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Greek main dishes

Greek main dishes, just like the starters, come in different variations, and there are also local differences. Some starters can be eaten as a main dish, just as some main dishes can be eaten as a starter. It is perfectly possible to order several main dishes and eat them together. In Greece, it is not at all strange to share the dishes, on the contrary, it is often done.

The menus are in 999 cases out of 1000 in English, and usually also in Greek. In large tourist resorts there are also menus in other languages. We have chosen to use both English and Greek. The names are first in English, then in Greek (with Latin letters.)

 

V means vegetarian, M means meat and F means fish & seafood.

 

Bean soup - Soupa fasolada (V)
Simple and tasty soup with white beans.

Lentil soup - Fakes soupa (V)
Simple and tasty soup with lentils.

Fish soup - Psarosoupa (F)
Soup with fish and vegetables. When served, you usually get two plates, one with the broth itself and one with fish and vegetables that you eat separately, or mix together.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Fish soup - Psarosoupa - where the soup is served separately and the fish separately.

Fish soup - Psarosoupa - where the soup is served separately and the fish separately.

 

Baked giant white beans - Gigantes (V) (M)
Large white beans in a sauce of tomato, onion and sometimes dill cooked either in the oven or in a saucepan on the stove. May also contain pork belly, but this is rare. Sometimes you get the canned variety and it's nowhere near as tasty as the homemade one. Served lukewarm. Can be eaten both as a starter and as a main dish. Good to eat with bread.

 

Main dishes from Greece. White beans in tomato sauce - Gigantes - with tomato, onion and dill.

White beans in tomato sauce - Gigantes - with tomato, onion and dill.

 

Fried squid - Kalamari tiganito (F)
Squid that is usually cut into rings and then deep-fried. Served with lemon and fries. Also available as a starter, but then without fries.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Fried squid - Kalamari tiganito - served with lemon.

Fried squid - Kalamari tiganito - served with lemon.

 

Stuffed squid - Kalamari gemisto (F)
Can mean both boiled, oven-baked and grilled squid which is filled with either rice or cheese.

Grilled squid - Kalamari psito (F)
Grilled whole squid. Served with a sauce of olive oil, lemon and oregano.

Fried cod with garlic sauce - Bakaliaros me skordalia (F)
Salt-dried cod-like fish that is fried and served with skordalia.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Stuffed squid - Kalamari gemisto - can be boiled, baked or grilled.

Stuffed squid - Kalamari gemisto - can be boiled, baked or grilled.



Dog Fish - Galeos (F)
Slices of shark that are deep-fried and served with skordalia.

Moussaka - Moussaka (M)
Oven dish consisting of sliced ??aubergine and potatoes alternated with ground meat (beef or lamb) topped with Bechamel. Sometimes seasoned with cinnamon. Served either in pieces or in a small ceramic form.


Main dishes from Greece. Moussaka is a baked dish consisting of sliced eggplant and potatoes interspersed with minced meat.

Moussaka is one of the most famous dishes in Greece.

 

Pastitsio - Pastitsio (M)
A oven dish consisting of long hollow pasta, ground meat (beef or lamb) and Bechamel. Sometimes seasoned with cinnamon. Served either in pieces or in a small ceramic form.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Pastitsio consists of long hollow pasta, ground beef or lamb and Bechamel sauce.

Pastitsio consists of long hollow pasta, ground beef or lamb and Bechamel sauce.

 

Stuffed tomatoes - Gemista (V) (M)
Tomatoes, and sometimes peppers, which are filled with rice seasoned with onions and dill and baked in the oven. Sometimes the rice is mixed with ground meat.

Lamb/Pork/Chicken/Veal in lemon sauce - Arni/Chirno/Kotopoulo/Moshari Lemonato (M)
Meat and potatoes that are cooked in the oven with a lemon based sauce.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Lamb in lemon sauce - Arni Lemonato - may contain meat other than lamb.

 

Chicken in the oven - Kotopoulo sto fournou (M)
Chicken and potatoes roasted in the oven.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Chicken in the oven - Kotopoulo sto fournou - served with oven-baked potatoes.

Chicken in the oven - Kotopoulo sto fournou - served with oven-baked potatoes.

 

Kleftiko - Kleftiko (M)
Lamb with potatoes, garlic, herbs and cheese that is cooked slowly in the oven. Most commonly, the dish is prepared and served in portions in parchment paper, but it can also be prepared in a small clay pot, or in foil.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Kleftiko is a lamb stew with potatoes, garlic, herbs and cheese that is cooked slowly in the oven.

Kleftiko usually contains lamb, potatoes, garlic, herbs and cheese.

Beef in tomato sauce - Moshari Kokinisto (M)
A stew made from pieces of beef that are cooked for a long time in a tomato sauce and which is usually served with fries. The dish also goes very well with spaghetti.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Beef in tomato sauce - Moshari Kokinisto is a stew made from pieces of steak that are cooked for a long time in a tomato sauce.

Beef in tomato sauce - Moshari Kokinisto - available in different varieties.

 

Pork with Celery - Chirino me selino (M)
A stew consisting of pieces of pork meat and celery in lemon sauce. Served without potatoes or any other side dish. Perfect to eat with bread.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Pork with celery - Chirino with selino - contains stew pieces from pig and celery in lemon sauce.

Pork with celery - Chirino with selino - contains stew pieces from pig and celery in lemon sauce

 

Stifado - Stifado (M) (F)
Tasty meat stew with small onions or chopped large onions. The sauce consists of, among other things, tomato and wine and is sometimes seasoned with cinnamon. Stifado can be made with different types of meat: beef (moshari), rabbit (kouneli) or octopus (chtapodi).

 

Main dishes from Greece. Stifado is a tasty meat stew with small onions or chopped large onions.

Stifado is a tasty meat stew with small onions or chopped large onions.

Stamna - Stamna (M)
Meat casserole that is prepared and served (usually) in a clay pot. Stamna just means clay pot.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Stamna is a meat stew that is prepared and served in a ceramic pot.

Stamna is a meat stew that is prepared and served in a ceramic pot.

 

Soutzoukakia - Soutzoukakia (M)
Tasty small oval beef meatballs in tomato sauce. The meatballs are seasoned with i.a. cumin and cinnamon. Served with either French fries or with rice.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Soutzoukakia are tasty small oblong beef meatballs in tomato sauce.

Soutzoukakia are tasty small oblong beef meatballs in tomato sauce

 

Meatballs - Keftedes (M)
Deep-fried beef meatballs. The seasoning varies but often contains spearmint, parsley and garlic. Served with fries and lemon. Also available as a starter, but then without fries.

Beef burger - Bifteki (M)
Fried beef patty seasoned with lemon, oregano and garlic. Served with lemon and fries.

Roasted pork shank - Kotsi (M)
Pork shank seasoned with rosemary, thyme and garlic that is slowly baked in the oven while being basted with a honey and mustard sauce. Served with either French fries or potatoes cooked together with the pork shank and a mayonnaise, honey and mustard sauce.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Roasted pork shank - Kotsi - is seasoned with rosemary, thyme and garlic which is baked for a long time.

Roasted pork shank - Kotsi - is a rather unusual dish, but very good.

 

Stuffed beef burger - Bifteki gemisto (M)
Fried beef patties seasoned with lemon, oregano and garlic filled with feta cheese and tomato. Served with lemon and fries.

Lamb chops - Paidakia (M)
Grilled lamb chops served with fries and lemon.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Lamb chops - Paidakia is one of the best Greek dishes.

Lamb chops - Paidakia - is one of my favorites, if it's cooked right, like in the picture.

 

Pork chop - Chirno Brisola (M)
Grilled pork chop served with fries and lemon.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Pork chop - Chirno Brisola - goes very well with Greek salad.

Pork chop - Chirno Brisola - on the left and Greek salad in the middle.

Souvlaki - Souvlaki (M) (F) (V)
Skewer. The most common meat is from pork (chirno). Other variants are beef (moshari), lamb (arni), chicken (kotopoulo), sword fish (xifias), shrimps (garides) and vegetables (vegetarian). Served with fries, lemon and often tzatziki and some cucumber and tomato slices.

Souvlaki with pita - Souvlaki me pita (M)
Pieces of meat from small grilled pork skewers served with fries, tomato, onion and tzatziki wrapped in a pita bread. Common fast food.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Gyros with pita bread - Gyros me pita - is pork or chicken cooked on a large vertical spit.

Gyros with pita bread - Gyros me pita - is very common as fast food.

 

Gyros with pita - Gyros me pita (M)
Pork cooked on a tall vertical rotisserie. Thin slices are cut from the meat and served with fries, tomato, onion and tzatziki wrapped in a pita bread. Also available with chicken (kotopoulo). Common fast food.

Gyros plate - Gyros merida (M)
Pork cooked on a tall vertical rotisserie. Thin slices are cut from the meat and served together with French fries, tomato, onion, tzatziki and pieces of pita bread served on a plate. The portions are larger than if you order a Gyros with pita.

Artichokes in dill and lemon sauce - Agkinares laderes (V)
Stew with artichokes, potatoes, carrot, onion in dill and lemon sauce. Delicious as a stand-alone dish with bread or as a side dish.

Artichokes with peas - Agkinares me arakas (V)
Artichokes and peas in a dill and lemon sauce. Delicious as a stand-alone dish with bread or as a side dish.

Mixed grill - Mixed grill (M)
A large platter of grilled meat of various kinds. Usually served without anything else but the meat. No potatoes, no sauce, no salad.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Mixed grill is a large dish with grilled meat of various kinds.

Mixed grill is a large dish with grilled meat of various kinds.

 

Papoutsakia - Papoutsakia (M)
Halved aubergines stuffed with minced meat sauce topped with béchamel and cheese. Papoutsakia means "little shoes", and the dish is named after its appearance which can be likened to little shoes.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Papoutsakia (small shoes) are half aubergines with a filling of minced meat sauce and bechamel sauce and cheese.

Papoutsakia are halved aubergines with a filling of minced meat sauce, bechamel sauce and cheese.

 

Bekri meze - Bekri meze (M)
The name means "drunken meze" and it comes from pork being cooked in red wine into a savoury stew. The stew also contains paprika and the strength can be varied from mild to strong as chilli can sometimes be added. The stew is usually served as it is without potatoes or rice.

Baked eggplant - Imam (V)
Baked aubergine with tomato, onion and garlic.

Briam - Briam (V)
Roasted vegetables such as potatoes, eggplant, zucchini, tomato and onion. Sometimes Briam is made as a stew and is then reminiscent of ratatouille. Good as a stand-alone dish with bread or as a side dish.

Giouvetsi - Giouvetsi (M)
Tomato-based meat casserole of either beef or lamb that is cooked together with rice-shaped pasta (Orzo). Sometimes the casserole is seasoned with cinnamon. Usually the dish is served in a small clay pot.

Pizza - Pizza (M) (F) (V)
Pizza is quite a "issued" dish. It's not seldom that I read "Go to Greece and eat pizza!" if someone posts a picture of pizza in Greece. For me, Greek pizza (if it's cooked correctly, which it usually is) is delicious. The best I ever ate was in a small taverna on Koufonissi. The pizza in the picture, which was also very good, I ate at Taverna Nostos in Skopelos town.

 

Greek pizza is at least as good as pizza from Italy.

Pizza in Greece is usually very good.

 

Loukaniko/Sausages - Loukaniko (M)
Sausages are available in all possible varieties and are, at best, locally produced. If it says loukaniko on the menu, it is usually one large sausage, and if it says loukanika, it is usually several small sausages. Served with fries and lemon. Also available as a starter, but then without fries.

 

Greek grilled sausage - Loukaniko - is usually very good.

Sausage - Loukaniko - comes in many different varieties.

 

Spetzofai - Spetzofai (M)
Tasty sausage stew that is usually made with local sausage, paprika, tomato and garlic. The strength varies depending on which sausage is used and sometimes Spanish pepper is also used. Served as it is without rice or potatoes and it is perfect to eat with bread.

Meatloaf with boiled egg - Rolo me vrasta avga (M)
Oven-baked meatloaf with varying fillings. In addition to eggs, it can be filled with bacon, cheese and paprika. Served with potatoes that are cooked together with the meatloaf.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Meatloaf with boiled eggs - Rolo - is unfortunately very unusual in restaurants.

Meatloaf with boiled eggs - Rolo - is unfortunately very unusual in restaurants.

 

Lobster pasta - Astakomakaronada (F)
Spaghetti with boiled lobster in tomato sauce. The lobster is served with the shell.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Lobster with spaghetti - Astakomakaronada - is one of the most expensive dishes in Greece.

Lobster with spaghetti - Astakomakaronada - is one of the most expensive dishes in Greece.

 

Fresh Fish - Fresko psari (F)
Fish species depending on availability. The fish can be both wild caught and farmed. In general, fish is expensive and you usually pay per kilo. Usually you choose which fish you want, either in the special fish counters outside the restaurant or you go into the kitchen and point out the fish you want, and then you can also ask what it will be cost. You can also take the opportunity to ask how the fish will be prepared.

 

Main dishes from Greece. Swordfish - Xifias - is usually served as a fillet.

Swordfish - Xifias - is usually served as a fillet.

 

Most commonly, the larger fish are grilled and served whole with head and everything together with a sauce made of lemon and oil. Examples of fish species are: Tsipoura (Sea Bream), Sargos (Withe Sea Bream), Sardeles (Sardines) and Kolios (Mackerel).

 

Red Mullet - Barbouni - is the tastiest and most expensive fish in Greece.

Red Mullet - Barbouni - is my favorite of all the fish in Greece.

 

Some species of fish are best suited to being lightly breaded and fried in oil, but they can also be grilled. Examples of such fish are Red Mullet (Barbouni). Really large species of fish are grilled in slices and the price is per portion. Examples of such fish are Swordfish (Xifias).

 

Pikilia is a platter with a selection of several small dishes of fish and meat.

Pikilia is a platter with a selection of several small dishes.

 

Pikilia - Pikilia - Pikilia (V) (F) (K)
A platter with a selection of small dishes. A good way to try a few different starters or if you want to eat a bit of everything. Most often, the plate includes different dips, balls, dolmades and some vegetable. A pikilia can come in different sizes, and they can even be enough for a dinner for two. Pikilia also appears as a main course with either seafood or meat. Pikilia also appears as a side dish with either seafood or meat.

 

Read about Greek starters and meze here »

 

Read more about Greek food here »

 

Read about Greek menus here »

 

Read about Greek beverages here »

 




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