Traditional Greek Food You Must Try

This may be shocking, but before I vacationed in Greece, I rarely ate any Greek food. Sure, I had the occasional spanikopita or baklava and have opted for orzo salad several times. But I had never really experienced traditional Greek cuisine

Fast forward to today, and here I am craving just another bite of tender souvlaki and just another taste of some freshly grilled halloumi. Greek cuisine offers an incredibly rich and diverse array of food and beverages with simple and elegant dishes with robust textures and flavors.

Here are some of my favorite foods you definitely don’t want to miss out on while traveling through Greece.

Moussaka

Moussaka is a hearty eggplant based dish, typically layered with with potatoes and topped with a spicy meat sauce (bechamel) or cheese. Traditionally, moussaka is made with a meat sauce, but vegetarian versions are widely available today. It’s a delicious, rich casserole you definitely must try!

Spanikopita

Spanikopita is a savory Greek pastry made with a spinach and feta cheese filling and enfolded by a crispy, flaky phyllo dough. It literally translates to “spinach pie”. It’s a comfort food, great for a snack or a light meal! Today, spanikopita is one of the most popular snacks in Greece so be sure to try this bite-sized savory snack when you visit!

Halloumi

As a cheese lover, I was so excited when I learned I could eat an entire dish of cheese! Halloumi is a white cheese traditionally made from a mixture of goat and sheep milk with texture similar to mozzarella or thick feta. Because of it’s high melting point, halloumi can easily be fried or grilled. It’s commonly served as an appetizer and also served over salads.

Souvlaki

Souvlaki is a popular Greek fast food that consists of small pieces of meat and vegetables grilled on a skewer. Traditionally, the meat used for souvlakai in Greece and Cyprus is pork, but chicken, beef, and lamb are common substitutes today. Souvlaki is often served with tzatziki, onions, tomatoes, and pita bread.

Mythos Beer

Mythos Beer is a European-styled pale lager with some hoppy notes and mild sweetness. Meaning, “myth” in Greek, Mythos beer is the world’s most famous Hellenic (Greek) beer. It’s light and super refreshing – great to enjoy on the beautiful beaches of the Greek island!

Baklava

Baklava is a delicious, sweet pastry popular in Greece other Middle Eastern countries. It’s made of layers of flaky and cripsy phyllo (filo) and chopped nuts and then drenched with a honey syrup to sweeten it. Because it’s filled with honey, Baklava is usually rather sweet so if you have a sweet tooth, you definitely need to try this!