Europe · Traditional

Greek cuisine

Greek food offers a delicious fusion of tradition, sunshine, and Mediterranean freshness. Discover succulent grilled meats, creamy tzatziki, and flaky spanakopita, all drizzled with golden olive oil. Each dish reflects Greece’s ancient heritage and love of sharing, inviting you to savour every bite under the bright Aegean sky.

Explore recipes Build a Greek menu Wine pairings

Food history

Why Greek cuisine is worth exploring

Greek cuisine is built on olive oil, bread, wine, herbs, fish, lamb, pulses and vegetables. Ancient Mediterranean habits, Orthodox fasting traditions, Ottoman influence and island cooking all shaped the modern table.

Why it is famous

Greece is famous for mezze, feta, olives, grilled fish, lamb, moussaka, souvlaki, spanakopita, yoghurt, honey and syrup pastries.

Regional food story

Greek cuisine is not one single style. Treat the country page as a gateway into regional dishes, local ingredients, family recipes and occasion-led cooking.

How to cook it

Flavours, ingredients and menu ideas

Signature ingredients

Olive oil, lemon, oregano, mint, dill, feta, yoghurt, lamb, fish, aubergine, tomatoes, filo pastry, pulses and honey are central.

Cooking style

The cooking style ranges from simple home dishes to more elaborate food for celebrations. Good Greek recipes usually balance staple ingredients with texture, seasoning and a clear sense of occasion.

Build a menu

Build a Greek menu by choosing a light starter, a signature main and a dessert that shows the country’s baking or sweet traditions. Add wine or drink pairings where the dish has enough richness, spice, acidity or sweetness to make the match useful.

Starters Mains Desserts

Cook by course

Greek recipes

Start with a starter, choose a main, then finish with a dessert to build a complete country-inspired menu.

Starters

Greek starters

Tzatziki

Tzatziki is a story-rich Greek starter that opens the meal with clear regional flavour, simple presentat…

Starter 10 mins

Feta Saganaki

Feta Saganaki is a story-rich Greek starter that opens the meal with clear regional flavour, simple pres…

Starter 15 mins

Horiatiki Greek Salad

Horiatiki Greek Salad is a traditional Greek starter from village cooking across Greece, built around to…

Starter 20 mins

Taramosalata

Taramosalata is a traditional Greek starter from Greek meze tables, built around fish roe, bread and oli…

Starter 20 mins

Kolokithokeftedes

Kolokithokeftedes is a traditional Greek starter from Aegean island cooking, built around courgettes, he…

Starter 48 mins

Dolmades

Dolmades is a story-rich Greek starter that opens the meal with clear regional flavour, simple presentat…

Starter 1 hr

Spanakopita

Spanakopita is a story-rich Greek starter that opens the meal with clear regional flavour, simple presen…

Starter 1 hr 5 mins

Gigantes Plaki

Gigantes Plaki is a story-rich Greek starter that opens the meal with clear regional flavour, simple pre…

Starter 2 hr

Main courses

Greek main courses

Souvlaki

Souvlaki is a classic Greek main course built around comforting flavour, cultural heritage and the kind…

Main 35 mins

Garides Saganaki

Garides Saganaki is a traditional Greek main from coastal taverna cooking, built around prawns, tomato a…

Main 45 mins

Psari Plaki

Psari Plaki is a classic Greek main course built around comforting flavour, cultural heritage and the ki…

Main 45 mins

Bourdeto Fish Stew

Bourdeto Fish Stew is a traditional Greek main from Corfu, built around firm white fish and red pepper s…

Main 1 hr

Makaronia me Kima

Makaronia me Kima is a traditional Greek main from Greek family cooking, built around pasta and cinnamon…

Main 1 hr 20 mins

Pastitsio

Pastitsio is a classic Greek main course built around comforting flavour, cultural heritage and the kind…

Main 1 hr 20 mins

Soutzoukakia Smyrneika

Soutzoukakia Smyrneika is a traditional Greek main from Smyrna-influenced Greek cooking, built around sp…

Main 1 hr 20 mins

Avgolemono Chicken Soup

Avgolemono Chicken Soup is a traditional Greek main from Greek home and celebration cooking, built aroun…

Main 1 hr 30 mins

Gemista

Gemista is a classic Greek main course built around comforting flavour, cultural heritage and the kind o…

Main 1 hr 30 mins

Moussaka

Moussaka is a classic Greek main course built around comforting flavour, cultural heritage and the kind…

Main 1 hr 30 mins

Kotopoulo Lemonato

Kotopoulo Lemonato is a traditional Greek main from Greek home cooking, built around chicken, lemon and…

Main 1 hr 40 mins

Imam Baildi

Imam Baildi is a traditional Greek main from Greek and Ottoman shared table, built around aubergines, on…

Main 1 hr 45 mins

Briam

Briam is a traditional Greek main from summer vegetable cooking, built around courgettes, aubergines, po…

Main 1 hr 50 mins

Octopus Stifado

Octopus Stifado is a traditional Greek main from Aegean islands, built around octopus and pearl onions a…

Main 1 hr 55 mins

Arnaki Fricassee

Arnaki Fricassee is a traditional Greek main from spring Greek cooking, built around lamb, lettuce and a…

Main 2 hr 5 mins

Fasolada

Fasolada is a traditional Greek main from Greek national home cooking, built around white beans, tomato…

Main 2 hr 5 mins

Youvetsi

Youvetsi is a traditional Greek main from Greek family Sunday cooking, built around beef or lamb and orz…

Main 2 hr 20 mins

Kokkinisto

Kokkinisto is a traditional Greek main from mainland Greek braising, built around beef in tomato and spi…

Main 2 hr 45 mins

Stifado

Stifado is a traditional Greek main from Ionian and mainland Greece, built around beef and baby onions a…

Main 3 hr 5 mins

Kleftiko

Kleftiko is a traditional Greek main from mountain shepherd cooking, built around lamb shoulder and the…

Main 4 hr 5 mins

Desserts

Greek desserts

Rizogalo

Rizogalo is a traditional Greek dessert from Greek home desserts, built around rice, milk and cinnamon a…

Dessert 45 mins

Loukoumades

Loukoumades is a traditional Greek dessert with a memorable texture, a sense of occasion and the sweet f…

Dessert 50 mins

Kourabiedes

Kourabiedes is a traditional Greek dessert from Greek festive baking, built around butter, almonds and i…

Dessert 52 mins

Melomakarona

Melomakarona is a traditional Greek dessert from Christmas baking across Greece, built around olive oil…

Dessert 1 hr

Karydopita

Karydopita is a traditional Greek dessert from Greek celebration baking, built around walnuts, cinnamon…

Dessert 1 hr 10 mins

Portokalopita

Portokalopita is a traditional Greek dessert from Greek orange groves and bakery cooking, built around o…

Dessert 1 hr 15 mins

Baklava

Baklava is a traditional Greek dessert with a memorable texture, a sense of occasion and the sweet finis…

Dessert 1 hr 20 mins

Galaktoboureko

Galaktoboureko is a traditional Greek dessert with a memorable texture, a sense of occasion and the swee…

Dessert 1 hr 30 mins

Wine and drink pairings

What to drink with Greek food

Assyrtiko is excellent with seafood, feta and lemon; Moschofilero suits herbs and pastries; Agiorgitiko or Xinomavro work with lamb, tomato-rich dishes and grilled meat.

Red

Agiorgitiko / Xinomavro

Greek red pairing family: Agiorgitiko is plush and fruity; Xinomavro is more structured and savoury. Works with lamb, m…

Grape: Agiorgitiko, Xinomavro Region: Nemea, Naoussa

White

Albariño / Vinho Verde

Fresh coastal white wine with citrus, peach, sea-spray minerality and bright acidity. Excellent with seafood, salt cod…

Grape: Albariño, Alvarinho, Loureiro, Arinto Region: Rías Baixas, Minho, Vinho Verde

White

Assyrtiko

Greek white with piercing acidity, lemon, salt and volcanic minerality. Ideal for tzatziki, feta, seafood, grilled fish…

Grape: Assyrtiko Region: Santorini, Macedonia, Crete

White

Moschofilero

Aromatic Greek white with rose, citrus and spice. Good with herbs, pastry, feta, vegetable dishes and lighter starters.

Grape: Moschofilero Region: Mantinia, Peloponnese

White

Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris

Clean, easy-drinking white with pear, apple and citrus. Good for light starters, mild fish, salads and simple vegetable…

Grape: Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris Region: Veneto, Friuli, Alsace, Oregon

Sparkling

Moscato d'Asti

Lightly sparkling sweet Piedmontese wine with grape, peach and orange blossom.

Grape: Moscato Bianco Region: Piedmont

Dessert

Sauternes / Botrytised Sweet Wine

Luscious sweet wine with apricot, honey, marmalade and balancing acidity. Good with custards, fruit tarts, blue cheese…

Grape: Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle Region: Sauternes, Barsac, Monbazillac, Tokaj-inspired regions

Dessert

Sweet Muscat

Fragrant sweet wine with orange blossom, grape, peach and honey. Best with pastries, custards, fruit desserts and light…

Grape: Muscat Blanc, Moscatel, Muscat of Alexandria Region: Rutherglen, Beaumes-de-Venise, Setúbal, Asti

Local beers

Greek beers

Wine can lead the meal, but local beer tells another story: what people drink in bars, restaurants and shops alongside everyday food.

Explore local beers

Mythos

Lager 4.7% ABV

Olympic Brewery / Carlsberg Group

A famous Greek lager often associated with tavernas and holidays.

Alpha Beer

Lager 5% ABV

Athenian Brewery / Heineken

A widely sold Greek lager with long-running national recognition.

Fix Hellas

Lager 5% ABV

Olympic Brewery

A revived historic Athenian beer brand with strong Greek identity.

Vergina Lager

Lager 5% ABV

Macedonian Thrace Brewery

A northern Greek lager with independent brewery roots.

Mamos

Lager 5% ABV

Athenian Brewery / Heineken

A historic Patras beer brand relaunched for the Greek market.

Food stories

Articles linked to Greek recipes

Explore the wider stories behind ingredients, cooking methods, celebrations and national dishes.

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The Best Family Recipes Passed Down Through Generations

The dishes families repeat are the ones that survive: stews, pies, pasta, soups, rice dishes, cakes and Sunday meals th…

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Why Vinegar Makes Food Taste Brighter

Vinegar gives food lift, from fish and chips and pickles to adobo, dressings, chutneys, sauces and marinades.

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The Best Recipes With Aubergine

Aubergine drinks in oil, spice, smoke and tomato, which is why it appears in some of the world’s richest vegetable dish…