Favorite Traditional Greek Dish?

[nm1999]

What's your favorite traditional Greek dish? I am just curious...

I'll start. Mine is hortopita! I used to love collecting wild greens with my family in the spring and it was a tradition. Very similar to spanakopita but I love the ritual of collecting the early spring greens. We always used to add some spinach depending on what we found.

Another favorite is lamb at Easter - we used to roast a whole one outside on a spit. Good times. We don't do that anymore.

 

[k_tsoukalas]

I love your memories with hortopita—that sounds so special! For me, my favorite traditional Greek dish has to be moussaka. There’s nothing like layers of eggplant, minced meat, and that creamy béchamel sauce baked to perfection. It’s hearty and comforting, especially in the colder months.

Another favorite is pastitsio—kind of like Greek lasagna with a cinnamon-spiced meat sauce and pasta topped with a rich béchamel. It brings back memories of family gatherings and Sunday lunches. And of course, nothing beats a simple plate of grilled octopus with lemon, olive oil, and oregano. It’s the perfect taste of summer by the sea!

I also love gemista (stuffed vegetables); they remind me of my grandmother’s kitchen and her patience in making everything from scratch. Greek food is so much about tradition and family, isn’t it?