10 traditional Greek foods.

1. Taramasalata

Classic dips in Greek meal are tzatziki (yogurt, cucumber and garlic), melitzanosalata (aubergine), and fava (creamy pea purée). Very famous is taramasalata (fish roe dip) — creamy blend of pink or white fish roe with either a potato or bread base with a squeeze of lemon and olive oil.

2. Olives and olive oil

Greeks have been cultivating olives for millennia. Greek meals are accompanied by local olives, some cured in sea salt brine and some are used uncures. Olive oil is used in cooking and salads, and drizzled over most dips and dishes.

3. Dolmades

Each region in Greece has its variation on dolmades — the classic vine leaf parcel or stuffed vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and aubergines. The stuffing often consists of minced meat with rice or rice flavoured with herbs like thyme, dill, fennel and oregano.

4. Moussaka

Greek moussaka is based on layers of cooked aubergine, minced lamb, fried puréed tomato, onion, garlic and spices like cinnamon with a final fluffy topping of white sauce and cheese.

5. Grilled meat

Souvlaki, chunks of skewered pork, is Greece’s favourite fast food, served on chopped tomatoes and onions in pitta bread with tzatziki. Gyros, too, is popular served in the same way. Favourite meat types are lamb, pork and goat.

6. Fresh fish

Fish and calamari fresh from the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas are incredibly tasty and cooked or grilled whole and drizzled with lemon and olive. Flavoursome smaller fish such as barbouni (red mullet) and marida (whitebait) are ideal lightly fried.

7. Courgette balls (kolokythokeftedes)

The fritter is usually made from grated or puréed courgette blended with dill, mint, or other top-secret spice combinations.

8. Octopus

Grilled or marinated, they make a fine meze (appetiser), or main course stewed in wine.

9. Feta & cheeses

Famous Greek cheese types are creamy and delicious feta that is kept in big barrels of brine. Also graviera, a hard golden-white cheese, perfect eaten cubed, or fried as saganaki. At bakeries you’ll find tyropita (cheese pie) while at tavernas, try salads like Cretan dakos, topped with a crumbling of mizithra, a soft, white cheese.

10. Honey & baklava

Greeks love their sweets, which are often based on olive oil and honey combinations encased in flaky filo pastry. The classic baklava involves honey, filo and ground nuts. Or try galatoboureko, a sinful custard-filled pastry. A more simple sweet is local thyme honey drizzled over fresh, thick Greek yogurt.