why greek food is the best

1. Baklava.
2. Loukoumades.
3. Pastitsio.
4. Moussaka.
5. Lamb Shank.
6. Saganaki.
7. Family.

Full Answer

Why is Greek food so good for your health?

One cup of cooked lentils contains the following ( 33 ):

• Molybdenum: 330% of the RDI
• Folic acid: 90% of the RDI
• Manganese: 49% of the RDI
• Iron: 37% of the RDI
• Vitamin B1: 28% of the RDI
• Zinc: 24% of the RDI

Why is Greek food so much better than Italian food?

This is a great Greek recipe for stuffed zucchini!

• 8 large-sized zucchini, washed, trimmed, and sliced lengthwise
• 1/3 cup Greek olive oil, plus some for brushing
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup short grain rice
• 2 tablespoons chopped, fresh mint
• 2 tablespoons chopped, fresh parsley
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste

What are the health benefits of Greek food?

One cup (30 grams) contains the following nutrients ( 52 ):

• Vitamin A: 56% of the RDI
• Vitamin C: 14% of the RDI
• Vitamin K: 181% of the RDI
• Folic acid: 15% of the RDI
• Potassium: 5% of the RDI
• Iron: 5% of the RDI

What is the best Greek food to eat?

What to Eat In Greece – 10 Best Dishes To Try in Greece

1. Souvlaki. You cannot go to Greece and not have a Souvlaki, which in English means meat-on-a-skewer. ...
2. Grilled Octopus. If you go to any of the Greek Islands be sure to try grilled octopus at one of the seaside restaurants.
3. Dolmades. This is an appetizer made from grape leaves. ...
4. Gyros. ...
5. Saganaki. ...
6. Baklava. ...
7. Horiatiki. ...
8. Moussaka. ...
9. Loukoumades. ...
10. Stifado. ...

Why is Greek food so popular?

At the forefront of what makes Greek food so popular is probably the taste. But what gives it a taste that people love? The truth is that this comes mostly from diversity. The blends of peppers, citruses, oils, cheeses, and grilled meat really help to set the taste of Greed food apart from other foods.

Why is Greek food so tasty?

Greek food is fresh The fresher the ingredients, the healthier they are, so it's no surprise that the two go hand in hand. This is most evident in the fresh herbs and spices that populate the land, including oregano and basil, and thyme.

What is special about Greek cuisine?

Greek cuisine is known for its unique and mouth-watering tastes. Many dishes in the Greek cuisine are extremely flavorful because of the large selection of different spices that go into each recipe.

Why is Greek food so healthy?

It's rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It has also been linked to many favorable health outcomes. By increasing Greek staples like olive oil, seafood, herbs, fruits, and vegetables in your diet, you can improve your overall nutrition and help fight off chronic disease.

Why do I love Greek food so much?

If you ask someone why they enjoy Greek food so much, the most common response will probably be the flavor. In addition to being the birthplace of Dionysus (god of wine), Greece is widely known for its unique food culture. The truth is, Greek food is full of diversity and options.

What is the best Greek dish?

Top 25 Greek Foods – The Most Popular Dishes in GreeceMoussaka. ... Papoutsakia (Stuffed Eggplants) ... Pastitsio (Greek lasagna) ... Souvlaki (Gyros) ... Soutzoukakia (Greek Meatballs) ... Seafood. ... Stifado (Greek Beef Stew) ... Tomatokeftedes (Tomato Fritters)More items...•

What defines Greek food?

The typical Greek cuisine was derived from a general Mediterranean palette and consists of what is known as the “Mediterranean Triad”. This term refers to wheat, olive oil, and wine. The aforementioned olive oil and wheat, as well as fruits, vegetables, honey, and fish are the pillars of the Greek cuisine.

How do you describe Greek food?

Greek food is simple, colorful and incredibly nutritious. In addition Greek food has a reputation for being heart healthy. This is because it uses olive oil, fish, lean meats, vegetables, herbs and grain.

Why are Greeks obese?

Today's European countries are moving away from this Mediterranean lifestyle and towards a more Western way of life. Indulging on the fast foods and limited daily activity are to blame on for this increase in obesity in Greece.

Are Greek people healthier?

The Greek's diet of olive oil, fish, and fresh vegetables inspired the Mediterranean diet that people around the world follow for heart health. The Greek's life expectancy comes in at 82.98 and is thanks to their diet and overall regular physical activity. This tiny, mountainous country is set between France and Spain.

Which is healthier Greek or Italian food?

In the 'health' department, Greek is in fact superior to all cuisines when considering nutritional and health benefits which lead to longevity as confirmed in many scientific studies. With fewer sauces and more vegetables than Italian, the Greek cuisine is very attractive to vegetarians as well.

Healthy

Perhaps the most important thing to know about the Greek diet is that it is generally good for your health! Greeks get their daily dose of vitamins in their meals full of fruits, vegetables, and fish. Like in Ancient Greece, entrees today are still primarily vegetable-base.

Vegetarian Friendly

As I have mentioned before, there are a number of dishes made almost entirely of plant-based foods. So eating like a vegetarian isn’t hard. In addition, since seafood is a common ingredient in the Greek diet, pescatarians can also feel right at home.

Environment

Food is not the only thing Greece cares about. A lot goes into the eating environment as well. This Olive Tomato article illustrates the perfect scene of a Greek-American family eating in a US restaurant, and how different the cultures are.

Flavorful

Thanks to Greek history, Greek food is the result of a mash-up of different cultures. Persians introduced Middle Eastern foods like yogurt, rice, and honey, Rome brought pasta and sauces, and Turks showed them coffee. There are also influences from Arab nations as well as the Americas.

Traditional

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1. Moussaka

Moussaka is a creamy delicious dish made of spiced meat (beef or lamb) cooked in tomato sauce and then layered with fried eggplant and bechamel sauce. This is one of the ultimate traditional Greek dishes.

2. Papoutsakia (Stuffed Eggplants)

Papoutsakia is stuffed eggplants that are first baked until soft and then filled with a tomato-based meat sauce, topped with bechamel sauce and cheese, and baked till they get a beautiful golden color! The dish is called papoutsakia (little shoes) because its shape resembles little shoes. Due to its ingredients, the dish tastes a lot like Moussaka.

3. Pastitsio (Greek lasagna )

Pastitsio is another traditional Greek dish that consists of baked layers of pasta, juicy minced beef, bechamel and tomato sauce, topped melted cheese. The minced beef is cooked in a tomato sauce along with some spices.

4. Souvlaki (Gyros)

Souvlaki is considered one of the most popular dishes in Greece! A very important thing to keep in mind with this dish is that it is all about the place you buy it from. Almost every restaurant has its own unique recipe, and, as the quality of the meat and sauce really matters, they certainly do not all taste the same.

5. Soutzoukakia (Greek Meatballs)

Soutzoukakia are sausages made from a mixture of ground pork and beef, cumin, and olive oil which are cooked in a red wine sauce. These Greek meatballs are served with rice on the side. Soutzoukakia are very filling and are perfect on cold winter days.

6. Seafood

While some of you may well have tried seafood dishes in different countries, if you haven’t tried Greek seafood yet, you will quickly realize that it is truly exceptional. You definitely need to try out octopus, oysters, squid, jumbo shrimps, snapper pie, and barbouni (striped red mullet) fish dishes at least once in your life!

7. Stifado (Greek Beef Stew)

Stifado is a traditional Greek beef-stew cooked with tomatoes, onions, cinnamon, vinegar or red wine, and a variety of spices and herbs. Traditionally, this Greek dish is either served with rice, chip potatoes, hilopittes (egg pasta), or orzo/kritharaki pasta. For cold winter days, serve it with mashed potatoes for a hearty and warming meal.

Pies (Πίτες)

Pastry treats for eating on the hoof, these are sold in every Greek bakery.

Moschari kokkinisto (Μοσχάρι κοκκινιστό)

Moschari kokkinisto, or veal casserole in tomato sauce, is the most common stew across Greece. Veal, rather than beef, has traditionally been the country's meat of choice. This is because of the lack of space for raising large animals in the confines of a walled town or castle.

Ladera (Λαδερά)

All vegetable dishes, of which there are plenty in Greek cuisine, come under the ladera heading, usually as stews: green beans, ladies fingers, eggplants, zucchini, artichokes, the lot.

Spetzofai (Σπετζοφάϊ)

Greek sausages aren't mass produced. In fact, each butcher's shop manufactures its own, following the regional style.

Galeos skordalia (Γαλέος σκορδαλιά)

Galeos, the school shark, is a common fish in Greek waters. With a similar taste to cod, it's traditionally served on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation. Although the date always falls during the fast of Lent, the Annunciation is a joyous occasion, so the Orthodox church allows the consumption of fish.

Tzatziki (Τζατζίκι)

Another Greek appetizer classic, tzatziki is a refreshing mixture of cool yoghurt, crunchy cucumber, garlic, olive oil and fresh, aromatic mint.

Kleftiko (Κλέφτικο)

Kleftiko is cooked in parchment paper, allowing meat to be steamed in its own juices.

1. Amygdalota

Amygdalota is gluten-free almond cookie that is wildly popular in Greece and are the perfect match to a warm cup of Greek coffee. Whether it is a family or friends gathering, Amygdalota reflects the images of good times warm relationships.

2. Baklava

Baklava is the quintessential Greek food experience. This cuisine mostly contains nuts and butter along with sugar. After baking, sweet syrup is poured over it so that the syrup can be absorbed by the crispy layers of phyllo. It is probably the most popular food item among all Greek desserts.

3. Bougatsa

Bougatsa is a kind of sweet pie (less sweet if you consider Greek standard) made of phyllo pastry & semolina custard. This is a kind of food that tastes good in daytime, delicious at late night and best enjoyed with pleasant memories.

4. Courgette Balls (kolokithokeftedes)

You are going to want to add this veggie starter to the list of your favorite dishes. This is a very popular Cretan meze, found in most (if not all) Greek restaurants. Your taste buds will be mesmerized by its flavored texture, salty & tasty feta cheese with a bit of fresh mint.

5. Dolmadakia (Stuffed Grape Leaves)

This is another sign of the versatile nature of Greek food. Dolmadakia are tiny dolmades that are made of stuffed grape leaves. Inside the leaf you will get meat of ground lamb or beef (sometimes both) and rice stuffing. Traditionally, this dish is served as appetizer with lemon wedges.

6. Tomatokeftedes (Santorini Tomato Fritters)

Tomaotokeftedes or tomato fritters are traditional meze and main course vegetarian food item in Santorini and Syros. Proper draining of tomato is essential for preparing this delicious food item. These fritters have rough edges with bits of mint, tomato and onion chunks.

7. Ellinikos (Greek Coffee)

Ellinikos is still the most favorite style of coffee adopted in Greece. The coffee is served in the traditional long handled coffee copper pot which is known as briki in Greek. There are three different tastes of Ellinikos like Vari Glyko which means strong & almost honey sweet, Metrios meaning medium sweetness and Sketos mening without sugar.