Greek Appetizers

Tzatziki is a Greek concoction made from yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, and numerous herbs and spices such as dill, mint, or parsley. It is usually served as a sauce accompanying many meat dishes, as a simple dip, or an appetizer. Its name is derived ... READ MORE

Spanakopita is a Greek spinach pie consisting of a buttery, flaky phyllo pastry with a filling of cooked spinach, lemon juice, feta cheese, and sometimes dill. It can be served either as a small snack, an appetizer, or a light main course. Due to ... READ MORE

Mydia or dagnje na crvenu buzaru is a popular Greek and Croatian appetizer consisting of fresh mussels that are steamed in red wine along with fresh herbs, garlic, and a variety of garden vegetables. The dish is usually doused in a Medite... READ MORE

Flavorful, fluffy, and tender, keftedakia are Greek meatballs made from a combination of ground pork and beef, eggs, stale bread or breadcrumbs, and seasonings such as dill, pepper, parsley, and oregano. The mixture is shaped into small balls whic... READ MORE

Tiropita is a popular Greek snack consisting of sheets of phyllo dough that are filled with a combination of cheese (usually feta) and eggs. The dish is typically wrapped in triangular pieces and brushed with melted butter before baking. This tast... READ MORE

Dakos or ntakos is a traditional Cretan dish consisting of a dry barley rusk called paximadi that is topped with crumbled myzithra cheese, chopped ripe tomatoes, whole olives, capers, fresh oregano, and a few generous splashes of high-qua... READ MORE

Taramasalata is a Greek and Turkish specialty dish consisting of mashed potatoes or bread (or sometimes breadcrumbs) combined with lemon juice, olive oil, and fish roe, usually from cod, carp, or mullet. The dip is usually served as an appetizer o... READ MORE

Saganaki is a highly popular Greek appetizer where various vegetables, meats, or seafood such as shrimp or mussels are wrapped in cheese, then pan-fried or seared. The cheese can also be prepared on its own, without any accompaniments. It is then ... READ MORE

Though it only uses a few ingredients, Greek fava dip is an incredibly flavorful dish. It consists of yellow split peas that are cooked alongside onions and various spices until they completely disintegrate and transform into a creamy, velvety pur... READ MORE

Though the term bakaliaros refers to cod fish, Greeks mainly use it to describe golden and crispy cod fritters. Whether it employs salt or fresh cod, the dish can be made with batter-fried pieces of cod or flaked cod that is then incorporated into... READ MORE

This classic Greek dish consists of squid rings and tentacles that are seasoned, dredged in flour, and fried until crispy and golden brown. Fried calamari is a restaurant staple, typically enjoyed as an appetizer or a meze dish. It is usually comp... READ MORE

This classic Greek dip typically combines grilled eggplant, garlic, and olive oil into a creamy and flavorful dish that is mainly enjoyed as a part of meze—traditional meal service comprised of a selection of small dishes. Although ... READ MORE

This creamy Greek dipping sauce is usually prepared with a combination of feta cheese, milk or yogurt, hot peppers, garlic, and olive oil. Although it is a traditional dish, it is regionally influenced and may contain anything from roasted red pep... READ MORE

Chtapodi sti schara (grilled octopus) is a traditional octopus dish originating from Greece. Although there are variations, the dish is usually made with a combination of octopus, red wine vinegar, olive... READ MORE

Kokoretsi is a traditional dish consisting of lamb or goat offal that is chopped into tiny pieces, seasoned with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. The offal is then skewered, covered with caul fat to keep the pieces in place, and cooked ov... READ MORE

This classic Greek dish consists of sautéed shrimps that are traditionally deglazed with the anise-flavored ouzo, then doused in a rich tomato sauce, and finally topped with crumbled feta cheese. The dish was named after sagani... READ MORE

In Greece, fried zucchinis can be enjoyed as a meze or a side dish. The zucchinis are sliced, seasoned, and then simply dusted with flour or dipped in an egg batter before they are fried until crispy and golden. It is recommended to pair them with... READ MORE

This Greek classic consists of large white beans that are cooked and then baked in a flavorful tomato sauce, which is usually seasoned with various herbs such as oregano, parsley, and mint. The dish calls for the use of fasolia gigantes, ... READ MORE

Hailing from the Greek island of Crete, kalitsounia or skalotsounia is a traditional, small-sized snack that comes in numerous different shapes and can be both savory and sweet. In its most traditional form, it combines an unleavened past... READ MORE

This simple Greek dish consists of small-sized whitebait fish that are lightly dusted with flour, then fried until golden and crispy. Because of its small size, the fish is typically fried, served, and eaten whole. Marides is a staple meze dish th... READ MORE

These flavorful fritters employ diced tomatoes as their main ingredient, while other additions commonly include onions, fresh herbs, spices, feta cheese and grated zucchinis. The dish is usually associated with Santorini, an island known for the h... READ MORE

The traditional version of this savory Greek pie employs a flavorful zucchini and feta filling which is placed between two layers of phyllo pastry, usually the homemade type that is slightly thicker than the store bought varieties. Similar version... READ MORE

Creamy texture and mild flavor are the main attributes of labneh; a traditional Middle Eastern strained yogurt that is prepared with yogurt and salt. No strict guidelines are used to produce it; plain full-fat yogurt is mixed with salt and left to... READ MORE

Tirokroketes is a traditional dish consisting of fried cheese balls that have a golden crust on the exterior, while the interior has a melting, oozing texture. This popular meze can be found in almost every Greek tavern. Tirokroketes are actually ... READ MORE

Tirenia is a traditional cheese pie hailing from the island of Kimolos. The dough is typically cut into rectangles or squares which are then topped with a portion of cheese before the edges are folded over the filling, leaving the center open. Onc... READ MORE

Beets are the main ingredient in this colorful Greek dish that comes in two different versions. Cooked beets are either coated in a yogurt-based dressing or simply seasoned with vinegar, while the whole dish can come in the form of a creamy, thick... READ MORE

Pitarakia is a specialty of Milos island, consisting of small half-moon-shaped pastries filled with cheese. The pastry dough is typically made with flour, olive oil, onions, herbs, salt, and lukewarm water, while the filling may be as simple as cr... READ MORE

Skopelitiki tiropita is a type of Greek cheese-filled pastry (tiropita) that has been traditionally prepared on the island of Skopelos. The pastry uses local goat milk feta cheese and olive oil from the area of Skopelos for the filling, w... READ MORE

A quintessential seafood delicacy of the Greek island of Symi, simiako garidaki or Symi shrimp is a unique variety of tiny shrimps that inhabit the sea around the island. Bright red, delicate, and sweet, the small crustaceans are packed w... READ MORE

Skordopsomo is the Greek version of garlic bread. It's made with a combination of sliced bread, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, and basil. Everything except the bread is blended or mashed together until smooth, and the mixture is then sp... READ MORE

Usually associated with the island of Cephalonia, this simple Greek dish consists of slices of lightly moistened bread or Greek rusks that are brushed or drizzled with olive oil and vinegar, then often topped with diced tomatoes, oregano, and basi... READ MORE

Spinialo is a traditional seafood dish originating from the island of Kalymnos. The dish consists of fouskes, sea squirts that are marinated in a bottle of seawater. These primitive marine vertebrates usually attach themselves to shells a... READ MORE

Often compared to a frittata, an open-faced omelet, or even a soufflé, sfougato is a traditional egg-based dish that may also be described as a crustless quiche. This savory specialty is typically made by combining beaten eggs with grated c... READ MORE

This traditional Greek pie consists of cooked or sautéed nettles that are placed between two layers of phyllo pastry. Along with nettles, the filling can also incorporate herbs, onions, and crumbled feta cheese. Tsouknidopita is best served... READ MORE

This traditional Greek dish is prepared with pieces of beef or lamb liver which are seasoned and wrapped in mutton suet or caul fat. The liver is then skewered and grilled over charcoal. Frygadeli is traditionally associated with Ionian islands, n... READ MORE

Antzougia are Greek-style anchovies that are served as a meze. The dish is made with whole salt-packed anchovies, vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil and chopped parsley. The filleted anchovies are arranged on a plate, then drizzled with oliv... READ MORE

Melintzanopita is a savory Greek pie that consists of a flavorful eggplant filling that is placed between two layers of phyllo dough. Common additions in the filling include feta and other types of cheese, and various herbs and spices. Melintzanop... READ MORE

Pane e olio is an Italian phrase meaning bread and oil, referring to a simple yet classic Italian dish that highlights the quality of its basic ingredients: bread and olive oil. Traditional Italian bread such as ciabatta, focaccia, or a rustic cou... READ MORE

Pitaroudia is a traditional dish originating from Rhodes. These fritters are made with a combination of chickpeas, onions, tomatoes, mint, cumin, and seasonings. The dried chickpeas are soaked, boiled, then coarsely ground and mixed with onions, g... READ MORE

Hailing from the Greek island of Nisyros, pythia is a savory specialty based on chickpeas. It may be compared to the Middle Eastern falafel, which is prepared with similar ingredients. The chickpea fritters are typically made with a combi... READ MORE

Malathropita is a traditional savory pie from the Greek island of Chios, made with wild fennel called malathro in Greek. Fresh fennel leaves are combined with a batter of flour, water, olive oil, and salt, and the resulting pie is then fr... READ MORE

Aginares salata is a traditional salad originating from Crete. Although there are variations, the salad is usually made with a combination of young and tender artichokes, lemon, lemon juice, olive oil, mustard, garlic, dill, salt, and pepper. The ... READ MORE