Greek cuisine features fresh vegetables and a variety of meats, including lamb, chicken, pork, fish and beef, with influences from Italy and other nearby countries.A blend of tangy seasonings gives Greek dishes their distinct flavor.Olives, lemons, garlic and a wide variety of herbs are the main seasonings in family and time-tested recipes. Festivals and celebrations are the integral part of Greece and traditional Greek recipes are specially prepared on these occasions to have a feast with friends and family.
Religious Holiday Food Lent is the beginning of the Easter celebrations based on Greek traditions. People cleanse their bodies on the day of Lent and make themselves ready for Christ resurrection.Food eaten during this time has the word “nistisima” after it, indicating that it doesn’t contain any of the restricted foods. The traditional Easter bread, Tsoureki, has a slightly sweet flavor.Greeks also make Greek Easter cookies to share with friends and visitors. In Greek culture, Easter Sunday is celebrated with fun and frolic.The favorite Easter soup is mayeritsa, which is made with lamb organs and seasonings.
Christmas time in Greek culture is a time for making some delectable cookies such as ‘melomakarona’ (honey and walnut topped cookies) and ‘kourabiethes’ (cookies made with sugar and almonds). Desserts and a large variety of cakes are also enjoyed by the Greeks at the time of festivals.
Greek Specialty- Filo Recipes Filo recipes have always been the most favorite and integral part of Greek cuisine as this super-thin pastry dough makes some delectable dishes.It is used in spanakopita (spinach pie) and baklava (sweet pastry with nuts). This flaky pastry is not only a part of sweet dishes but various appetizers and side dishes are also made with it.
Range of Meats The favorite meat served in Greek homes and restaurants is lamb, which is usually spit-roasted. Lamb is used for main dishes and in casseroles with vegetables. Other meats enjoyed in the Greek culture are chicken, pork, beef and fish. Any of these meats can be used in souvlaki, one of the favorite Greek, wrap-style sandwiches.
Pita Bread Pita bread is served with most Greek meals. Dips for pita include yogurt with cumbers or olive oil with lemon and other seasonings. Various Greek wrap sandwiches are also made out of pita bread with slices of lamb and tomatoes as a stuffing. ‘Gyro’ is a Greek pita bread sandwich that includes yogurt dressing and onion rings along with the lamb stuffing.
Salads Greek salads often include olives, tomatoes and feta cheese. The dressing has an olive oil base and is mixed with vinegar and other seasonings. Greek style salad garnish include nuts.
Variety of Vegetables Vegetables are an integral part of Greek food. One of the most famous Greek vegetable dishes is ‘Moussaka’ that includes eggplant as the main ingredient along with tomatoes, any kind of pepper and onions. Often meat is also added to give richness to this layered baked dish.Other favorite vegetables include all sorts of greens, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, onions and anything else in season.
Important Ingredients – Olives and Lemons Many Greek foods, including main dishes and salads, call for olives, olive oil, and lemons. Most of the Greek main dishes as well as salad recipes include olives and lemons. Even olive oil is extensively used in Greek recipes.Olive oil is one of the most common ingredients in Greek cuisine. It is used in salads, main dishes and as dipping sauce. Lemons are used to give tangy flavor to the dishes that is the main feature of the Greek food.
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