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Iconic Greek Dishes to Try in Greece and at Home

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kcixcy

Active member
I'm planning a trip to Greece soon and am incredibly excited about eating meals there. I also love to find Greek restaurants near where I love. I want to make sure I tru all the essentials!

Could you please share some recommendations on the must-try Greek dishes? Whether it's a classic main course, a delightful dessert, or a beloved street food, I'm eager to explore it all!
 
You’re in for a treat with Greek cuisine! For must-try dishes, start with classic main courses like moussaka, a baked dish with layers of eggplant, minced meat, and béchamel sauce, and souvlaki, skewered grilled meat often served with pita and tzatziki. Don’t miss spanakopita, a spinach and feta cheese pie in flaky pastry.

For street food, try gyros, seasoned meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie and served in pita with veggies and sauce.

For dessert, baklava is a must—layers of filo pastry, nuts, and honey syrup. Loukoumades, Greek doughnuts drizzled with honey and cinnamon, are also delightful.

Enjoy exploring these delicious dishes both in Greece and at your local Greek restaurants!
 
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Keeping Feta Fresh?

I’ve started cooking more Greek recipes at home, and feta has become a staple in my fridge. But I’ve noticed that once I open a package, it can dry out or get funky pretty quickly if I don’t use it fast enough. I’ve tried just keeping it in its original brine, but sometimes I buy feta that comes vacuum-sealed without any liquid.

What’s the best way to store feta once it’s opened? Should I make my own brine, and if so, what’s the right salt-to-water ratio? Can you store it in olive oil with herbs, or will that change the flavor too much? I’d love any traditional tips you’ve picked up from your yiayia or your own kitchen experience.

Feta is too good to waste—and I want to keep it as fresh and flavorful as possible. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Can you make stifado with Octopus?

I’ve made beef and rabbit stifado plenty of times, but I recently heard someone mention an octopus version and now I’m intrigued. Has anyone here actually tried making octopus stifado? I imagine the texture and cooking time would be really different from meat, but I love the idea of combining that tender, slow-cooked octopus with the rich, cinnamon-spiced tomato sauce and pearl onions.

Would you cook the octopus separately first and then add it to the sauce? Or do you let it stew the whole time like you would with beef or rabbit? I have vaguely heard of it being possible to make this with octopus. Now that it's summer I am in the mood to eat lots of seafood.

Greek Rice Dishes to Try?

I’ve been diving into Greek cooking lately and noticed that while rice does appear in some dishes, there also seems to be a strong use of orzo (kritharaki) and other small pastas in traditional meals. It got me wondering—do Greeks use rice a lot in their everyday cooking, or is pasta more common?

For example, I’ve seen rice in dishes like gemista (stuffed vegetables) and avgolemono soup, but then orzo shows up in things like giouvetsi or even baked with shrimp and tomato. Do some regions or families prefer one over the other?

I’d love to try making more authentic Greek rice dishes—can anyone recommend some must-tries? Maybe even some lesser-known ones beyond the usual? I’m especially curious about pilafs, rice-based casseroles, or stews that feature rice as a main ingredient.

Difference Between Galatopita and Galaktoboureko?

I’ve recently started exploring more traditional Greek desserts and keep coming across two that sound similar, galatopita and galaktoboureko. Both seem to involve a creamy, custard-like filling made with milk and semolina, but I’m a bit confused about what actually sets them apart.

From what I understand, galaktoboureko has phyllo on top and bottom and is soaked in syrup, kind of like a custard baklava. But then I saw recipes for galatopita that don’t use any phyllo at all—just the custard baked until golden, sometimes dusted with cinnamon.

Is that the main difference? Phyllo and syrup vs. no phyllo and more of a cake-like finish? Or are there regional variations where even galatopita can include phyllo?

I’d love to hear how you make (or eat!) these two desserts and which one you prefer. Are there any tips for getting that perfect texture?

Fava Santorinis Recipe to Enjoy

I had this when I was in Santorini and I loved it. I tracked down a recipe and wanted to share!

Ingredients:​

  • 1 cup yellow split peas (ideally from Santorini, if available)
  • 1 small red or yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced (optional but adds depth)
  • 4 cups water (plus more as needed)
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (plus more for drizzling)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt to taste
  • Fresh lemon juice (about 1 tablespoon, or to taste)

Instructions:​

  1. Rinse and soak (optional):
    Rinse the yellow split peas well under cool water. Soaking is optional, but if you do soak for 2–3 hours, the cooking time will be shorter.
  2. Cook the peas:
    In a pot, add the split peas, chopped onion, garlic, bay leaf, and water. Bring to a boil, skimming any foam that rises to the surface.
  3. Simmer:
    Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 40–50 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the peas are soft and starting to fall apart. Add more water if needed to prevent sticking.
  4. Remove bay leaf & blend:
    When the peas are soft and the mixture looks thick and mushy, remove the bay leaf. Use an immersion blender (or food processor) to purée until smooth. Add olive oil and blend again. Taste and add salt and lemon juice.
  5. Chill or serve warm:
    You can serve it warm, room temperature, or chilled — all are traditional!
  6. Garnish:
    Drizzle with extra olive oil and top with red onion slices, capers, and parsley.

I serve it with other meze with pita triangles for dipping!
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