Growing up, the thought of a Greek salad never appealed to me. The combination of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and olives seemed like an odd mix that my childhood taste buds couldn’t appreciate. Whenever my family ordered a Greek salad at a restaurant, I’d scrunch my nose and push it away, opting for something more familiar like a Caesar salad instead.
However, my perception of Greek salad took a complete 180 when I visited Greece during my college years. Sitting at a seaside taverna, I reluctantly tried a bite of the fresh, vibrant salad in front of me out of politeness. To my surprise, the flavors exploded in my mouth. The juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, pungent red onions, and briny Kalamata olives all harmonized perfectly, enhanced by the fruity olive oil, tangy red wine vinegar, and aromatic oregano. Each forkful transported me to the sun-drenched Greek isles.
From that moment on, I was hooked. Greek salad became my go-to order, a bright and refreshing accompaniment to virtually any meal. Its simple yet profound flavors opened my eyes (and palate) to the wonders of Mediterranean cuisine. What was once an object of disdain had become a forever favorite, proving that our tastes can evolve in the most delightful ways.
1. Moussaka (Eggplant and Ground Lamb Casserole)
A rich, comforting casserole with a beautifully layered flavor of lamb, eggplant, and creamy béchamel sauce.
Ingredients; Eggplants, ground lamb, onions, garlic, tomatoes, parsley, breadcrumbs, eggs, milk, flour, cheese
Cook Time: 1.5 hours
Instructions:
- Slice eggplants, salt, and drain excess moisture
- Cook ground lamb with onions and garlic
- Make tomato sauce with tomatoes, herbs, and spices
- Layer eggplant slices, lamb mixture, and tomato sauce in baking dish
- Make béchamel sauce with milk, flour, and cheese
- Top casserole with béchamel and bake
2. Souvlaki (Grilled Meat Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce)
Tender, juicy meat with charred edges and bright, cooling tzatziki sauce.
Ingredients; Chicken or pork, lemon, garlic, oregano, olive oil, yogurt, cucumbers, dill, pita bread
Cook Time: 30 mins
Instructions:
- Marinate meat in lemon, garlic, oregano, olive oil
- Thread marinated meat onto skewers
- Grill skewers until charred on outside but still juicy inside
- Make tzatziki by mixing yogurt, grated cucumbers, dill, lemon
- Serve skewers with tzatziki, grilled pita
3. Greek Lemon Chicken and Potatoes
Succulent chicken thighs bursting with bright, citrusy lemon flavor alongside crispy, roasted potatoes.
Ingredients; Chicken, lemons, garlic, oregano, olive oil, potatoes, chicken stock
Cook Time: 1 hour
Instructions:
- Season chicken with lemon juice/zest, garlic, oregano, olive oil
- Toss potatoes in same seasoning and olive oil
- Arrange seasoned chicken and potatoes on baking sheet
- Pour chicken stock into baking sheet
- Roast until chicken is cooked through and potatoes are crispy
4. Spanakopita (Spinach and Feta Filo Pastries)
Flaky, crispy filo dough exterior giving way to a savory filling of spinach, tangy feta, and aromatic herbs.
Ingredients; Spinach, feta, onions, dill, parsley, eggs, filo dough, butter
Cook Time: 1 hour
Instructions:
- Cook spinach and squeeze out excess moisture
- Mix spinach with crumbled feta, onions, herbs, eggs, salt and pepper
- Lay filo dough sheets in baking pan, brushing each layer with melted butter
- Spread spinach-feta filling over filo dough
- Top with remaining filo sheets, brushing each with butter
- Bake until golden brown and crispy
5. Greek Baked Cod with Tomatoes and Onions
Light, flaky cod baked in a bright, fresh tomato-onion sauce with a satisfying tanginess.
Ingredients; Cod fillets, tomatoes, red onion, garlic, oregano, lemon, olive oil, feta
Cook Time: 35 mins
Instructions:
- Make sauce by sautéing onions, garlic, oregano in olive oil
- Add diced tomatoes, lemon juice, salt and pepper
- Lay cod fillets in a baking dish and pour sauce over top
- Sprinkle with crumbled feta
- Bake until cod is opaque and flakes easily
6. Gemista (Stuffed Tomatoes and Peppers)
Perfectly ripe tomatoes and peppers filled with a herbaceous rice stuffing and warm Mediterranean spices.
Ingredients; Tomatoes, bell peppers, rice, onions, garlic, parsley, mint, cinnamon, cumin
Cook Time: 1 hour
Instructions:
- Hollow out tomatoes and peppers, reserving pulp
- Cook rice partially in broth or water
- Sauté onions, garlic, herbs and spices
- Mix sautéed mixture with cooked rice and tomato pulp
- Stuff tomatoes and peppers with rice mixture
- Arrange in baking dish and bake until vegetables are tender
7. Greek Lamb Kleftiko (Slow-Roasted Lamb)
Tender, fall-off-the-bone lamb infused with aromatic garlic, lemon and oregano from slow roasting in a sealed foil packet.
Leg of lamb, garlic, lemon, oregano, olive oil, potatoes, tomatoes
Cook Time: 3-4 hours
Instructions:
- Make slits all over lamb and insert slivers of garlic
- Rub lamb with olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, salt and pepper
- Place lamb in center of large piece of foil or parchment
- Arrange potato wedges and tomato halves around lamb
- Seal foil packet tightly and roast for 3-4 hours until falling off bone
8. Shrimp Saganaki (Shrimp with Tomato and Feta)
Succulent shrimp in a rich, tangy sauce of tomatoes, onions, garlic and crumbled feta.
Shrimp, tomatoes, onions, garlic, feta, ouzo or white wine, parsley
Cook Time: 30 mins
Instructions:
- Sauté onions and garlic in olive oil until soft
- Add diced tomatoes, ouzo/wine, salt, pepper and simmer
- Add shrimp and continue simmering until shrimp is cooked through
- Remove from heat and stir in crumbled feta and parsley
- Serve immediately with crusty bread
9. Briam (Roasted Greek Vegetable Medley)
A kaleidoscope of roasted vegetables – potatoes, zucchini, eggplant and tomatoes infused with garlic and herbs.
Potatoes, zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, onions, garlic, parsley, olive oil, lemon juice
Cook Time: 1 hour
Instructions:
- Chop all vegetables into 1-inch chunks
- Toss with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper
- Spread veggies in single layer on baking sheet
- Roast at 400°F for 50-60 minutes, stirring occasionally
- Veggies should be tender and caramelized
10. Youvetsi (Baked Lamb with Orzo Pasta)
Succulent lamb baked with orzo pasta in a rich tomato and cinnamon-spiced sauce, resulting in an incredible melding of flavors.
Lamb shoulder, orzo pasta, onions, garlic, tomatoes, cinnamon, broth, parsley
Cook Time: 2 hours
Instructions:
- Brown lamb shoulder pieces in olive oil
- Remove lamb and sauté onions and garlic in drippings
- Add tomatoes, broth, cinnamon, salt and pepper – simmer to make sauce
- Return lamb pieces to sauce and add uncooked orzo
- Transfer to baking dish and cover
- Bake for 1.5-2 hours, until lamb is very tender
- Garnish with parsley before serving
11. Greek Chicken Souvlaki Salad
Bright, fresh salad of crisp greens, tomatoes, cucumbers and olives topped with flavorful marinated and grilled chicken souvlaki.
Ingredients; Chicken breasts, romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, feta, olive oil, lemon, garlic, oregano
Cook Time: 30 mins
Instructions:
- Marinate chicken in olive oil, lemon, garlic, oregano for 30 mins
- Grill or broil chicken until cooked through
- Make bed of chopped romaine on plates
- Top with diced tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, feta
- Slice grilled chicken and arrange on top of salads
- Dress with desired amount of marinade
12. Baked Greek Shrimp with Feta
Plump, juicy shrimp baked with a crispy, golden-brown feta cheese topping flavored with lemon, garlic and oregano.
Ingredients; Shrimp, feta, breadcrumbs, olive oil, lemon, garlic, oregano, parsley
Cook Time: 20 mins
Instructions:
- Toss shrimp with olive oil, lemon, garlic, oregano
- Arrange in baking dish
- Mix breadcrumbs with crumbled feta, parsley, olive oil
- Top shrimp evenly with feta breadcrumb mixture
- Bake at 400°F for 15-20 mins until shrimp is opaque
- Broil for 2-3 mins to crisp and brown topping
13. Greek Lentil Soup (Fakes)
Hearty, comforting lentil soup with rich Mediterranean flavors of tomatoes, oregano and olive oil.
Lentils, onions, garlic, tomatoes, carrots, oregano, olive oil, red wine vinegar
Cook Time: 1 hour
Instructions:
- Rinse lentils and pick through to remove any debris
- In a pot, sauté onions and garlic in olive oil until soft
- Add lentils, tomatoes with juice, carrots, oregano, broth
- Simmer for 45-60 mins until lentils are very soft
- Use an immersion blender to partly purée the soup
- Stir in red wine vinegar and season with salt and pepper
14. Greek Meatballs (Keftedes) with Tzatziki Sauce
Tender, herb-flecked beef and lamb meatballs pan-fried to perfection and served with cool, creamy tzatziki sauce.
Ingredients; Ground beef, ground lamb, onions, garlic, parsley, mint, eggs, breadcrumbs, tzatziki sauce
Cook Time: 45 mins
Instructions:
- Mix meats with onions, garlic, herbs, eggs, breadcrumbs and seasoning
- Form into golf ball-sized meatballs
- Pan-fry meatballs in batches until browned all over
- Drain on paper towels
- Make tzatziki with grated cucumber, yogurt, lemon, garlic, dill
- Serve meatballs warm with tzatziki for dipping
15. Pastitsio (Greek Baked Pasta with Ground Meat)
Layers of tubular pasta with a rich ground meat tomato sauce, blanketed in a creamy béchamel sauce – pure comfort food!
Ingredients; Pasta tubes, ground beef/lamb, onions, garlic, tomatoes, cinnamon, nutmeg, eggs, milk, flour, cheese
Cook Time: 1.5 hours
Instructions:
- Cook pasta tubes al dente and set aside
- Make meat sauce with browned ground meat, onions, garlic, tomatoes, cinnamon
- Make bechamel by making a roux with butter/flour, then whisking in warm milk, eggs, nutmeg
- Layer pasta, meat sauce and bechamel in baking dish
- Top with grated cheese and bake until set and golden brown
16. Greek-Style Garlic Chicken
Juicy, garlic-infused chicken with a delightfully crispy skin, served with potent garlic sauce for dipping.
Ingredients; Whole chicken, garlic, lemon, oregano, olive oil, potatoes, garlic sauce ingredients
Cook Time: 1.5 hours
Instructions:
- Pat chicken dry and loosen skin from breasts/thighs
- Mash garlic with salt into a paste, mix with lemon, oregano, olive oil
- Rub garlic paste under and over the skin of the chicken
- Stuff cavity with garlic cloves and lemon wedges
- Truss chicken and roast at 425°F until skin is crisp and juices run clear
- Make garlic sauce by blending garlic, lemon, olive oil, salt
- Serve chicken with roasted potatoes and garlic sauce for dipping
17. Greek Feta Dip with Baked Pita Chips
Tangy, creamy feta dip with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and fresh herbs – perfect for scooping up with crispy, warm pita chips.
Ingredients; Feta, cream cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, dill, parsley, pita bread, olive oil
Cook Time: 30 mins
Instructions:
- Blend feta, cream cheese, tomatoes, garlic, herbs until smooth
- Cut pita breads into wedges and arrange on baking sheet
- Brush or spray pita wedges lightly with olive oil
- Bake at 375°F for 10-12 minutes until crispy
- Let pita chips cool slightly before serving with the feta dip
18. Greek Cauliflower Rice with Feta and Dill
Fresh, vibrant “riced” cauliflower with tangy feta, bright dill and a squeeze of lemon, a healthier Greek grain alternative.
Ingredients; Cauliflower, feta, dill, lemon, olive oil, salt, pepper
Cook Time: 15 mins
Instructions:
- Grate or pulse cauliflower florets in food processor to rice texture
- Heat olive oil in skillet and sauté cauliflower rice for 5-6 minutes
- Remove from heat and stir in crumbled feta, chopped dill, lemon juice
- Season with salt and pepper to taste
- Serve warm or chilled
19. Greek Chickpea Salad
Protein-packed salad with chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumber, olives and feta in a bright lemon vinaigrette.
Ingredients; Chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, feta, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano
Cook Time: 10 mins
Instructions:
- Drain and rinse canned chickpeas
- Dice tomatoes, cucumber and slice olives
- Make vinaigrette by whisking olive oil, lemon, garlic, oregano
- Toss chickpeas, veggies and feta gently with vinaigrette
- Let sit 5-10 mins for flavors to meld
- Garnish with extra oregano or dill if desired
20. Greek Baked Eggplant with Lamb and Tomatoes
Layers of tender roasted eggplant baked with a savory lamb and tomato sauce, topped with a creamy béchamel – rich and satisfying.
Ingredients; Eggplants, ground lamb, onions, garlic, tomatoes, cinnamon, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, flour, cheese
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 mins
Instructions:
- Slice eggplants into 1/2-inch rounds, salt and drain excess moisture
- Brown ground lamb with onions and garlic in a skillet
- Make tomato sauce by simmering lamb mixture with tomatoes, cinnamon, salt and pepper
- Layer eggplant slices in a baking dish, top with lamb-tomato sauce
- Make béchamel by making a roux with butter and flour, then whisking in warm milk and egg
- Pour béchamel over top and sprinkle with cheese and breadcrumbs
- Bake at 375°F for 45-60 mins until hot and golden brown
21. Greek Lamb Kebabs with Tzatziki Sauce
Tender, aromatic lamb chunks layered with vegetables on skewers and grilled to perfection, served with cooling tzatziki.
Ingredients; Leg of lamb, bell peppers, onions, zucchini, garlic, oregano, olive oil, lemon, tzatziki sauce
Prep: 30 mins • Cook: 15 mins
Instructions:
- Cut lamb and veggies into 1-inch chunks
- Make marinade with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper
- Marinate lamb for 30 mins, then thread onto skewers with vegetables
- Grill kebabs for 12-15 minutes, turning occasionally until lamb is cooked through
- Make tzatziki with Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, lemon, dill
- Serve kebabs with tzatziki sauce for dipping
22. Greek Roasted Potato Wedges
Crispy-edge roasted potato wedges flavored with garlic, oregano and lemon – perfect Greek-seasoned side.
Ingredients; Russet potatoes, olive oil, garlic, oregano, lemon juice, salt, pepper
Cook Time: 1 hour
Instructions;
- Cut potatoes into 8 wedges each and place in a bowl
- Toss with olive oil, minced garlic, dried oregano, lemon juice, salt and pepper
- Arrange wedges in a single layer on a baking sheet
- Roast at 400°F for 50-60 mins, flipping halfway, until crispy and golden brown
- Optionally, broil for 2-3 mins at the end to get them extra crisp
- Garnish with lemon zest and parsley if desired
23. Greek Shrimp Saganaki with Orzo
Plump shrimp in a tomato-ouzo sauce with garlic and feta, served over orzo pasta for a complete meal.
Shrimp, tomatoes, onion, garlic, ouzo or white wine, feta, orzo pasta, parsley
Cook Time: 35 mins
Instructions:
- Cook the orzo pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, sauté the onion and garlic in olive oil until soft.
- Add the diced tomatoes with juices, ouzo/wine, salt and pepper. Simmer for 5 mins.
- Add the shrimp and continue simmering until they are opaque and cooked through.
- Remove from heat and stir in the crumbled feta and chopped parsley.
- Serve the shrimp saganaki over the cooked orzo pasta.
24. Greek-Style Baked Cod
Tender, flaky cod fillets baked with a fresh tomato-olive sauce full of bright Greek flavors.
Ingredients; Cod fillets, tomatoes, olives, onion, garlic, oregano, olive oil, lemon, feta
Cook Time: 30 mins
Instructions:
- Make the sauce by sautéing the onions and garlic in olive oil.
- Add the diced tomatoes, sliced olives, oregano, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Simmer for 5 mins.
- Lay the cod fillets in a baking dish and pour the tomato-olive sauce over top.
- Sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese.
- Bake at 400°F for 15-20 mins until the cod is opaque and flakes easily.
- Garnish with lemon wedges before serving.
25. Greek Chicken Avgolemono Soup
Bright, lemony chicken soup thickened to a velvety consistency with egg yolks – tart and creamy.
Ingredients; Chicken, broth, eggs, lemon juice, orzo pasta, carrots, dill
Cook Time: 1 hour
Instructions:
- In a pot, simmer chicken in broth until cooked through. Remove chicken and shred meat.
- Return shredded chicken to broth with carrots and orzo. Simmer until pasta is tender.
- Whisk the egg yolks with the lemon juice until lightened.
- Temper the eggs by slowly drizzling in 1 cup of hot broth while whisking constantly.
- Pour the egg-lemon mixture back into the pot, stirring constantly until thickened.
- Remove from heat and stir in chopped fresh dill.
Conclusion
No matter which Greek dish you try, one thing is certain – you’ll be transported to the sunny shores of the Mediterranean through vibrant, simple flavors. From slow-roasted lamb infused with garlic and lemon to crisp salads bursting with feta and olives, these recipes celebrate Greece’s iconic ingredients.
While some preparations like moussaka are indulgent labors of love, others like souvlaki or shrimp saganaki come together quickly. No matter the effort, the payoff is a taste of la dolce vita – the sweet life. Treat yourself to the bright, bold, and convivial flavors of Greece tonight. Opa!