5 Delicious Food On Must Try In Greece

From ancient architecture, to the rich cultural heritage; from quaint little towns to pristine beaches, Greece has everything that makes for a perfect destination for an incredible vacation. However, plethora of ancient ruins, whitewashed villages, sunny beaches, and friendly atmosphere aren’t the only offerings which make it one of the top travel destinations of Europe. Each of the many scattered islands have their own share of stunning landscapes, historic sites, nightlife scenes and cultural delights.

Besides all this, there is another thing that makes your visit worthwhile; Greek food. Greek food is famous for being incredibly healthy. It is based on simple yet flavourful ingredients such as honey, yoghurt, wheat, fish, meat and vegetables. One of the common ingredients which have been in used since ancient times is olive oil. Greek cuisine has also been influenced by other cultures. One can find traces of Roman, Turkish, Venetian, Slav and even English culinary sense mingled with traditional Greek food to create delicious and unique dishes.

Here are 5 authentic Greek dishes you must try:

* Moussaka

This baked Greek dish is one among the most famous. Moussaka is made with layers of fried eggplant, minced meat, potatoes, pureed tomato, and onion. It is covered with a creamy and cheesy béchamel sauce. Baked until golden brown, versions of this dish can also be found in Turkey and the Middle East. A meatless version of this delectable dish is also available for vegetarians.

* Spanakorizo

This typical Greek country dish is vegetarian. Spinach and rice pilaf is cooked with dill, cumin, salt, black pepper, red wine vinegar, onion, and olive oil. This dish is usually served with a topping of a fried egg and accompanied by with feta cheese and lemon.

* Tomatokeftedes

These fried tomato fritters are especially popular in the Cyclades.This dish consists of crushed or pureed tomatoeskneaded into a dough with flour, spices, parsley, onion, and mint. These fritters are deep fried in olive oil and served with fava (split-pea purée) as an appetizer.

* Giouvetsi

Giouvetsi consists of chicken, lamb or veal baked in a clay pot with kritharaki (also known as orzo, a rice-like pasta), spiced tomato sauce, onions, garlic, and red wine. It is mildly spiced with allspice, cinnamon, cloves or bay leaves.

* Horiatiki Salata

This traditional Greek salad is both healthy and delicious. Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and bell peppers are mixed with olives and hot peppers. This refreshing salad is seasoned with salt, oregano, olive oil and crumbled feta cheese. While there are many variations of this dish, it usually does not use lettuce.
A perfect Greek dish is completed with Greek wine. You can try the Retsina, a dry white wine with lumps of resin or Limnio an ancient red wine. You can also opt for dessert wines such as Mavrodafni, a sweet fortified wine made from black grapes. However, if wine is not your thing, you can choose from the several other traditional Greek alcoholic beverages. You can trythe anise-flavoured Ouzo (pictured) or Tsipouro, a strong brandy; Kitron, a citrus flavoured liqueur from Naxos or Tentura, a cinnamon flavoured liqueur from Patras. You can also try Chios Masticha, a liqueur flavoured with mastic oil. Another one of the must try beverages is Rakomelo, a digestive drink made by mixing tsipouro and raki (another type of grape pomace brandy), flavoured with honey and several spices, such as cinnamon, cardamom, and drunk warm.