Greek Culinary Traditions - Everything You Need To Know

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Just at the mention of Greek cuisine, even the most sophisticated gourmets take their breath away. Certainly Greek cuisine is healthy, nutritious and at the same time - unpretentious.

In addition, Greek culinary magicians know how to turn most seemingly ordinary products into bright and fragrant works of culinary art. The Greeks have a cult of consuming local products and spices.

To understand how the traditions of the most authentic Greek cuisine differ from the traditions typical of the countries closest to Greece, we will have to recall the history of this country with a hot southern temperament.

First, the geographical location of the state of Greece, and hence the climate have the most direct influence on any national cuisine. Secondly, having passed through many national cultures for thousands of years, Greece has absorbed something special from each of them.

Interesting fact: The first cookbook in history was written by the Greeks before our era.

Greek cuisine is great for the refined taste and appearance of the dishes. A few recipes for Greek delicacies have been in its tradition for millennia and always excite those who begin their adventure with it.

The triad olive oil, bread and wine is a common element for all regions of Greece, but no less important is the lemon, whose juice is sprinkled with fish and meat dishes. Spices such as sea salt, pepper, oregano, bay leaf, sage and cinnamon are often used.

Butter in Greek cuisine

If you ask a Greek what it is the basis of Greek food, he will no doubt tell you that it is olive oil, then add lemon, basil and oregano in one motion. These ingredients are the basis for delicious, healthy food created by Greek cuisine.

From cooking to salads - Greek olive oil is like liquid gold. In Greece itself, they say that as long as there are more olive trees than people, Greece, or at least its cuisine, will not disappear. It is difficult to say whether this is true, but a visit to this beautiful country confirms that there is some truth in every statement.

Fun fact: Probably hard to find Greek dishwithout olive oil.

Breakfast in Greek cuisine

Greek snacks are called meze. This is a set of small dishes served before meals, traditionally accompanied by Greek wine or ouzo (brandy with anise).

One of the most popular appetizers is extremely easy to prepare: a large piece of feta cheese, drizzled with olive oil and a pinch of finely chopped oregano. Of course, there are other popular snacks such as: hummus, dolma, pita, spinach, souvlaki. Nevertheless, the Greeks have a small arsenal of spices based on oregano, basil, dill and bay leaf. Of course, you can find many other herbs in modern kitchens, but the ones listed above are the traditional basis.

Almost all restaurants and cafes offer free water as a sign of hospitality, even if you only order coffee. And in some cases, don't worry if you are suddenly served dessert, yoghurt with honey or various types of small pastries prepared by the hostess of the Greek restaurant where you are sitting.

Milk in Greek cuisine

Perhaps the most famous Greek appetizer is tzatziki (tsatsiki, tsattsiki) - the snack equivalent of our Snow White salad, which in its simplicity perfectly combines cucumber, garlic, mint, white wine vinegar and olive oil. The secret of the success of this recipe lies in the fact that it matures for several hours before serving to develop its flawless aroma before serving.

The basis of Greek cuisine

The main grain used by the Greeks in the kitchen is wheat. In the form of semolina, pasta, flour, bread and more.

Vegetables turn out huge influence on Greek cuisineas they do in many other Mediterranean countries. Seasonality is a major factor, although it is less important nowadays, as most vegetables can be purchased at any time of the year. However, good cuisine is associated with fresh ingredients, so the local markets (agora) are worth a visit.

Soups in Greek cuisine

As for Greek soups, our southern neighbors are doing very well. The most popular and common are beans (bean soup), avgolemono (meat soup, mostly chicken with rice, beaten egg and lemon juice - a real pleasure), tomato soup, lentil soup and much more.

A few words about Greek cheese

Greeks love cheese. Maybe just like lemons. Most people outside Greece only know Feta, but Greek cuisine has a very wide range of cheeses. These include Kasseri, Kefalo, Graviera, Antothyros, Manuri, Metsovone and Mizitra.

Interesting fact: Many chefs, when serving feta cheese, prefer to cut it into cubes and serve a whole plate. It is believed that this way the dish looks more aesthetically pleasing, and the eater himself will break the cheese in the way he likes and it is more convenient for him to eat it.

Fish and meat dishes in Greek cuisine

Fish and seafood are in high demand, but lamb is consumed constantly throughout the year. Pasticio is one of the famous dishes typical of the Ionian Islands, where layers of pasta alternate with layers of meat and various vegetables, all covered with a thick layer of bechamel sauce. Bake in the oven until golden brown.

Desserts in Greek cuisine

Greek desserts show the Greek passion for sugar and honey, which is very difficult to resist. You better not think about the calorie content, otherwise you will feel guilty about what you ate.

Here we are talking about Rizogalo (rice pudding with milk), Galaktobureko (traditional pie with milk and wheat cream), Sikopita (pie with figs). But we must admit that one of the best cakes and surprisingly simple at the same time is the traditional Greek roaring / Revani /.

Drinks in Greek cuisine

If you are in Greece, see what you can choose from the drinks section. If you are in one of the places at the foot of Mount Olympus, you can enjoy tea, which can only be found here. But perhaps more interesting may be the drinks Ouzo and Tsipuro, spirits with the aroma of aniseed. And on the island of Corfu you can enjoy a liqueur based on kumquat - a fruit that is unique to this area.

The favorite and most common wine of the Greeks is called Retsina - white wine from its own production, aged in barrels of spruce, which gives an unmistakable aroma of resin. On hot summer days, this wine is drunk with mineral water. Curiously, Retina did not cross the Greek border until the 1960s with the development of tourism.

Metaxa is a legendary drink with a history of over 130 years. There are 3, 5 or 7 stars. The more stars, the more refined the drink at the end of the meal.

And in the end, the food usually ends with coffee. Greek coffee is strong and is served in small glasses without milk. It is identical to Turkish, but be careful not to ask for Turkish coffee, because the hospitality of the hosts is immediately lost. In Greece, instant coffee, which is served with milk and ice cubes in large cups - or our familiar frappe - enjoys mass respect.

The locals taverns and Greek restaurants offer tourists to taste the food and introduce them to the typical Greek atmosphere - the family is involved in cooking, business - wife, husband and children sit at the table and quite often you will find places where locals have fun and dance. You should know that the names of famous fast food chains are quite rare in this country. Wherever you go, you will feel the pride of the Greeks for everything traditional, local - that is, for everything that is Greek!