Apart from the majestic sights, this Mediterranean country is well-known for its delicious food. Some local Greek delicacies are a must-have while visiting the country. From a classic greek salad to some gelato for dessert, we’ve got you covered in this list of 10 Greek classics you need to try!
Greek Salad
A Greek classic and the most common food in Santorini is a Greek Salad. It’s a staple salad and appears on almost every menu in the many restaurants in Santorini. This dish is made with vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumber, onions and olives and is tossed with oregano, salt and olive oil. The finishing touch to this salad would be the large, topped off portion of feta cheese.
Baklava
This popular dish is another Greek favourite and is available in almost every restaurant in Santorini. Baklava is a rich, sweet pastry filled with chopped nuts and the pastry is held together with syrup or honey. Each restaurant has its own unique take on making baklava which might explain the difference in taste. Regardless, this is a greek classic you have to try!
Spanakopita
Another popular pastry, Spanakopita is savoury instead of sweet, making it different from the Baklava. Spanakopita is a spinach pie made with feta cheese, onions, scallions, eggs and some seasoning. It’s a popular savoury pastry you can find in every bakery in Santorini!
Tomato Keftedes
Also known as tomato fritters, this greek classic is made from locally produced tomatoes. Apart from tomatoes, the tomato keftedes is made from onion, oregano and peppermint. This vegetarian appetiser is then fried in hot olive oil and served immediately while it’s hot.
Melitinia
Melitinia is a traditional cheese pie usually made during Easter. This sweet pie is made from mizithra cheese, sugar and mastiha powder. It’s sold in traditional bakeries around Santorini. However, many locals choose to make this classic Greek dish at home.
Saganaki
Another common greek appetizer, Saganaki can be found in most restaurants around Santorini. The dish is very simple and it’s basically fried cheese. Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of the dish as it will still blow you away with every bite!
Gyro
Simply just a pita wrap, Gyro is another common classic that you can find at many restaurants. It is either made with cooked pork or chicken on a rotisserie and is served with tomato and onions. Another popular ingredient in this dish is a local sauce, tzatziki.
Tzatziki
Tzatziki is a famous Greek sauce, mostly served with meat. It can be either served as a dip or a topping. This classic is made from salted strained yoghurt or diluted mixed yoghurt. The yoghurt is then mixed with cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil, vinegar and lemon for some extra taste!
Fava
One of the most famous dishes in Santorini, Fava is a yellow split puree. It’s a creamy dish served with olive oil and lemon. Served warm, the dish is topped with onions and capers. You can either have Fava as a side dish or your main but to most locals, Fava is their comfort food.
Lolita’s Gelato
After trying out all these classic Greek dishes, we hope you have some tummy left for dessert! Saving the best for the last, Lolita’s Gelato is one of the best dessert places in Santorini. The gelato comes in huge portions with many interesting flavours. Each flavour is made from pure, organic ingredients which explain it’s rich taste. There is always a line regardless of the time you visit the store as it’s extremely popular among both locals and tourists!
