Traditional Foods in Greece

 

Greek food spread its culinary delights throughout the country and beyond. Greek cuisine has an ancient tradition and has been heavily influenced by Eastern and Western cultures. The taste of food in this country changes according to the season. However, fresh vegetables, fish, and seafood are the main ingredients of Greek cuisine and play an important role in the dishes, while meat is less popular, with the exception of lamb. Here are some dishes that should not be missed on your trip through Greece and are sure to become favorites.!

1. AMYGDALOTA

The first dish I tried was amygdalota, a gluten-free almond pastry that is very popular in Greece, and in my opinion, it goes well with a warm cup of Greek coffee. Whether I'm meeting with family or friends, according to traditional beliefs in Greece, this food symbolizes the image of a beautiful friendly relationship. This dish can vary slightly in different restaurants in Greece, but almonds are the dominant ingredient throughout the region.

2. BOUGATSA

Next is a dish called bougatsa, a sweet cake made from puff pastry and semolina porridge. This dish is great to eat during the day, and I think it's even better late at night when you're happy and full. In Greece, they say that if you eat this cake in a street snack bar, you also get icing sugar and cinnamon on it. For me, it is suitable for people who like sweet food.

3. DOLMADAKIA (STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES)

According to popular belief, this is another sign of the versatility of Greek cuisine. The so-called dolmadakia are small dolmades made of stuffed grape leaves. When I tried them, inside the leaf was either lamb or beef (sometimes both) or rice. Traditionally, this dish is served as an appetizer with lemon wedges.

4. TOMATOKEFTEDES (SANTORINI TOMATO FRITTERS)

Tomaotokeftedes, better known as fried tomatoes, is a traditional side dish and main dish or so-called vegetarian dish in Santorini and Syros. The preparation of this delicious dish depends on the ingredients combined with the right tomatoes. In my opinion, you should definitely try them when traveling in Greece, because these fries have a rough edge with mint, tomato and onion flakes that are delicious and hearty.

5. HALVAS

The first time I was in Greece, I was introduced to a simple but delicious dessert. I think you'll be surprised at how delicious this simple meal is, especially if you're looking for a dairy-free, butter-free, egg-free dessert. Halva is a combination of four great ingredients, oil, semolina, sugar, and water. I am sure you will be amazed by the taste of the combination of these four ingredients. Simply put, halva is a semolina pudding sweetened with syrup and sprinkled with nuts.