most of desserts.

There is always the olive oil on the greek table, which can be added in a salad or in another dish. Also in taverns Greeks don’t order each individual dish, but a lot of small snacks and eat all together. And of course what a feast without homemade greek wine. In Greece if you order tap wine, you can be sure that it will be delicious, most likely the wine will be provided by the relatives of the tavern’s owner, because family ties are very strong.

If you are in the mountainous region of Greece, you should try the local herbal teas. Tea consists of wildly growing mountain herbs, Dictamos, sage, thyme, mint and others, it is harvested and then dried. It is believed that these teas are therapeutic.

Keep in mind that in order to truly taste real greek cuisine, you need to get away from places with sights and pay attention to where the locals eat. Usually in the smallest and unknown taverns you will be surprised by the tastes of truly local dishes.