Top Foods You Must Try On Your
holiday to greece

Whether you’re visiting the unspoilt regions of mainland Greece or one of the majestic small Greek islands such as Corfu or Ithaca, there is plenty of delicious Greek food to try. Head to one of the many restaurants, where you can try authentic dishes cooked by people following family recipes using only the best local produce, or visit a market and pick up the ingredients to recreate back at your holiday villa in Greece. Here, we look at some of the top foods you absolutely must try on your holidays to Greece.

Dolmades

Whether it is the traditional vine leaf cigars or vegetables with the inside hollowed out like tomatoes, courgettes and peppers, packed and cooked, each area in Greece – and each home – has its version of dolmades, which can be found in every household. The stuffing is often made out of minced pork and rice, while vegetarian variants can be made using rice that has been flavoured with a variety of herbs such as thyme, fennel, dill and oregano. It is also possible to use pine nuts. To make dolmadakia, the leaves are rolled into small cigars and cooked until soft. Then, they are drizzled with olive oil and served with lemon wedges, as with many Greek foods.

Moussaka

In Greece and on the Balkan peninsula, moussaka is a dish composed of layers of aubergine, mince lamb, purées of tomato, onion and garlic with spices including allspice and cinnamon and a little potato, followed by a final topping made of bechamel sauce and cheese. Moussaka is also known as “the Greek lasagna.”

Grilled Meat

The Greeks are connoisseurs of the charcoal-grilled and roasted meats that they prepare. Souvlaki, pieces of pork cooked on skewers, is still Greece’s beloved fast meal, served on a bed of tomatoes and onions in pitta bread with a dollop of tzatziki sauce on the side. Gyros, which are also popular, are often served similarly. Local lamb and pig are the most popular dishes at the taverna, while young goat is also popular. If you are staying in one of our holiday villas in Peloponnese, Gourounopoula, a pork dish, is particularly worth trying.

Fresh Fish

Relax at a traditional beachfront restaurant and enjoy traditional cuisine, much as the people have done since earlier civilisations. Fresh fish and squid caught in the Mediterranean and Aegean are exceptionally good. They may be prepared with little bother – simply grilled and drizzled with a dressing made of oil and lemon. Smaller fish with a strong flavour, such as red mullet and whitebait are excellent when lightly cooked. If you are headed to a villa on one of the Greek Islands, such as Kefalonia, a visit to a fish restaurant is a must!

Dips

Tzatziki is a traditional Greek dip that is made with yoghurt, cucumber, and garlic. Other dips to try include melitzanosalata, an aubergine based dip and fava, which is a puree of yellow split peas with onion, olives and a dribble of olive oil). Another traditional Greek dip is taramasalata, a delicious puree of pink or whitefish roe served on pita bread.

Cheese

Cheese is a delight while visiting Greece. Ask for rich and excellent feta, which is stored in large vats of brine behind the market counters. Alternatively, try graviera, a delicious firm cheese, eaten in small cubes or fried like saganaki. In bakeries, you will be able to get your hands on tyropita, a cheese pie, while in tavernas; you will discover salads like dakos, which are topped with a crumble of mizithra, a creamy soft cheese, and other ingredients. Finally, in Kefalonia, try a riganada – oregano bread and feta cheese.

Courgette Balls (kolokythokeftedes)

Try these appetisers whenever you get the opportunity. They can be either patties or gently fried balls. Courgette fritters are often cooked with grated or puréed courgette and a secret spice blend such as dill, mint, or other top-secret herbs and spices.

Octopus

Octopuses are strung out to dry along the shores of Greek coastlines, and it is one of the country’s most recognizable pictures. Grilled or marinated, they form a delicious meze or main entrée cooked in wine.

Olives

Is it even a holiday to Greece without consuming at least your body weight in olives? Greece literally is the olive capital of the world – it is said that Athena gave an olive tree to Athens. However, did you know that in Crete, where Vintage Travel has a superb selection of holiday villas, the average annual consumption of olive oil per person is 25 litres? This little thing of beauty accompanies many Greek meals, and olive oil is used in just about everything, from cooking to being liberally dribbled over dips and salads.

Sweets

Finish off any delicious meal with a sinful Greek sweet, frequently based on olive oil and honey combinations and wrapped in flaky filo dough to make them tastier. The traditional baklava is made with honey, filo pastry, and crushed nuts. Alternatively, galaktoboureko, a decadent custard-filled pastry, can be enjoyed. A simpler dessert is local thyme honey poured over fresh, thick Greek yoghurt, which is delicious. This is particularly abundant in Lefkada, where they produce their own thyme honey. Why not pick some up to eat back at your holiday villa?

Wherever you go in Greece, you will find great food, that is made with only the highest quality ingredients. Enjoy it in a restaurant or cook it for yourself in the comfort of your holiday villa from Vintage Travel. For more information about the holiday villas available in Greece, get in touch with us today.