Greek Cuisine: Top Traditional Dishes (16 Photos)

Greek cuisine is the undisputed queen of the Balkan Peninsula. Its foundation rests on olive oil, fresh vegetables, fish, meat (mostly lamb), seafood, and fruit. Vibrant, aromatic, and well-balanced, traditional Greek dishes rely heavily on fresh herbs like oregano, dill, and scallions. But the real star of local gastronomy is feta cheese, which finds its way into everything from crisp salads to savory pies.







Tzatziki: a creamy dip made from yogurt, garlic, cucumber, fresh herbs, and spices. Served as an appetizer or a condiment alongside main courses. (Nikodem Nijaki)





Souvlaki: skewers of grilled meat or fish served with bread and fresh vegetables. (James G)



Taramasalata: a rich dip made from smoked cod roe, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice, traditionally served with bread and olives. (stu_spivack)



Greek salad: the undisputed star of Greek cuisine. This colorful dish is packed with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, bell peppers, olives, and of course, feta cheese, all dressed in olive oil. Some variations also feature lettuce or capers. (Zagat Buzz)



Moussaka: a iconic dish shared across Balkan, Moldovan, Bulgarian, Serbian, Bosnian, and Romanian cuisines. Classic Greek moussaka is baked in layers of eggplant, tomatoes, minced meat, and cream sauce, sometimes with potatoes or mushrooms added. (Merle ja Joonas)



Moussaka. (MarionIon)



Dolmades: popular across the Balkans, Central and Western Asia, and the Caucasus, these grape leaf rolls are similar to stuffed cabbage rolls. In Greece, they are typically drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil. (arpad ikuma)



Pastitsio: a baked pasta dish made with tubular noodles layered with minced meat and cheese, topped with a rich cream sauce. (Katrin Morenz)



Fish. (Stijn Nieuwendijk)



Spanakopita: savory phyllo pastry filled with spinach, feta cheese, and fresh herbs. (Sodexo USA)



Tiropita: crisp phyllo pastry stuffed with a rich feta cheese filling. (Alpha)



Octopus. (Klearchos Kapoutsis)



Pita bread. (etringita)



Loukoumades: traditional Greek donuts. (Alpha)



Melomakarona: honey-soaked spiced cookies. (Nick Papakyriazis)