Posted on Tuesday, 15 February 2022

One of the best parts about holidaying in Greece is sampling the traditional Greek food.

Here, we’ve gathered 6 of the best foods to try in Greece – you don’t want to miss these Mediterranean favourites…

 

Sheftalia

This Cypriot delicacy is a simple dish cooked over an open coal fire, and a must-try for meat lovers!

These smoky, spiced ‘crépinettes’ of minced pork and lamb might be the juiciest, tastiest food of your entire Greek trip...

The secret to their incredible flavour is all in the preparation; those oval shaped crepinettes are wrapped in caul fat, which melts away as the Sheftalia is barbecued or grilled.

The delicacy is often served in a pitta bread but isn’t so easy to find outside of Greece – so try them while you can.

 

Kleftiko

We all know good things take time, and that’s certainly true with kleftiko.

Lamb lovers, look no further – this heartwarming dish is slow-cooked for around four hours for maximum tenderness.

Expect juicy, melt-in-your-mouth lamb, often served with potatoes and white wine sauce.

If you’re looking for some trivia to tell at the table, the word ‘kleftiko’ means ‘stolen’ in English – an ancient throwback to a time when thieves would steal lambs or goats, before cooking the meat underground near hot coals to escape detection.

It’s a popular dish to this day though, so shouldn’t be too hard to track down during your Greek vacation…

 

Dakos

In the heat of the Greek midday sun, you can’t go wrong with dakos for lunch.

Made with sweet tomatoes, crumbled soft feta cheese, oregano, and crispy bread, this Greek dish suitable for vegetarians too.

You might want to add olives for a little extra bite, topped with a little extra virgin olive oil.

Dakos are the perfect light bite at lunchtime, and the staple of any mezze. They’re super simple to make, too, so might be a Greek tradition you can impress guests with when you’re back home.

 

Feta Saganaki

The second vegetarian delicacy on our list, and another common Greek mezze dish is the feta saganaki.

As you might have guessed, this one’s made using Greece’s flagship cheese, created from a mixture of sheep and goat’s milk. Slices of feta are coated in egg and flour, before being pan fried over a high heat until they’re crispy and golden brown, not forgetting a squeeze of zesty fresh sliced lemon.

 

Souvlaki

Also known as kalamaki in some areas of Greece, variations of souvlaki have been enjoyed for centuries.

A meaty snack usually eaten straight from the skewer, souvlaki remains just as well-loved today, and is available as barbecued pork, chicken, beef or lamb.

Enjoy Greek souvlaki on its own, or in a pitta bread with sauce, grilled vegetables, and fluffy fried potatoes – the possibilities are endless with this tasty fast food.

 

Baklava

Now it’s time for desert… This super-sweet treat will vary depending on which region you sample it - in Central areas of Greece, it’s usually made with almonds, in northern Greece with pistachio.

The general consensus is that traditional Greek baklava is made with walnuts, but all variations are prepared with crispy filo pastry with a strong syrupy flavour.

Whichever variation of baklava you try, it's the perfect way to end to your Greek feast!

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