Easy Greek Food

Ever since the recent emphasis on the health and longevity of the Mediterranean diet, Greek food has become incredibly popular in the U.S. and worldwide. Many of the dishes are light, healthy and locally sourced, using only olive oil and salt as seasoning. There are additional fried dishes less spoken about, like saganaki (fried cheese) and kolokythakia (fried zucchini), which are equally delicious yet not as famously good for you.

While the dishes aren't always as healthy as believed, they are all relatively simple and basic to make, requiring only a few ingredients. So, whether you are sticking to the idealized Mediterranean diet of fish and veggies or indulging in a true Greek feast, whipping up some traditional Greek food is a great and easy way to throw some change into your regular dinner routine.

Serve these up with a fruity red or white wine for a special evening that will take you straight to Santorini.

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Horiatiki - Village Salad

While many people think of Greek salad as having lettuce in it, the traditional village salad in Greece is a simple toss of green peppers, red onions, cucumbers, tomato, olives and feta cheese. No lettuce needed. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil and white wine vinegar, crack some salt and pepper, and you are good to go.

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Saganaki - Fried Cheese

Sort of like a Greek take on the American-Italian mozzarella stick, this lightly fried cheese is served table side with some lemon wedges. Cut the cheese up for sharing and douse it in the lemon for some fat-cutting acidity to help cleanse the palate.

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Kolokythakia - Fried Zucchini

Often served with a creamy garlic sauce, these fried zucchini slices are a delicious start to any meal. Similar to a zucchini stick in taste but with the mouthfeel of a soft potato chip.

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We also really enjoy the kolokithokeftedes, or zucchini fritters, which are very similar to zucchini courgettes.

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Arni Youvetsi - Lamb and Orzo

Lamb cooked down in a red wine and tomato sauce, served over soft orzo is a very common dinner dish in tavernas across Greece. While this takes a bit longer to cook than some of the other dishes included here, the rich, combined flavors make for a truly divine eating experience.

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Spanakorizo - Spinach and Rice/Orzo

Orzo and rice are both common parts of the Greek dinner. This incredibly traditional bake of spinach and rice is something that you won't always find in the taverna but you will find in Greek homes across the world. Protein-rich from the hearty spinach, this works well both as a side and with some grilled chicken for a lunch salad. Just be sure to give a good squeeze of lemon to the rice before digging in.

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Tzatziki - Garlic and Mint Yogurt Sauce

A Greek meal is simply not complete with out a bowl of tzatziki on the table. The light, creamy tang of the dip serves as a perfect foil to almost every dish that you can and will find on any Greek menu. Bread, fish, meat, veggies, trust us - tzatziki is good on EVERYTHING. Don't forget to strain both your yogurt and cucumbers before mixing to avoid a watery spread.

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