5 Best Greek Summer Dishes You Should Try

Greek cuisine may be top of the list regarding excellent, nutritious, light meals. Greek food never disappoints, thanks to its use of fresh Mediterranean tastes such as lemon, garlic, and olive oil.

Greek cuisine is world-renowned for its unique flavors and ingredients. When the weather heats, it’s time to enjoy some of the best Greek summer dishes! Some dishes are mainly connected with summer since they are fast, light, and simple to prepare. These meals are perfect for a lunch in the yard with a view of the sea and ouzo.

The greatest way to learn about Greek food is to see it getting prepared. If you’re visiting Greece, take a food tour – It’s the most incredible way to taste it!

From light salads to hearty moussaka, there’s something for everyone on this list!

The Top 5 Best Greek Summer Dishes

1. Tzatziki

For a light starter or snack, tzatziki is a classic Greek dip. It combines creamy yogurt with cucumbers, garlic, and dill for a refreshing flavor. Serve it with pita bread, crunchy veggies, or lemon juice for a tasty bite. I also serve it with kalamata olives, fresh vegetables, and crumbled feta cheese.

The ancient Greeks named it ‘Myttiko,’ which had the same components as today. Byzantium gave it the name Jakisto after adding chopped olives, an egg, and white cheese. Later on, the Turks adopted it and termed it back. This is how the term “tzatziki” came to be.

2. Gemista

Gemista, one of the most popular and cherished Greek summer dishes, is a must-have in any Greek household. Gemista is a meal made of vegetables, most notably tomatoes and green peppers, eggplants, onions, and zucchinis, filled with a rice and fresh herbs mixture and baked in the oven before being served with large quantities of feta cheese or Greek yogurt. Gemista may be eaten fresh from the oven, but the Greeks prefer to eat it cold from the fridge in the summer since it is the quintessential Greek summer delight.

3. Mpriam

Tourlou, a meal that tastes and smells like childhood to the Greeks, is the ultimate food thrifting that culminates in a faultless balance of nutrition and enjoyment. Although its actual name is mpriam, tourlou has triumphed since it is a Greek slang phrase that means ‘everything all jumbled up together.’ The name accurately depicts the actual dish, which comprises a wide variety of fresh veggies. You can use anything in your fridge – blended with tomatoes, red onions, garlic, Greek lemon vinaigrette, and, of course, the king of Greek cuisine, olive oil.

4. Mousaka

If you’re looking for something more substantial, try moussaka. This comforting traditional Greek dish layers eggplant, potatoes, and spiced ground beef in a rich tomato sauce, then it’s topped with a creamy béchamel sauce and baked until golden brown. Done in a Greek style!

Moussaka’s ‘homeland’ is not historically proven since it is a dish in different varieties across the Balkans, the Middle East, Central Europe, Turkey, and Greece. We know that the Greek version of moussaka first emerged in 1910, with the publication of recipes by Nikolaos Tselementes, who added béchamel to the French recipe.

5. Greek Salad

Cool, juicy, full, rich, and oh-so-summery. For decades, the Greek salad has accompanied the pleasures of the Greek table and has become the country’s signature. There is no definitive source for its origin. Still, knowing that the tomato arrived in Greece in the 1800s and that in 1900, an economic immigrant to America attempted to blend some of the elements that make it up on a plate, we may surmise how it came to be. Greek salad first appeared in Greek cuisine in the early twentieth century.

Serve it with fresh oregano, diced cucumber, feta cheese, and olive oil. I would easily call this delicious dish the Perl of Mediterranean cuisine.

In conclusion!

No matter what your palette desires, there are plenty of the best Greek summer dishes to choose from. From light starters to hearty mains and decadent desserts, you’re sure to find something that satisfies your cravings.

Enjoy!

---

You can also read our article:

Greek Food to Make at Home