Ask someone about Greek food, and some version of all or most of these dishes will be mentioned.
From simple grilled foods and vegetable dishes to rich layered casseroles and delicate pastries, Greek food is a wonderful mix of dishes that appeal to all tastes. The traditions of healthy country cooking have been expanded over the centuries, and today, Greece is famous for a diverse range of family meals, holiday foods, and elaborate presentation dishes.
The list of The Best Greek Traditional Desserts could be longer, but this is a good start.
- In Greek: μπακλαβάς, say: bahk-lah-VAHS
Sheets of wafer-thin phyllo dough are sprinkled with a sweet nut mixture to create one of Greece’s most famous dishes. A wide variety of nuts can be used – alone or mixed – and this baklava pastry recipe calls for walnuts and almonds. The pastry is baked, then covered with a sweet syrup. Syrups can be honey-based, sugar-based, or call for a combination. However it’s made, the small pieces of flaky pastry are packed with sweetness.
2. In Greek: γαλακτομπούρεκο, say: ghah-lahk-toh-BOO-reh-koh
One of the most famous Greek desserts, custard pie phyllo pastry is delightful milk and egg custard wrapped in thin sheets of phyllo dough and baked to a golden brown. It’s a traditional Greek sweet, soaked in a light lemony syrup after baking. A truly special occasion dish.
3. In Greek: melomakarona, μελομακάρονα, say: meh-loh-mah-KAH-roh-nah;
phoenikia, φοινίκια, say: fee-NEEK-yah
Honey spice cookies (melomakarona, also called phoenikia), are one of the most famous cookies in Greece. They are a favorite throughout the year, and a Christmas tradition.
This recipe calls for olive oil instead of butter or other shortening and creates a delightful treat. The spice cookies are made with cinnamon and cloves, soaked in a honey syrup, and sprinkled with sesame seeds, walnuts, and cinnamon. And they disappear as quickly as you can make them.
4. In Greek: χαλβάς, say: hahl-VAS
We adore semolina pudding (halvas). The basic ingredients of semolina (or farina) and olive oil make it a high-calorie choice to begin with, and then the addition of sugar syrup, nuts, raisins, and honey just keep that calorie count going up. On the other hand, it has no eggs, milk, or butter, so perhaps there’s some balance there.
This recipe for halvas, with nuts, honey, and raisins, is our favorite – Keep the serving size small and the calories should be manageable.
5. In Greek: κουραμπιέδες, say: koo-rahm-bee-YEH-thes
The ultimate celebration cookies, and a favorite at weddings and baptisms because of their white color, sugared almond cookies (kourabiethes) are shortbread-type cookies, loaded with roasted almonds, and then dusted with more than a generous helping of confectioner’s sugar.
6. In Greek: τσουρέκι, say: tsoo-REH-kee
Sweet egg bread (tsoureki) may be best known as an Easter tradition when it’s decorated with red eggs, but it’s a delightful sweet bread often served as a dessert bread, breakfast bread, or snack.
Tsoureki is a sweet egg bread, and this recipe is simpler than other versions because it doesn’t call for some of the hard-to-find ingredients in more traditional loaves – and it produces a delicious result.
