Greek Food Basics
By Nancy Gaifyllia, About.com Guide to Greek Food
Welcome to the world of Greek food. Located at the crossroads of Europe and the Middle East, Greece's history has as much to do with its foods as do its natural resources. Greek dishes range from healthy country fare to exotic preparations with overtones of influences that came to Greece from countries scattered across the globe. Let's get started.
- Discover Greek Food & Culture
- Ingredients
- Stocking the Kitchen
- The Greek Cook's Shopping & Gift Guide
- Greek Holiday Traditions
- Health & Nutrition
- Ancient Greek Foods
- Glossary of Greek Cooking Words, Terms, and Pronunciation
- Dining at a Greek Restaurant
Discover Greek Food & Culture
Perhaps more than any other country, the foods of Greece are indelibly intertwined with its political and social history. Explore the evolution of the Greek cuisine and regional differences, and learn why and how to bring the benefits of Greek food to your table.
- Introduction to Greek Food
- Eat Greek, Get Noisy!
- Basics of Traditional Greek Cooking
- How Greek Foods Are Cooked
- How to Build a Greek Meal
- The Tselementes Effect on Greek Cooking
- Greek Cooking Schools
- Greek Food FAQs
- Greek Food Polls
- Greek Food & Culture Festivals
Ingredients
Learn about the ingredients used in cooking Greek foods, what they look like, how to use them, and where to find them.
- Ingredients Used in Greek Cooking
- Photos of Greek Ingredients
- Measurements: Handful, Bunch, and more...
- Measurement Calculator for Greek Recipes
- Converter: Herbs - Fresh to Dried
- Converter: Tomatoes - Fresh to Canned
- Greek Cheeses
- Greek Herbs
- Greek Olives
- Greek Spices
- Seasonal: Fruit, Vegetables, and Herbs
- Seasonal: When to Make Spoon Sweets (Preserves)
- Shortcut: Using Canned (Dried) Beans
- Wild & Cultivated Greens
Stocking the Kitchen
Everything you need to turn your kitchen into a Greek cook's paradise, from items and ingredients to keep in the pantry, to utensils and pots and pans.
- 6 Foods to Throw Out of the Kitchen
- Kitchen Inventory of Pots, Pans, Utensils
- Essential Greek Ingredients to Have on Hand
- Essential Kitchen Tools
- Essential Utensils for the Kitchen
- Not-So-Essential but Oh-So-Helpful Kitchen Gadgets
The Greek Cook's Shopping & Gift Guide
Before spending your money on Greek foods and ingredients, utensils, and other items, for yourself or as a gift, find advice about quality, authentic products, where to buy, and gift ideas.
- Gift Ideas for the Greek Food Lover
- Online Greek Food Shops
- Greek Cooking on a Budget
- Before You Buy Greek Olive Oil
- Buying & Storing Feta Cheese
- Buying Lamb Chops
- Buying Phyllo Dough for Greek Pites (Pies) and Pastries
- Buying Spices & Nuts
Greek Holiday Traditions
Much Greek menu planning is based on the calendar of Greek Orthodox holidays and festivals. Recipes have hardly changed over centuries, and setting a "holiday table" is considered by many to be a sacred act, where strict guidelines are observed about food types, courses, and even down to the time certain dishes are prepared.
- Greek Orthodox Calendar of Holidays & Fasts
- The Greek Holiday Table
- Greek Orthodox Great Lent
- Greek Orthodox Easter Food & Traditions
- Greek Name Days: A Reason to Celebrate
Health & Nutrition
Volumes have been written about the Greek diet and, before that, the Cretan diet. Based on a healthy lifestyle, the Greek diet makes the best use of natural and organic ingredients cooked without a heavy reliance on saturated fats and processed foods.
- Improve Your Heart Health with Greek Food
- Wild & Cultivated Greens in Greek Cooking
- How to Diet and Eat Great Greek Food at the Same Time
- Olive Oil Cookies - a Healthy (Delicious) Greek Tradition
- Reduced and Low Fat Greek Foods & Cooking
- Elaine Gavalas and Fat Free Greek Cooking
- Calorie Guide for Greek Foods
Ancient Greek Foods
Information and facts about ancient Greek foods and the history of some of our modern foods. What did the Ancient Greeks eat and how did they cook it? Find the answers here.
- Greek Food & Culture Through History
- Ancient Greek Cooking Methods
- Ancient Greek Ingredients
- The Foods of Old Athens
- Ancient Greek Recipes
- Ancient Greek Aphrodisiacs
- Some Facts About Mediterranean Food History
- The History of Baklava
- The History of Olive Oil
Glossary of Greek Cooking Words, Terms, and Pronunciation
Find definitions, explanations, and a pronunciation guide for ingredients, foods, techniques, and other words to help increase your understanding of Greek food and cooking.
- The Greek Alphabet & Pronunciation Guide
- Greek Kitchen Glossary
- Greek Cheeses Glossary
- Greek Herbs Glossary
Dining at a Greek Restaurant
Greek restaurants, informal to elegant, are springing up in cities and towns all over the world. Learn what to look for in a restaurant, where to find one in your area, and read reviews from GuideSites around the About.com network.
