Tuck Into Some Greek Cuisine and Embrace the Mediterranean
Bored with the every day foods you dish up? Then let yourself be takenon a Greek odyssey and feel the passion of the Mediterranean wash over you. You only have to taste Bertolli olive oil spread to understand the truly rustic flavours of the Mediterranean and the appeal of this popular region.
Greek cuisine is typical food from the Mediterranean. Evolving over centuries, it has absorbed the numerous influences that have been brought to its shores; the food of Italy, the Balkans, Turkey and the Levant has all had an impact on the country’s recipes. It’s not hard to see why the Mediterranean lifestyle has been influenced by its recipes.
The cuisine of the Greek people is steeped in tradition and its flavours change with its geography and the seasons. Greek cookery was historically a forerunner of Western cuisine; its culinary influence spread via ancient Rome, throughout Europe and beyond.
True to the Mediterranean way of life, there is an abundance of olive oil, vegetables, whole grains and bread in the Greek diet. Wine, fish and various meats are also common. Most importantly, Greek cuisine is also characterised by olives, cheese, aubergine, courgette and yoghurt, the principals of many Greek dishes.
All this great cuisine wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t for the most ancient element of the Greek diet; olive oil. When you think of Greece you will most likely think of olive trees which are prominent in the region. There are so many different varieties and flavours of olive; you can’t possibly say there isn’t one you like. Among the wide array of olives, there are two main categories; black ones are ripe and green ones are not. The most well-known are the Kalamata olives which you will most likely find in Greek salads.
Greek olive oil is believed to be the best, used in many dishes it adds to the distinctive taste of Greek food. Greek extra-virgin olive oil is in great demand. You will most likely find it very highly-priced in the supermarket and gourmet shops. This is not to say that other countries do not make good olive oil, but the Greeks certainly know how to make a good drop or two.
In many cities in Europe, you will not find it hard to stumble across a traditional Greek taverna. Once you have found a cosy restaurant to sample the delights of the region, what can you hope to expect from the Greek cuisine?
To start with, you may be offered meze, a collective name for a variety of small dishes, typically served with wine or aniseed-flavoured liqueurs such as ouzo or homemade tsipouro. As dining out is commonplace in Greece, many restaurants offer their house pikilla, meaning variety platter, which is especially popular with those diners looking for a quick or light meal. These are also typically served to dinner guests at informal or impromptu get-togethers as you can easily prepare them at short notice.
It is common that you may find dishes such as deep fried vegetables (courgettes, aubergines, peppers and mushrooms), the very famous Greek salad consisting of tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, feta cheese and Kalamata olives or Spanakopita which is typically spinach, feta cheese (sometimes combined with ricotta), onion and eggs and wrapped in filo pastry on the menu.
If meat and seafood are right up your street, then you won’t be disappointed with what the Greek cuisine has to offer. How about grilled octopus in vinegar, oil and oregano washed down with a glass of ouzo? While ouzo is usually a present you would bring back for one of your friends, it is typical for the Greeks to have it with their food.
Slow-cooked meats are traditional in Greek cuisine. Lamb or veal is baked in a clay pot with tomatoes for a deliciously succulent stew and a common Sunday dish is oven-baked lamb with potatoes. For a more contemporary take on meat, gyros, meaning meat roasted vertically and turned on a spit, is served with sauce and garnished on a pita bread (sounds like the familiar kebab to you and me), which makes it a popular fast food.
If meat isn’t your thing, there are plenty of vegetarian dishes to get your teeth into. A simple dish of artichokes and olive oil or an oven-baked ratatouille based on summer vegetables like potatoes, zucchini, tomatoes, onions and aromatic herbs can usually be found on the menu.
Another delicacy of Greek cuisine is the traditional moussaka, made by layering meat and eggplant casserole and topping off with béchamel sauce and browned off in the oven.
Of course, a traditional Greek meal wouldn’t be complete without a dessert to finish it off. In keeping with the Greek’s love of filo pastry, baklava is a delicious (if rather unhealthy) finish to any good meal. Typically filled with nuts and drenched in syrup it’s heaven on a plate for those sweet-toothed foodies. If a more simple dessert is what you’re after, then perhaps just yoghurt with honey or sweet syrup will satisfy your taste buds.
You are already familiar with ouzo, the traditional Greek tipple, then the country’s frappe coffee is also worth a mention in this journey through Greek cuisine. Derived from spray-dried instant coffee, it’s consumed cold. Now this doesn’t sound that appealing but drunk through a straw with plenty of ice, it is an experience not to be missed!
The one shop that is always busy in a Greek village has got to be the local bakery. Bread was at one time the staple food in the Greek diet and is still eaten at every meal today. There is nothing better than going to the local bakery and buying a loaf of bread just fresh out the oven. Why not tear large hunks off a still-warm loaf, add generous helpings of olive oil spread and begin your own journey through Greek cuisine?
