Greek Recipes: 7 Traditional Ingredients in Greek Dishes

Greek cooking emphasizes fresh Mediterranean flavors in most of its dishes. Some main ingredients for Greek recipes of all sorts include:

1. 1. Feta cheese: Feta is a common Greek cheese that chefs incorporate into side salads and main courses. As an alternative to feta-based Greek recipes, consider saganaki: a traditional Greek dish that uses Graviera fried cheese. Learn more about how to make, serve, and store feta cheese.
2. 2. Kalamata olives: Kalamata olives add their briny flavor to many Greek dishes. Add them to a Mediterranean charcuterie board or discover how to serve them with fresh vegetables in an authentic Greek salad recipe.
3. 3. Lentils: Protein-heavy legumes, lentils appear in many different traditional Greek recipes. Try cooking lentils yourself.
4. 4. Orzo: A type of rice-shaped pasta, orzo—not to be confused with the alcoholic spirit ouzo—is in many Mediterranean and Greek dishes. Chefs often make it with semolina flour, another staple of Greek cooking. You can use orzo in a host of recipes.
5. 5. Pita bread: Usually soft, pita bread can also be crispy, crunchy chips. Try making your own pita as a side dish for a Mediterranean main course.
6. 6. Quinoa: A nutrient-rich seed, quinoa is a staple in many Greek salads. Learn how to cook a fresh serving of quinoa.
7. 7. Tzatziki sauce: You can find tzatziki as a dipping option in many a taverna (Greek restaurant). It includes Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, cucumber, salt, and herbs. An alternative is tahini, made partially with ground sesame seeds. Follow this recipe to make your own tzatziki sauce.

Greek cuisine encompasses an almost limitless number of Mediterranean-flavored recipes. Try these nine traditional recipes to acquaint yourself with some traditional Greek foods:

1. 1. Baklava: This Greek dessert includes filo or phyllo dough, nuts, and syrup or honey. Other common phyllo pastries include the custard pies bougatsa and galaktoboureko, as well as the cheese pie tiropita. For a phyllo alternative for dessert, try the Greek donuts known as loukoumades. Learn how to make baklava for brunch or dessert.
2. 2. Chicken gyros: Tender, spicy, and juicy chicken gyros are a staple of classic Greek cooking. A wrapping of warm pita bread often accompanies this main dish. Greek lamb gyros are also common. Try this chicken gyros recipe.
3. 3. Chicken souvlaki: Souvlaki translates to “meat on skewers,” so Greek chicken souvlaki is simply an herby chicken meal on prongs. A lot of souvlaki dishes include a fresh herb marinade. You can substitute turkey if you’re looking to branch out from this specific type of poultry. Try this chicken souvlaki recipe.
4. 4. Dolmas: In Greek, stuffed grape leaves are dolmades—or dolmas—and contain different veggies, meats, and other ingredients depending on the recipe. Try serving this classic dolmas recipe as an appetizer.
5. 5. Hummus: The most common form of hummus—a dip or spread—contains mashed chickpeas, but you can also make hummus using white beans, green beans, and Santorini fava beans. Skordalia is a slightly more garlicky alternative. Learn how to make hummus.
6. 6. Moussaka: A Greek-style alternative to Italian lasagna, moussaka is a dish that a cook prepares in olive oil, tops with tomato sauce, and often serves with minced meat or Greek meatballs. Pastitsio with Béchamel sauce is a close comparison. Try this moussaka recipe.
7. 7. Spanakopita: A Greek spinach pie packed to the brim with feta cheese, Spanakopita can be an entrée or a side dish. Learn how to make spanakopita at home.
8. 8. Stifado: A beef stew, stifado is a popular dish in Greece and often includes artichokes. Learn how to make your own beef stew.
9. 9. Taramasalata: A traditional Greek food, taramasalata combines fish roe and a starchy base like mashed potatoes or bread crumbs. Try this taramasalata recipe.

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