Anyone who has ever been to Greece will smile knowingly each time the topic of Greek food is brought up. There is nothing like Greek meals any place else in the world. Filled with the freshest of greens, unencumbered by spices that hide the flavor of the components, and full of beef and lamb dishes that can tempt any palate, there is something in Greek delicacies that will tempt anyone.
One of the simplest ways to get a feel for Greek meals is by understanding the food that makes up most of its dishes. Olives are everything in Greece. There are so many forms of olives, that the Greeks like to say that saying you don't like olives is like saying you don't like candy: should you not love one variety, there are lots of other ones to decide on. From black olives to green, Kalamata to Peloponessos, there is an olive for everybody. In addition, when you think of olives, you have to think of olive oil, and this is an important part of Greek cuisine as well. In fact, olive oil is used in cooking almost all foods, and is used as salad dressing or garnish on other dishes as well.
Bread Is a Highlight at Greek Meals As Are Fruits and Vegetables Great Greek bread is normally served at each meal, and is dipped in olive oil or the sauce of whatever you had for dinner. Local bakeries prepare fresh, hot breads of all types and flavors.
Fruits and vegetables are always served fresh; the Greeks take great pride in their fruit and vegetables. Tomatoes are the main ingredient with many dishes. It can often come steamed with meat or rice and onions, or sometimes is just cooked plain with olive oil. They are very popular when they are even mixed with flour and egg, deep fried and called "tomato-keftedes."Green peppers are another popular choice of Greek cooks. They too can be stuffed with either rice or beef, or grilled with olive oil and eaten plain.
Potatoes are an ever popular ingredient in Greece. They are found in stews, and are often made roasted with olive oil, onion, garlic, lemon, salt, pepper, and oregano. Potatoes deep fried in olive oil are often prepared as a side dish. The Greek people make liberal use of garlic and onion in their food. Fresh fruit, including figs, is a common dessert.
Greeks are traditionally big meat eaters. You name it they eat it. Lamb, beef, pork, chicken, and even goat and rabbit are all consumed regularly. Meat is often made into a stew with garlic, onions and potatoes.
Lamb Is Perhaps the Most Popular Meat Choice in Greece
Roast lamb is the meal of choice for Easter. Roast lamb and potatoes are a popular Sunday evening meal, and open flame grilled lamb chops are popular anytime. Being on the Mediterranean Sea, it only makes sense that seafood is popular as well. Calamari, sardines and smelt are some of the affordable fish eaten. Lobster is perhaps the highest priced. Before you eat fish in a Greek establishment, you will often be encouraged to go back into the kitchen to inspect the fish and make sure it is fresh. It is there that you can decide what you want to eat for dinner. Octopus, mussels, shrimp and cod are other common Greek seafood choices.
For dessert, baklava, which is made from dough called phyllo, is the most popular. Baklava is made with nuts, honey, and sugar, and is a layered pastry.
Greek food offers something for everyone. It is also a very healthy diet, mostly because of the liberal amounts of olive oil in it. People of Greece, who eat the traditional Greek foods, have been known to live on average quite a bit longer than inhabitants of other countries. Greek food is tasty and good for your health and you won't find a better combination than that.
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