The main advantage of Greek cuisine is that it is as healthy as possible. All Greek dishes use a lot of vegetables, cheese and meat – in the best traditions of the Mediterranean region. We have put together a selection of 15 great recipes for you!
Greek salad
Of course, you can’t do without this classic recipe.
You will need: 2 tomatoes, 1 cucumber, 1 bell pepper, 1/2 purple onion, 50 g olives, 200 g feta, 4 tbsp. olive oil, 2 tsp. oregano, salt, ground black pepper.
Preparation: Coarsely chop all the vegetables, add olives and season the salad with olive oil, spices and aromatic herbs. Place coarsely chopped feta on top.
Shish kebab souvlaki
We suggest preparing aromatic Greek chicken kebab.
You will need: 700 g chicken fillet, 5 cloves of garlic, 2 tbsp. oregano, 60 ml olive oil, 45 ml lemon juice, spices.
Preparation: Chop the garlic, cut the chicken into shish kebab, place all the ingredients in a sealed bag and mix. Leave the chicken to marinate in the refrigerator for several hours or even overnight. Next, cook the souvlaki like a regular shish kebab – fry on skewers on the grill or bake in the oven until golden brown on a wire rack, turning.
Greek hummus
An easy and healthy snack for all occasions. Delicious!
You will need: 2 cups boiled chickpeas, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 tbsp. lemon juice, 0.5 tsp. salt, 1 tbsp. olive oil.
Preparation: To cook the chickpeas faster, soak them overnight. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend the hummus until smooth. Season as desired.
Greek tzatziki sauce
A yogurt-based white sauce that goes well with any meat, side dishes and flatbreads.
You will need: 250 g Greek yogurt, 1 cucumber, 20 g dill, 2 cloves garlic, salt, ground black pepper.
Preparation: Grate the cucumber, add salt, leave for 5 minutes and squeeze out excess juice. Chop the dill, pass the garlic through a press, add all the ingredients to Greek yogurt and stir the resulting sauce.
Avgolemono soup
An unusual soup with egg and lemon juice that definitely deserves your attention.
You will need: 1 chicken thigh, 1 carrot, 2 egg yolks, 1/4 celery root, juice of 1 lemon, 1.5 liters of water, spices.
Preparation: Remove the skin from the chicken thigh, fill it with water, add spices for the broth and bring to a boil. Add grated carrots and celery and cook for half an hour. Remove the thigh, slice and return the meat to the pan.
Whisk the yolks with lemon juice, add a little broth and whisk again. Stirring constantly, pour the egg mixture into the soup in a thin stream. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and let the soup simmer for 15 minutes, covered.
Greek scrambled eggs with feta
In its homeland it is known as strapatsada, and it is the perfect quick breakfast.
You will need: 2 eggs, 1 tomato, 2 tbsp. olive oil, 60 g feta, spices, herbs.
Preparation: Peel the tomato, grate it on a coarse grater and lightly fry it in olive oil. Season to taste and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add crumbled feta and cook for 1 minute more. Pour in the beaten eggs and cook, stirring until they are set. Sprinkle the eggs with herbs.
Rizogalo
This Greek rice pudding will definitely appeal to all lovers of delicate and airy desserts.
You will need: 150 g rice, 200 ml water, 500 ml milk, 1.5 tbsp. corn starch, 2 tbsp. sugar, 3 drops vanilla extract, 1 tsp. cinnamon.
Preparation: Wash the rice, add water, bring to a boil and cook until the water is absorbed. Add sugar, vanilla extract and milk, stir and bring to a boil. Cook the porridge over low heat until tender, stirring. Dissolve the starch in a small amount of water or milk, pour into the porridge, bring to a boil again and simmer for a couple of minutes. Divide the pudding into bowls, cool and sprinkle with cinnamon.
Moussaka with eggplant and zucchini
A hearty casserole with vegetables and meat can confidently be called one of the most famous Greek dishes.
You will need: 1 eggplant, 3 potatoes, 1 zucchini, 300 g minced meat, 1 tomato, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 onion, 1 tbsp. tomato paste, 50 g butter, 50 g parmesan, 500 ml milk, 2 tbsp. vegetable oil, 4 sprigs of thyme, 50 g flour, spices.
Preparation: Chop the onion and thyme and fry in vegetable oil until soft. Add tomato paste, minced meat and spices. Continue frying until the minced meat is ready, stirring. Separately, fry the flour in butter and pour in the milk, stirring constantly. Reduce the bechamel a little until thick and season.
Cut all the vegetables into slices. Place them in layers in a mold, pour half of the sauce over them and add minced meat on top. Pour the remaining sauce over everything, sprinkle with grated Parmesan and place the moussaka in the oven for half an hour at 180 degrees.
Lemon halvas
Another original Greek sweet based on semolina.
You will need: 4 glasses of water, 2 glasses of semolina, 1.5 glasses of sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 glass of olive oil, 2 tbsp. lemon zest.
Preparation: Pour water into a saucepan and add sugar, cinnamon and lemon zest. Cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves, stirring, and then strain the syrup.
Heat the oil separately, add semolina to it, reduce the heat and cook, stirring, until caramel-colored. Gradually add the syrup and mix well again. When the mass comes away from the walls, put it in the mold and place the halvas in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.
Greek gyros
For spices, we recommend mixing thyme, oregano, coriander, hot pepper and a little cumin.
You will need: 450 g flour, 3 tsp. dry yeast, 1/4 cup water, 2 tsp. salt, olive oil, 250 g pork, 140 g onion, 300 g tomatoes, 300 g tzatziki sauce, spices.
Preparation: Cut the pork into large pieces and marinate it for several hours in 2-3 tablespoons of oil with spices to taste. Mix sifted flour, yeast and salt. Pour in water and 2 more tablespoons of oil, knead the dough and leave it warm for 2 hours.
Divide the dough into 10-12 parts, roll out the cakes and fry them on both sides in a dry frying pan. Cut the onion into rings, fry until golden, add the pork and fry until done. Thinly slice the tomatoes. Fold the pita in half, top with the pork and tomatoes and top with tzatziki sauce.
Leg of lamb with Greek potatoes
This dish will ideally decorate even a holiday table. And what a scent it has!
You will need: 2 kg leg of lamb, 7-8 potatoes, 1 head of garlic, 250 ml dry white wine, 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp. paprika, 1 lemon, 2 tbsp. oregano, thyme and rosemary, 120 ml olive oil, spices.
Preparation: Mix wine, oil, Dijon mustard, all spices and herbs, lemon juice and zest. Coat the lamb with this marinade and leave for 1 hour; you can also marinate it in a bag overnight. Then place the lamb on a baking sheet, cover with foil and bake for half an hour in the oven at 220 degrees.
Cut the potatoes into slices, drizzle with oil, season and add with the garlic cloves to the lamb. Bake under foil for another 10 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 170 degrees and bake for another 1 hour. After half an hour, remove the foil.
Briam
Greek vegetable stew made with seasonal vegetables and salted feta.
You will need: 3 potatoes, 1 bell pepper, 1-2 eggplants, 1 zucchini, 300 g of tomatoes in their own juice, 2 cloves of garlic, 150 g of feta, 3 tbsp. olive oil, 1 tsp. oregano, spices.
Preparation: Cut all the vegetables into small cubes, add tomatoes, oil, spices and garlic. Stir and bake for 45 minutes in the oven at 180 degrees, then sprinkle with crumbled feta and bake for another 10 minutes.
Yuvetsi with chicken
Here you will need small orzo pasta, reminiscent of rice.
You will need: 400 g chicken fillet, 300 ml tomato puree, 300 g orzo pasta, 250 ml water, 2 cloves garlic, 100 g onion, 3 tbsp. olive oil, spices.
Preparation: Cut the chicken into small pieces, fry it until golden brown and season. Add chopped onion and garlic and fry for another 4-5 minutes. Pour in the tomato puree, add water and simmer for 10-15 minutes over low heat. Place the orzo pasta in a baking dish and pour the resulting sauce over it. Sprinkle with cheese as desired and place everything in the oven for 20-25 minutes at 160 degrees.
Chicken legs with lemon and aromatic herbs
Makes a great addition to your daily diet!
You will need: 500 g chicken legs, 1 lemon, 10 olives, 1 clove of garlic, 1 onion, 2 sprigs of thyme, 3 sprigs of rosemary, 1 tbsp. olive oil, spices and herbs.
Preparation: Remove the zest from the lemon, and cut the lemon itself into slices. Roughly chop the onion and garlic, chop the rosemary and thyme. Place the chicken in a mold, sprinkle with lemon juice, add the zest and half the herbs. Season, add oil, stir and leave to marinate for half an hour. Add all the remaining ingredients and place the chicken in the oven for 50-60 minutes at 170 degrees.
Fakes with lentils
Traditionally, red lentils are used for this soup.
You will need: 200 g lentils, 2 tomatoes, 1 carrot, 2 bell peppers, 1 onion, 2 celery stalks, 2 garlic cloves, 1 tsp. tomato paste, sugar, salt, spices, aromatic herbs.
Preparation: Cut all vegetables into small cubes. Fry the onion and celery directly in the pan, after a few minutes add the garlic, and after another 1 minute add the carrots and pepper. Cook everything together for 3-5 minutes.
Add peeled and chopped tomatoes, tomato paste and sugar to taste. Cook for another 2 minutes. Add washed lentils, spices and herbs. Stir and pour in about one and a half liters of water. Bring to a boil and cook the soup for 10-15 minutes, covered, over low heat until the lentils are cooked.