ATHENS, AN ENDLESS MAP OF TASTES
We should begin this article by recommending Greece’s most famous dipping sauce: tzatziki. A great complement to fish and grilled meat, especially during sunny days, tzatziki is a savory sauce made of Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, olive oil and herbs (mint, dill, parsley and thyme being common), with a generous splash of lemon juice or white wine vinegar.
Saganaki
This is an appetizer for cheese lovers! Yellow, hard cheese (one of many kinds, such as kasseri or gruyere) is fried in a specific way that creates a crunchy crust. When you bite into saganaki, the melted cheese inside will fill you with ecstasy. Tip: Sprinkle fresh lemon juice on it.
The translation of spanakopita is ‘spinach pie,’ an authentic and fresh pastry full of vitamins and goodness. Spanakopita is a filo pastry filled with spinach, different kinds of herbs and cheeses (mainly spicy feta cheese), spring onions, eggs (to bind the ingredients), and olive oil. The flaky crust makes this is a messy dish to eat, but it is wholeheartedly worth the crumb-filled chaos especially if it’s made by a traditional Greek “grandmother”.
Moussaka
Moussaka, though not exclusively a Greek dish, is famously associated with the cuisine of Greece. A marriage of eggplant and potatoes in some recipes, with minced meat on the bottom and an indulgent serving of bechamel on top, this dish is baked to perfection in the oven. It is definitely a tasty specialty, occasionally suffused with spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg. Moussaka can be quite heavy, so it is best consumed as your main meal of the day.
Greek Salad
Bright red tomatoes, refreshing cucumbers, shallots adding spiciness, and the obvious Greek olives, sprung with extra virgin Greek olive oil and a large piece of creamy feta cheese on top, seasoned with salt, pepper, and oregano. In some places, they may add capers, which adds a sour touch, like the effect of vinegar. Light, mouthwatering and traditional you will simply not get enough of it!
Amygdalota
Amygdalota is a lovely almond cookie often made with a splash of orange or rose water. Crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside, these cookies symbolise new beginnings and are often served in weddings and baptisms.
Loukoumades
Loukoumades are small doughs deep-fried to crispy, drenched in honey syrup, and sprinkled with a range of toppings from ground cinnamon, sesame seeds to a chocolate source. While they look a lot like profiteroles in size, many consider them to be the ‘Greek doughnuts’ – but a wise Greek may very well point out that doughnuts are like loukoumades (and not the other way around) as loukoumades are one of the oldest pastries in the world.
