Greek Cuisine


 

A helpful guide to the

cuisine of Greece

for diners and travelers

by an established authority

Why Greek Cuisine
is special

Greek food becomes captivating when the meal is leisurely eaten and shared with family or friends in a convivial restaurant or taverna, or at home in a shaded outdoor patio. Those environments enhance the victuals because they are embedded in the Greek dining tradition. Without them, the pleasure of eating Greek food can drop a notch or two.

Tips & insights

on Greek cuisine

Greek cooking is a fusion of early Greek cuisine blended with foreign influences dating back to Roman times.

The greatest influence was the cooking style of the Ottoman Empire, which ruled Greece in the 14th to 18th centuries.

The Ottoman impact explains why Greece and Turkey share many dishes. However, the two styles differ in, for instance, seasoning. The Turkish tend to use herbs and spices more intricately, the Greeks, more simply.

Fish was one of the popular mainstays of the Greek diet during my first visit in the 1960s. Today, fresh seafood is scarce and expensive due to severe overfishing. Much of the supply is now frozen and imported.

Ten famous

Greek preparations

Try these on your next trip to a Greek restaurant.

Avgolemono - A soup (also a sauce) enriched with eggs and lemon juice.

Baklava - Dessert. Layers of phyllo pastry and nuts are drenched with honey syrup.

Dolmades - Rice (plain or mixed with lamb) wrapped in grapevine leaves.

Greek salad - Lettuce mixed with feta cheese, tomatoes, olives, scallions, and green peppers, then tossed with a lemony olive oil dressing.

Moussaka - A casserole composed of layers of eggplant and minced lamb crowned with a white sauce.

Pastitsio - A pasta and lamb casserole bound by a cheese-infused white sauce.

Souvlaki - Lamb grilled on a skewer. Typically served inside a rolled pita bread.

Spanakopita - Spinach in a triangular flaky phyllo pastry jacket.

Taramosalata - A spread made with fish roe, bread crumbs and olive oil.

Whole roasted lamb - Cooked on a spit. Immensely popular for Easter.

Famous

beverages

Greek coffee - Black, strong and (typically) sweet.

Metaxa - A brandy.

Ouzo - Anise-flavored liqueur. Turns milky white when water is added.

Retsina - White wine flavored with pine resin.

Also learn
about these exciting
world cuisines

My food & wine
credentials

My books have been critically acclaimed by major magazines and newspapers. Click the button below to read a sampling (in Acrobat format).

I hope my Greek Cuisine food & travel page

helps you enjoy your vacation, tour or trip

©2008 HQP / Hillman Quality Publications