30 Best Greek Recipes

Greece has some delicious traditional dishes loved the world over, Greek Mediterranean food recipes benefit from the regional diets of olive oil, vegetables, seafood, cheese, and grains to name just a few.

Meals are often healthy and full of light, refreshing flavors.

Do you dream of sitting in a taverna sampling souvlaki with a side of tzatziki? Now you can experience the best of Greek cuisine in your very own home, Whether Revani from Veroia or Fava from Santorini, you’ll find a host of greek food delights to enjoy.

These Greek dinner recipes showcase some of the best the country has to offer. So get in the kitchen and give your tastebuds a trip to the Hellenic homelands.

1- Traditional Greek Baklava

Do Greeks have any great dessert treats? You bet!

Baklava is one of the best examples of greek dishes suitable for those with a sweet tooth.It features light crispy pastry, walnuts, and honey syrup.With phyllo pastry sheets available to buy ready for use, this recipe is a lot easier than you’d think.

You just have to layer butter brushed phyllo sheets with a few layers of the walnut mixture in between and bake.The walnuts can also be substituted for almonds or pistachios. Then drizzle all with a simple sauce of sugar and honey.

This is a scrumptious syrupy dessert or ‘Siropiasta’ with a sweet and nutty flavor that will soon be a new family favorite.

2- Amygdalota (Greek Almond Cookies)

Who doesn’t love a cookie? The Greeks certainly do. This recipe will give you crunchy, chewy cookies with a zesty finish that are also gluten-free.

They’re easy to make too! Almonds are the obvious star of only 5 ingredients needed.

Almond flour, sugar, salt, and orange zest to make the dough, and sliced almonds for a crunchy coating.

The sliced almonds are better when broken into small pieces for this and if you want a slightly different tasty tang you can switch out the orange zest for another citrus variety.

With a little bit of mixing and baking, you too can enjoy yummy cookies that traditionally symbolize happiness and new beginnings.

3- Greek Bougatsa

Do you like the idea a of Greek dessert with a sweet and creamy surprise? Great! This tasty traditional recipe is essentially a Greek version of a custard pie.

Phyllo pastry is needed and bears better results with liberal use of butter so make sure you have plenty to hand.

The custard is a fairly simple mix of eggs, flour, milk, and vanilla extract for that hint of sweetness. Then just encase it in pastry layers and bake. Simply perfect!

This is a sweet, smooth, crispy dessert you can serve to impress guests at dinner or have as a sweet lunch snack. Either way, it’s going to be absolutely delicious!

4- Traditional Greek Kolokithokeftedes

This is a traditional Greek food that is difficult to pronounce but gorgeous to eat.

It originates in Crete and features fried zucchini balls with a cheesy, salty flavor. So yummy!

The ingredients are a simple combination of zucchini, onions, eggs, feta cheese, and a few herbs and spices. Just mix these to create veggie balls and fry in oil.

Frying them in small batches is recommended or they can even be done in the oven as a healthier option too.  This simple vegetable dish can be served with a yogurt dip as a starter or a snack. You’ll soon be hooked.

5- Dolmadakia

Ready to try a delicious delicacy? Dolmadakia are stuffed grape leaves and popular food in Greece to have as appetizers, snacks, or even as a main dinner dish. They are usually stuffed with a mixture of herbs and rice, similar to this recipe.

The grape leaves can be brought fresh or jarred and once you get the hang of preparing them, it’s just a case of wrapping them around a center of rice mixed with scallion, tomato, and herbs.

Different additions like ground meat or cheese can be added to vary the flavors but this vegetarian version is packed full of fabulous tastes and textures. You’ll love it!

6- Authentic Greek Fava

Fava is a yellow split pea puree that can be served as a delicious dip or appetizer.

This traditional recipe is from Santorini and for an extra dose of authenticity Santorini Fava beans can be used as an ingredient.

Otherwise, yellow split peas are a perfect substitute and are prepared with red onions, garlic, thyme, and olive oil. Once blended to a creamy consistency, it is ready to go.

Simple enough right? You can serve this along with a meatball dish or solo with warm pita bread for dipping.

It is sure to become a favored flavorsome alternative to hummus. Try it and see!

7- Tomatokeftedes

If tomato fritters sound like a temptingly tasty dish, this tomato keftedes recipe is the one for you! This is another Greek food sourced in Santorini and is enticingly easy to make.

Chopped tomatoes and smashed feta cheese combine wonderfully with onions and herbs to make the fritters.

Then with the help of a little flour and baking powder, they are panfried in oil. Don’t forget to turn the fritters as they cook and you’ll soon have a plate of moreish Greek morsels.

These fritters make a wonderful side dish or lunchtime snack. Maybe even serve your tomato keftedes alongside some kolokithokeftedes. That’s an impressive mouthful in more ways than one.

8- Greek Baked Feta with Honey

Need an awesome appetizer perfect for parties or family gatherings?

Look no further! This ‘feta me meli’ features a creamy cheese filling wrapped in pastry and topped with sweet, syrupy honey.

It’s a quick and easy recipe too. Greek cheese and honey are recommended but can be substituted for other brands.

Just wrap blocks of feta cheese in phyllo pastry, bake in the oven and then serve with a drizzle of honey and sprinkle of sesame seeds.

You’ll soon have a deliciously decadent dish to serve hot from the oven. No one will be able to resist!

9- Greek Frappe Coffee

Greek recipes are not just limited to food.

This popular frappe coffee can be found on Greek menus in tavernas and cafes across the country. Frothy and refreshing, it’s an ideal iced beverage for a hot summer’s day.

To make it at home, all you need is instant coffee, sugar, milk, water, and ice cubes. A frappe mixer or electric Whizzer will come in handy here too.

Depending on your preference for strength and sweetness, different measurements of the ingredients are combined and whizzed to a foamy consistency.

Sip this delicious iced coffee and imagine yourself basking in the sun on the shores of a Greek island. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon!

10- Traditional Greek Galaktoboureko

Galaktoboureko is another crispy, creamy dessert similar to Bougatsa in that it is a traditional Greek recipe for a custard pie.

The difference here is that it is served with a beautiful syrup to add a sublime bit of sweetness to the pastry and custard. Phyllo pastry layers are prepared to encase a custard filling and baked before being drizzled with syrup.

Ground semolina and double cream are traditional additions to give the custard an indulgent texture. The syrup itself is simple honey, sugar, and water creation.

It’s completely delicious and will be a dessert welcome on any dining table when it’s served up crispy and golden from the oven.

11- Horiatiki / Xoriatiki (Traditional Greek Salad)

There’s nothing better than an authentic Greek salad for a burst of refreshing flavors.

This traditional village salad has rustic roots and uses simple ingredients to create a nutritious and delicious dish.

You’ll need tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, olives, and feta cheese. The fresher the ingredients the better!

Keep the dressing super simple too with a mixture of extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar. This is an easy and enticing recipe that will complement any main meal or make a luscious light lunch.

Sound good? Then embrace this juicy Mediterranean salad tradition.

12- Greek Chicken Gyros

Fancy a hearty handful of tasty chicken in a neatly folded wrap?

You’re in luck! These Greek chicken gyros are full of mouthwateringly marinated meat, tzatziki, and salad.

Chicken is flavored with a marinade made of yogurt, garlic, lemon, and oregano before being grilled. The juicy, tender chicken is then wrapped in a flatbread along with tzatziki and a tomato and cucumber salad.

Pita bread can also be used to wrap these scrumptiously simple ingredients. These fun and filling gyros are fantastic served solo or with a fresh Greek salad.

They will quickly become a new favorite for barbecues and summer parties!

13- Greek Halva (Semolina Pudding with Raisins)

Some of the best Greek recipes are ones that introduce you to some new tastes and textures.

This traditional semolina pudding is a sweet and simple recipe that is yummy even without the use of dairy, butter, or eggs.

Semolina is the star ingredient and the trick to releasing its flavors is to toast it in oil before cooking it with hot honeyed syrup. To add more flavors raisins can be added to the mix or even some toasted nuts. Once it thickens and sets, you’re good to go!

Give this delicious dessert a try and discover a sweet and satisfying new treat.

14- Homemade Kataifi

Do you know what Kataifi is? If you don’t it’s time to find out.

One of the sweet ‘syropiasta’ desserts, it features scented nuts wrapped in buttery dough and finished with a lemon syrup. Just delicious! A specific kataifi dough is needed along with fresh butter to keep it moist.

The filling of chopped walnuts, cloves, and cinnamon is rolled into dough cylinders and baked. Pistachios and almonds can also be substituted here.

A simple syrup of lemon, sugar, and cinnamon is best left to cool before being poured onto the hot, baked rolls.

This mouthwatering moist dessert is a sweet and sumptuous treat best enjoyed with a bit of ice cream. Discover the decadence!

15- Keftedes/ Keftethes (Greek Meatballs)

If succulent savory meatballs sound like the perfect starter or side to enjoy at mealtimes, this recipe will be a perfect way to satisfy everyone’s cravings.

The mix of tender fried meat with herbs and seasoning is a delicious combination. Ground beef and pork are both used and mixed with onion, garlic, parsley, oregano, and olive oil, to name just a few of the ingredients.

All ingredients are ones easily found in stores or already in your kitchen. You just need to mix them together into tasty meatballs and fry them up. Simple!

While frying is more traditional, these meatballs can also be baked. No matter how they are prepared, they will make a moreish addition to any meal.

16- Loukoumades (Greek Donuts with Honey and Walnuts)

Do you like donuts? They are a favorite sweet treat in many a household.

Now you can make this delicious deep-fried Greek version. Excited to try them? You should be! The little dough balls are made from a mix of flour, yeast, sugar, and milk.

They are then deep-fried in oil until golden and crispy. This is best done in small batches. These delightful donuts are garnished with honey and cinnamon powder but you can opt for a chocolate sauce if more to your taste.

Either way, these loukoumades will be an irresistibly indulgent dessert for the whole family to enjoy!

17- Traditional Moussaka

Moussaka is one of the most widely recognized traditional Greek recipes.

It’s tasty comfort food that makes a delicious dinner dish. But what is it exactly? Let’s find out.

For this recipe, you’ll need eggplant and potatoes cut into thick slices and lightly fried. A meat sauce is traditionally made with lamb mince but beef can be substituted if preferred.

This is sandwiched between a layer of eggplant and potatoes and topped with a bechamel sauce made from milk, butter, cheese, egg, and flour. Then it’s time to bake!

This juicy, creamy recipe is a delightful dinner to serve solo or with some crusty bread and a salad. Time to dig into those flavorful layers, they’re so satisfying!

18- Pasteli (Greek Honey Sesame bars)

If you want a simple sweet snack as a chewy treat then Pasteli might be the answer.

These honey sesame bars only require 2 ingredients and can be ready in 10 minutes. Unsurprisingly the 2 ingredients required are honey and sesame seeds although you can change it up and try nuts like almonds instead.

The honey is boiled until it thickens and is then mixed with toasted sesame seeds. Once cooled it can then be cut into bars. It’s as simple as that! This is a low-calorie bar that everyone can enjoy.

Make sure you make enough, they are so addictively tasty everyone will want some!

19- Greek Pastitsio Recipe

If you ever wondered if Greece had its own version of lasagna, wonder no more.

This Greek pastitsio recipe is exactly that. Like the traditional moussaka, it is a dish layered with flavor. In this instance with pasta, ragu, and bechamel sauce. Bucatini pasta is the traditional ingredient but penne works as a more convenient substitute.

The rich beef ragu is made with onions, garlic, chopped tomatoes, and red wine, and the top layer consists of a standard creamy bechamel sauce.

Once layered in a dish and baked to perfection, the pastitsio is ready to serve as a deliciously hearty alternative to an Italian classic. Try Greek this week.

20- Greek Ravani / Revani recipe

This Revani recipe is a fragrant and fluffy coconut dessert drenched in sweet lemon syrup.

Is your mouth watering yet? You’ll need flaked coconut for the star flavor.

This is added to a standard cake mix of butter, eggs, and flour, which is then baked in a cake tin. Job done! The syrup is a simple mix of lemon juice and sugar and is an ideal match for the light, coconut cake.

It’s simple and so delicious, you’ll be making this moist masterpiece every week!

21- Saganaki recipe (Pan-seared Greek cheese)

You can’t get much better than a lovely slice of cheese.

Unless that cheese is pan-seared like in this Greek saganaki recipe. With a golden crust and a gorgeously gooey center, cheese has definitely been given an upgrade. It’s easy enough to prepare as long as you pick the right cheese.

It needs to be hard enough to stand the heat of a pan and soft enough that the center melts. You just need to dredge slices in a bit of flour then lightly pan fry them until golden.

Saganaki is divine as a snack or starter, or as the traditional side to a Moussaka. You must try these tasty cheese mouthfuls of melty magic.

22- Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe with Tzatziki

Souvlaki is one of the most popular street foods in Greece and a must-have recipe for any fan of Greek food. These marinated meat skewers are tender, full of flavor, and easy to make.

This recipe uses chicken as its chosen meat and marinates it in white wine, olive oil, garlic, lemon, and herb mixture. Once the chicken has well and truly absorbed the wonderful flavors they are then skewered and grilled. Simple!

This recipe suggests these scrummy skewers be served with warm pita and tzatziki sauce but they would go wonderfully with salad or any other kind of dip too.

It’s time to fire up the grill and grab some skewers. What are you waiting for?

23- Spanakopita Recipe (Greek Spinach Pie)

Looking for a savory dish to liven up the dinner table? This Greek spinach pie works as a delicious side dish or a main meal.

It consists of a spinach and feta filling encased in layers of crispy phyllo pastry. Spinach is an obvious requirement for this recipe along with feta cheese.

These two-star ingredients are mixed with garlic, herbs, and olive oil to form a filling that is layered between sheets of pastry and baked. A perfect parcel of savory flavors.

Try this recipe as a scrumptious side for a lamb dinner or serve it up with a salad for a tasty lunch.

Spanakopita will suit many a meal!.

24- Taramasalata

Taramasalata is a popular dip that can be purchased pre-made in stores. This dip has a fish roe base which is delicious but must surely be difficult to make at home? Not so!

Homemade taramasalata is achievable and infinitely preferable to any store-bought alternative.

Whitefish roe, white bread, lemons, red onion, and olive oil. That’s all you need. Oh! Also, a blender.

The ingredients are gradually blended to form a creamy, delicious dip. If you want to play around with flavors you can also try adding different herbs to taste.

Once completed, your homemade dip can now add that little something extra to pita slices, vegetables, salads, or fritters. Try them all!

25- Authentic Greek Tzatziki Sauce

Tzatziki is a fresh and tasty yogurt-based sauce that is often used to complement other greek dishes.

It can also be enjoyed as a dip or to add a tasty tang to a sandwich or wrap. It is a delicious recipe with versatile uses. For an authentic sauce, you will need Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, herbs, and olive oil.

Coconut yogurt can be substituted as a vegan alternative if needed. All you need to do is mix the ingredients and chill them. That’s it!

It’s a simple recipe combination but so good you will always make sure to have some ready to go in the fridge.

26- Yiaourti me Meli (Greek Yogurt with Honey and Walnuts)

Greek yogurt or ‘yiaourti’ is a well-recognized dairy option you can find easily in most stores.

Want to know how you can make this yummy yogurt even better? Read on! This recipe adds a few sweet touches.

The greek yogurt is mixed with vanilla extract and then topped with toasted walnuts coated with rich honey.

Finish this off with a sprinkle of cinnamon and you have a healthy yogurt mix to have as a breakfast, lunch snack, or even a light dessert.

Simply delicious!

27- Gemista recipe (Greek Stuffed Tomatoes and Peppers with rice)

Gemista is a stuffed, baked vegetable dish that can be found on nearly every greek menu and in many Greek home meals. This stuffed tomatoes and peppers recipe is healthy, juicy, and bursting with flavor.

Tomatoes and peppers are hollowed out, baked, and then stuffed with a delicious combination of rice, herbs, sauteed vegetables, seasonings, and sauce.

Ground meat can be added too if you want different flavors.

Sound a bit tricky? You may have to practice the assembly method a few times but once you get the hang of it, you’ll have a new Greek favorite to enjoy for dinner. Worth it!

28- Greek Lemon Potatoes

If you’re looking for a tasty Greek side dish you can’t go wrong with this recipe for lemon potatoes. These delicious roast potatoes benefit from the addition of a flavorsome lemon garlic broth.

Chunky wedges of potato are braised in broth in one pan before being roasted in another. For the broth, chicken stock, oregano, lemon juice, oil, and garlic are mixed and used to fill the wedges with their distinctive flavor.

These greek potatoes are perfect when paired with other Greek dishes or indeed with any dinner that needs a little extra zing. Get the most out of your roast!

29- Horiatiko Psomi (Greek Bread)

This traditional Greek village bread includes variations like pita and raisin bread.

This rustic recipe will give you bread with a dense texture and unique flavor. It is not the quickest of recipes as the dough will need to be left to prove overnight but it is worth the wait.

Bread flour will be needed along with fresh yeast, olive oil sugar, and salt to make the dough. Once it has proven, it is kneaded again and baked into a crusty loaf.

You will feel your patience has been well rewarded when you bite into your very own delicious homemade bread.

Now, where did you put that taramasalata, tzatziki, and fava? It’s time for some dipping!

30- Greek Salmon

Greece has some wonderful fish dishes. Not surprising when you consider its strong coastal communities.

This Greek salmon recipe brings some Mediterranean flavors to an already succulent fish. So what about this recipe makes it Greek?

A marinated feta mix is made from olive oil, lemon, and herbs that are then combined with olives, tomatoes, cucumber, and dill to make a luscious topping. Plenty of Greek influences so far. The salmon itself is seasoned and baked in the oven.

Serve the salmon with the topping for a delicious dinner. Maybe with a side of lemon potatoes? Now that would make a mouthwatering meal. Enjoy!