A foundational Mediterranean cuisine of olive oil, lemon, oregano, and seafood, with a long tradition of feta, lamb, and the Orthodox fasting calendar.
What it is
Greek cuisine is the oldest documented European cooking tradition, with recipes for ancient symposia preserved in classical texts. The country’s Orthodox Christianity, with up to 180 fasting days a year, built a parallel vegan repertoire that remains central to modern home cooking. The Mediterranean diet, recognized by UNESCO, sits at the heart of Greek eating.
How it tastes
Olive oil and lemon are universal. Oregano and dill perfume nearly every plate; feta is the universal salty topping; honey closes the meal. Wild greens, foraged from spring hillsides, fill the table during Lent.
Signature dishes & techniques
Moussaka — layered eggplant, ground lamb, and béchamel — is the country’s most famous baked dish, modernized in the 1920s by chef Nikolaos Tselementes. Souvlaki and gyro carry Greek street food worldwide. Spanakopita’s flaky spinach-and-feta filling shows the phyllo dough tradition shared with Turkey and the Levant.
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Greek starts with G and ends with K. Browse other cuisines along the same letter.
Cuisines that contain a letter from "Greek":