9 Popular Greek Recipes You Should Try
9 Popular Greek Recipes You Should Try – Let me take you on a trip to the beautiful country of Greece with these quick and easy recipes. They deliver fancy restaurant-quality meals without the hefty price tag. From light and healthy appetizers to satisfying dinner meals that are sure to captivate you with their authentic Greek flavors. Something new and fresh, and definitely, one of the healthiest cuisines to try!
With our current situation, it’s nearly impossible to travel for leisure and try other cuisines. But don’t worry because I can take you to the sunny Island of Greece with these popular Greek recipes. And together, we will explore Greek cuisine and enjoy it in the comfort of our homes. And that without having to spend a fortune. Double win!
That said, you will absolutely love these recipes because they are not only straightforward to make, but they are also extremely healthy and undeniably delicious.
You already know my passion is making recipes simpler and fail-proof. And these Greek recipes are perfect for those who want to enjoy comfort food while eating healthily and without sacrificing the taste.
And it’s really possible with these yummy Greek recipes. Yaaay!
Greek food is always packed with refreshing flavors because the cooks incorporate fresh herbs, such as mint, parsley, dill, and thyme. Other healthy additions include Greek yogurt, olive oil, and cheese. Ah! Cheese!
You’ll learn more about these nutritious recipes as you read along. So, let’s go!
Contents…FAQs |
FAQs
Actually, there’s not much of a difference with other cuisines. The most popular meats used in Greek recipes are chicken, beef, pork, lamb, goat, fish, veal, and rabbit.
There are rumors that a type of ancient wheat called zea was banned in Greece during the 1930s. However, it is more likely that it was no longer profitable to farm because wheat was so much easier to harvest. That has changed in recent times, and zea is making a comeback because it’s more nutritious than modern wheat.
This may be because their food is usually linked to the Greek diet, aka the Mediterranean diet. Which includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, yogurt, olive oil, beans, and legumes. They often refrain from eating highly processed foods, such as canned meats, soda, candies, hotdogs, bacon, and frozen meals with high sodium content. Plus, they love adding olive oil to their dishes, which is actually considered one of the healthiest oils because of its high omega-3 content.
1. Greek Salad
Let’s start our Greek food escapade with this bright and refreshing salad with a twist. Oh yes! So, instead of the usual vinaigrette, this Greek salad is tossed in unique and sensational lemon-mint dressing. Plus, the addition of feta creates a wonderful flavor accent, too. ❤
I suggest pairing this alluring Greek salad with Pan Seared Salmon or Baked Cod for the perfect comfort food combo. Eating healthy food has never been this tasty!
And the best part is, you can make the Greek salad dressing in advance and store it in a glass jar in the fridge. It will come in handy the next time you want to throw a salad together fast for a quick salad fix. 😉
2. Greek Marinade
And, of course, you should try this Greek marinade, too. You’ll love this even more because of its delightful lemony, herby, and garlicky flavor combination from lemon juice, minced garlic, and various herbs.
It also works great on more than chicken; it also works pretty well with any meat you prefer, such as lamb, pork, and beef. And with this, you’ll have an instant Greek dish ready in no time. 😉
Aside from serving these marinated chicken breasts with rice or salad, you can also enjoy them as a filling for your tortilla wrap or burritos. Talk about an incredible Mexican and Greek fusion. 👌
3. Chicken Gyros
This easy Greek recipe is sure to dazzle you with the flavorful pan-grilled chicken breast fillet. It is even more delectable because it is marinated with herb-infused Greek yogurt with a lemony zing.
Beautifully wrapped in Pita Bread, then generously drizzled with rich and lip-smacking Tzatziki sauce. Did I mention it comes with crumbled feta cheese, too? Aah! Happiness really does come in packages.
To make it more filling and satisfying, I highly recommend having gyros with any of these 25 Quick and Easy Salad Recipes. Oh yes!
And, oh, you can also use your leftover chicken fillets to add to your Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad, Chicken Alfredo Pizza, or Pastitsio. Or just simply eat them with rice. Yum!
4. Moussaka Eggplant Recipe
Our list of Greek recipes wouldn’t be complete without this creamy and cheesy Moussaka.
It’s a healthier version of the classic Lasagna because it’s made with eggplants slices instead of lasagna noodles. Both have layers of meaty sauce and cheesy sauce that’s screaming nothing but perfect indulgence. In fact, it’s so good even your non-veggie eater kid won’t mind the eggplants. Such a winner dish, indeed!
Although it’s satisfying and filling on its own, I still love eating it with my Homemade Garlic Bread or Focaccia Bread. Who cares about carb overload? Naaah! That’s only for the weak! ✌
Above all, this hearty Greek food Moussaka actually freezes well. So, you can make a big batch and pack them individually in single portions for easy thawing and reheating. Just pop them in the oven and reheat at 350F for 20-25 minutes or until warmed through.
5. Pita Bread
Aah! Nothing pairs as well with Instant Pot Curry Chicken and Hummus as humble pita bread.
It’s so soft and slightly chewy because it’s made with yeast. That and the other five simple ingredients, including flour and water (and a little bit of elbow grease), make this a terrific bread to have on hand.
You can either bake it or cook it in a skillet on a stovetop. It’s simple and easy yet offers an authentic Greek food experience. 😉
To be honest, they are best eaten when they are fresh from the pan. However, making a big batch of these treats and freezing them for later saves time. Plus, they will be ready when you suddenly have a craving for Chicken Gyros, pita pockets, or some pita pizzas. Genius, right?
6. Pastitsio
This fabulous recipe is another Greek recipe that is similar to Lasagna. But instead of lasagna noodles, it uses tubular pasta, aka Pastitsio.
Also, the layers of Pastitsio don’t alternate like the usual lasagna. In fact, it is arranged as pasta at the bottom, meaty sauce in the middle, and thick cheese sauce on the top.
What makes this Greek recipe more interesting is adding the cinnamon stick to the meaty red sauce. While the white sauce is oozing with elegant flavors from a special Greek cheese called Kefalotyri. But of course, you can always substitute it with your favorite cheeses like parmesan, cheddar, jack cheese, or mozzarella.
I know this one is already a complete meal on its own but having it with a salad makes the experience even more delightful. So, if I were you, I’d have a Mediterranean Chickpea Salad or Watermelon Salad on the side. Simply fantastic! 🤩
7. Greek Meatballs
Finally, an easy Greek recipe that you can enjoy gluten-free and guilt-free! Oh yes! You’ll definitely love this meaty balls of happiness because it is bursting with savory flavors from herbs and spices.
Besides cumin, oregano, dill, and garlic, you can add more seasoning like Italian seasoning or Creole Seasoning to ramp up the flavor. And load it up with more pepper flakes and cayenne if you want to make them spicy. Taste the mouthwatering goodness in every bite!
These babies also make great appetizers and party snacks, especially when you serve it with our Greek dressing recipe, Tzatziki sauce. Or better yet, add them to your favorite salad to add some meaty goodness. And, of course, you can also add them to your yummy pita pockets. Woohoo! Party on!
8. Spinach Pie (Spanokopita)
These are treats made with phyllo, the same pastry used for baklava, making them entertaining and impressive. But this recipe is a savory pie rather than a dessert.
As a matter of fact, it has a wondrous pie crust of phyllo dough and delicious feta-spinach filling. The added aromatic herbs such as dill weed, parsley, garlic, and onion make this dish even more flavorful and fancy.
This easy Greek recipe may not be low carb, but it is definitely filling and nourishing.
It can already stand alone as a main dish. However, you can go all out and serve this delectable side dish with Lemon Chicken or Grilled Lamb Chops. Such a heavenly meal pairing your family will surely love.
9. Tzatziki Sauce
And to wrap up our Greek food recipe list, I’m gonna leave you here with astonishing and drool-worthy Tzatziki Sauce.
It’s no ordinary sauce because it’s made with grated cucumbers, Greek yogurt, and lemon juice. And for good measure, I’ve thrown in some zesty flavors from dill, garlic, and pepper.
It’s a very versatile Greek dressing recipe that you can add to any fresh salad or use as a sandwich spread. It also doubles as a sauce or dip perfect for steamed vegetables, shawarma, kebab, and gyros. A versatile Greek recipe, indeed! 👌
Good news! You can make this sauce ahead and store it for later use. However, since we use fresh ingredients for this recipe, it’s best used within four days, just to be on the safe side. You may notice the sauce separating over time, but that’s okay. You just need to remix it, and it’ll be ready to use in no time. Awesome!
Pineapple Lemonade
Ingredients
Simple Syrup
- ¾ cup (150g) sugar, replace with honey or preferred sweetener
- 2 cups (475ml) water
- mint leaves (optional)
Pineapple Lemonade
- 2 cups (450g) chopped pineapple
- ½ cup (120ml) lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) lime juice freshly squeezed
- cold water as needed
- ice cubes
- Moscato (optional)
Instructions
Simple Syrup
- Mix the sugar and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir and simmer until the sugar dissolves (5-7 minutes). Throw in a little mint if desired. Then let it cool.
Pineapple Lemonade
- Puree the chopped pineapple in a blender.
- Pour pureed pineapple into a large pitcher, followed by the lemon and lime juice. Then, add simple syrup to taste. Stir well.
- Add the optional sweet sparkling wine, and adjust the strength with cold water if needed.
- Chill or pour over ice cubes.
Tips & Notes:
- You can use fresh pineapples, grab fresh-cut pineapples from the supermarket, and frozen will work as well. Then puree it in the blender.
- If are pressed for time, you can sub with 100% pineapple juice.
- You can use other sweeteners to replace the simple syrup.
- To soften the lemons in a jiff, pop them in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Let cool before juicing. Or soak them in a bowl of hot tap water for about 15 minutes until the skin softens.
- For instantly cold lemonade, store the pineapple in the fridge before blending it. You can store it whole or chopped.
- No time to chill the lemonade? Reduce the water a bit and add lots of ice. Or add ice to the glasses instead of the pitcher so you don’t water down the delectable pineapple flavor.
- If you make pineapple lemonade ahead, give it a quick stir to distribute the juices evenly before drinking.
- Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.
