25 Greek Foods That You Must Try At Least Once

Moussaka is a national dish of Greece. It is a delicious dish made with layers of eggplant, minced meat (usually lamb), and bechamel sauce. It is baked until golden and is a staple in Greek cuisine. Its crunchy taste makes it a popular choice among outsiders as well as convincing the authenticity of national food.

This crunchy and creamy experience is also famous in Turkey. Though there is a conflict in the thought that moussaka is a national dish of Greece, this food is enjoyed on their independence day, March 25th every year. This food is a classic choice for Greek people which can be enjoyed anytime.

Dolmades are also famous Greek food that is often made with cabbage or grape leaves stuffed with a mixture of rice, pine nuts, and herbs. This wonderful dish can be served warm or cold and is often accompanied by a lemon sauce. It is a healthy and tasty blend of Turkish and Ottoman cuisine that you must try to experience the variation in tangy and tender food.

Some people say that this dish has a subtle but lingering wine-like taste that just muddles into the dill and mint scrap up. Traditionally this dish is served cold, but you can enjoy it hot too as per your preference. This dish can fit perfectly on any occasion and carries a strong power to please your guests.

Souvlaki is a popular Greek food that is perfect for meat lovers. Actually, the word souvlaki means meat on skewers which is enough to give goosebumps to the non veg lovers. This dish consists of small pieces of meat, often pork or chicken, skewered and grilled. It can be served with pita, salad, and tzatziki sauce.

It is a traditional dish in Greece that is believed to have originated in the Bronze Era. This grilled dish offers a savory and rich taste with a smoky flavor that one can enjoy anytime on any occasion.

You can also consider this food if you want something delicious while also maintaining your health. Just enjoy this meat bliss and give thanks to Greek cuisine.

Cheer up meat lovers, here is another delicious Greek food option if you want something as delicious as souvlaki. Yes, gyro is a popular street food that features meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, usually pork or chicken and served in a pita with tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki. It is also famous as a sandwich of lamb and beef that just goes well with veggies and sauce or yogurt.

Do you know that gyros means "turn," so it is called from the rotation of the meat on a spit? Mostly lamb is used in this food and when there is too thin layer of lamb then fat is added for the extra texture. You can enjoy this amazing dish if you are a crazy meat lover.

Have you ever heard about the amazing Greek food, tzatziki? It is a refreshing dip made from Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, olive oil, and fresh herbs. You can try this as a vegetarian dish but it often accompanies grilled meats and is used as a sauce in wraps.

This dish goes well with so many combinations and side dishes and adds amazing flavor to your food. You should definitely try this slightly tangy, garlicky, and cool dish which is healthy with the use of cucumber and fresh herbs.

If you are one of the pasta lovers, this food might as well be your favorite. You can also enjoy this bliss in Greek cuisine that just gives you a crazy flavor. The food is called pastitsio which is a baked pasta dish with layers of pasta, ground meat, and bechamel sauce. Actually, this food is quite similar to lasagna but it contains a distinct Greek flavor.

It means you can also enjoy this food if you enjoy eating lasagna. Yes, this Greek dish gives you heavenly pleasure while being full of bechamel sauce adding extra luxurious silkiness and a hearty finish. You must try this amazing dish to experience the Greek culture also by giving a hearty touch to your pasta and lasagna love.

Taking about popular Greek foods and how can we not mention the delicious Spanakopita. Actually, this food is a savory pie that is often filled with spinach and feta cheese, and wrapped in layers of phyllo pastry. It is a popular appetizer or snack that can be enjoyed on special occasions too. This tasty pie will just become everyone's favorite.

This is a tasty spinach pie, however, you can also enjoy it with meat and fish as side dishes. They just go perfectly to enhance the flavor and mood. You must try this dish if you want something brilliant in Greek cuisine.

Talking about another famous Greek dish, fasolada can be the must-try food option. It is a traditional Greek bean soup that is often made with white beans, tomatoes, carrots, celery, and olive oil. It is a hearty and healthy dish that you can enjoy anytime. Not just in taste, but it goes well with your healthy diet routine.

With the goodness of veggies and beans, this food just offers you a blissful healthy option that is useful for maintaining body weight as well. Kindly include this dish in your regular diet for a healthy life.

Try this traditional Greek dish, kleftiko which is not just delicious but can be a healthy option too. It is a slow-cooked lamb dish which is often baked in a clay pot. The use of a porous material or clay pot allows for the gradual evaporation of moisture, resulting in the concentration of flavors.

This slow and steady steam release further helps ingredients retain natural juiciness, resulting in tender and succulent meats.

The meat is also marinated with garlic, lemon, and herbs before cooking so that it results in tender and flavorful meat. You will not just love this taste but want one more serving every time you eat this delicious meat bliss.

Horiatiki is a classic Greek salad that is made up of tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, olives, and feta cheese, dressed with olive oil and oregano. This healthy combination results in a brilliant flavor that you must have at least one. This healthy salad dish can be a popular choice on various occasions being both tasty and healthy.

If you want a Greek dish in a healthy option this fits perfectly which I am sure you love to repeat again and again. How can anyone ignore this salad if they are conscious of their health as well as maintaining an amazing taste? You should definitely give it a try.

Want something sweet and delicious in Greek? Then, you should go for baklava, a sweet pastry made of layers of phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with honey or syrup. It is also a popular dessert among Greek people. It is also eaten in Turkey, the Middle East, and Hungary.

As per the study, this food provides a rich source of essential nutrients, including protein, fiber, and healthy fats. It is perfect for your heart health too. Try this dessert which is not just a tasty food option but also a healthy addition to your regular diet. However, you need to be cautious about overeating as too much sweetness may have other side effects.

Brace yourself for this amazing Greek dish, loukoumades. These are small, deep-fried doughnuts that are soaked in honey syrup and often sprinkled with cinnamon and nuts. These are rich in flavors and also offer good health benefits being rich in honey, cinnamon, and nuts.

You will love this amazing dish that is not just healthy but also appears attractive. You can enjoy this either as a snack or a meal. They fit perfectly for any time on any occasion.

Koulouri is a type of Greek bread that has rings topped with sesame seeds. It is mostly eaten as a breakfast food or snack and is a popular street food in Greece. It is also a popular food in Turkey, the USA, and Istanbul. The best way to enjoy this dish is by dipping it in tzatziki.

You will love the amazing flavor of this dish when you incorporate it with some sauce, however, you can also enjoy it plain.

Saganaki refers to a variety of Greek dishes that are prepared in a small frying pan, but it often specifically means a fried cheese appetizer. The cheese used in this dish is normally semi-hard, dry Greek cheese. Similarly, the cheese is typically kefalotyri or graviera, pan-fried until golden and crispy.

You will definitely enjoy this dish if you are a cheese lover. The layer of cheese and that fried flavor is not just tasty but also provides a huge nutritional value. They are believed to be high in protein and less in fat. You must try this cheese bliss at least once, you will love to repeat it each time.

Galaktoboureko is a popular Greek custard dessert that is actually made from semolina custard, wrapped in layers of phyllo pastry, and then soaked in syrup. Interestingly, galakto means Milk (Greek language), and borek means filled pastry (Turkish).

This milk pastry is not just tasty but also sufficient with the goodness of the syrup used. You must try this dessert for both taste and health purposes.

Get ready for Horta, guys! This delicious Greek food actually refers to a variety of wild greens boiled and served with olive oil and lemon. It is a simple, healthy side dish often eaten in Greece in snacks and meals. You can enjoy this healthy dish anytime also by incorporating it with other side dishes.

The goodness of greens and the sour and tangy flavor of lemon can not just fulfill your healthy requirements but also make you blissful with their simple steps of cooking. You must try this food at least once, though I suggest you include this in your regular diet.

Have you ever tried Stifado? If not then you are missing one of the tastiest Greek bliss. It is a Greek stew that is made with beef, onions, tomatoes, red wine, and a blend of aromatic spices. This is typically served with bread or pasta being a fine gravy texture.

While making this dish the ingredients are simmered with tomato sauce to give it a thick and spicy texture that you can enjoy at your dinner time. This can also impress your guests when made on special occasions. 

Here is another Greek bliss for meat lovers, loukaniko which refers to Greek sausages. This food is often flavored with orange peel, fennel, or other spices. They are mostly grilled or fried and then served as part of a meze platter.

Most of the people say that this fennel-orange-coriander flavor just makes you forget the spicy Italian sausages. Besides being delicious this food is also a great option if you want to incorporate it with other side dishes.

If you are searching for a perfect cheese cuisine in Greek food, then feta can be your right choice. Actually, it is a brined white cheese that is made from sheep's milk or a mix of sheep and goat's milk. It is also a staple food in Greek salads and many other dishes.

Not just in taste, but also in nutrition this food is ready to give you goosebumps. You can enjoy this dish anytime incorporating it with other side dishes. Hence, to experience the amazing taste as well as to enjoy health benefits, this Greek food is a must-try option.

Get ready for dessert bliss! Kataifi is a pastry made from shredded phyllo dough, often filled with nuts and soaked in syrup. Don't confuse it with baklava as they have similar attributes however, kataifi has a unique texture. You will definitely love it if you try this once.

This pastry dough is a crazy filling of nuts, sugar, and aromatic spices that are rolled and baked in a buttered dough. It will make your day and make you crave more. So, you must try this delicious dish.

We cannot miss choriatiko psomi while talking about the traditional Greek bread. This is a classic village bread, that is often made with a mix of wheat and barley flour. Also, it is dense and hearty, especially perfect for dipping in olive oil.

This food is a popular choice in Greece due to its super easy way to cook and also its delicious nature. Though it is a great idea to make it with olive oil, you can also use cheese, vegetables, and soups. It is a must-try Greek dish that you will surely love.

Talking about another must-try Greek food, soutzoukakia is a perfect option. They are oblong meatballs, mostly made from a mix of beef and pork, cooked in a rich tomato sauce with cumin and other spices. They are usually served with rice or mashed potatoes being their thick textures that perfectly fit in these dishes.

People call this dish aromatic meatballs perfectly dipped in tomato sauce. This is a perfect option for meals and for various occasions.

You must try this yummy Greek food called ladopita. It is a type of Greek olive oil pie, a simple cake-like pastry that is made primarily with olive oil, flour, and sugar, that is often flavored with citrus zest. This yummy pie offers pleasures with thin, crispy dough and fresh cheese, perfect on its own or drizzled with honey and cinnamon.

It is a perfect dish for snacks and tea or coffee time. It can be a favorite food for both kids, adults, and old age people too. It doesn't have many heavy calories and sugary content so can be perfect for healthy food options too.

Avgolemono is a classic Greek soup that is made with chicken, rice or orzo, and is also a rich broth thickened with eggs and lemon juice. People say that while making this soup the yolks help thicken the sauce while the lemon juice adds plenty of flavor to the simple recipe.

This delicious food fits perfectly for any occasion thereby making you offer to your guests. If you haven't tried this dish then hurry up and enjoy this healthy option.

Trying something healthy in Greek means just choosing gemista. This is a wonderful food that includes stuffed vegetables, such as tomatoes, bell peppers, or zucchini, mostly filled with a mixture of rice, herbs, and sometimes ground meat. You can also use eggplant and even onions to enhance the flavor.

Interestingly, this food is healthy, vegan, gluten-free, and is also low in fat. It also requires some skill and a bit of time just because you have to empty the vegetables while cooking. You must try this healthy bliss.