Born in the Mediterranean, Greek cooking uses a wide variety of healthy, natural, and nutrient-rich ingredients. Greek cuisine has a very long history, as many of its dishes have roots in Ancient Greece — thousands of years ago. With dishes rich in vegetables, olive oil, olives, grains, fish, herbs, yogurt, cheeses, and a wide variety of wines and meats, the Greek diet is an incredibly well-balanced one that places its focus on authentic raw ingredients. Tomato, eggplant, potato, green beans, green peppers, and onions are all vegetables that are heavenly prevalent in Greek cuisine. Another key ingredient is Greek honey, which is mainly sourced from the nectar of fruit and citrus trees.
Greek flavors evolve depending on the season and the geographic location, but all remain on the foundation of the “Mediterranean triad”: wheat, olive oil, and wine. Fish dishes are very popular among Greece’s coastal regions, whereas meat dishes featuring chicken, pork, lamb, rabbit, veal or beef are popular inland. Traditional favorite dishes include baklava (a dessert comprised of nuts, butter, sugar, and phyllo), dolmadakia (stuffed grape leaves), fava dip (yellow split pea puree), choriatiki (greek salad), mousakka (minced beef and eggplant cooked in a tomato sauce) souvlaki (meat on a stick), spanakopita (Greek spinach pie) and gyros!