Greek food is one of the world’s great cuisines. Part of the wider Mediterranean diet, it’s also one of the healthiest styles of food that you can hope to find anywhere. With Greek Side Dishes Recipes, you can have simple and traditional substantial dish.
There are far too many great Greek dishes to count, but what can you serve with them?
You’ll be happy to learn that there are tons of options when it comes to great Greek side dishes, too, and we’ve collected several of the best for you here.
Another great thing about Greek food is that, as well as being delicious, it’s simple and mostly easy to prepare, so let’s dive in!
Greek Lemon Rice
Don’t be thinking that rice is a dull side dish, because this lemony Greek creation is anything but boring. Fresh lemon juice and herbs bring the rice to life, along with some onion, garlic, and the ever-present olive oil.
The bright-tasting rice works very well as a side for all kinds of dishes, such as souvlaki, roasted vegetables, and plenty of other dishes that call for a rice accompaniment.
RELATED: What To Serve With Fried Rice
Spanakopita (Greek Spinach Pie)
This versatile dish works equally well as a starter, a snack, a side dish, or even as a main dish, if you make one large enough.
It’s a pie made of layers of thin phyllo pastry stuffed with a herby mixture of spinach and feta cheese, brushed with butter or oil and then baked to crispy perfection.
The richness of the cheese and the taste of the spinach complement each other perfectly and even if you make this as a side dish, you might be wishing you had it as a main!
Patates Lemonates (Greek Lemon Potatoes)
Greek food is known for using a lot of lemon as a flavoring and with a side dish as delicious as Patates Lemonates, it’s not hard to see (or rather taste) why.
These potatoes are delightfully crispy and the lemon taste adds a wonderful lightness to them. These potatoes are anything but stodgy and would be an ideal side dish for most kinds of meat or fish main course.
Kalamarakia Tiganita (Greek Style Calamari)
This dish can be found all over Greece which, as a country with such a close relationship with the sea, features a large amount of seafood in its cuisine.
The Greek interpretation of calamari doesn’t use batter for frying, just flour. Salt, pepper and parsley are used to season, plus the obligatory lemon juice to squeeze over just before you bite into it.
Kolokithokeftedes (Greek Zucchini Fritters)
Try saying that three times with a mouthful of zucchini. The name might be tricky to pronounce for people who don’t speak Greek, but that doesn’t stop these fritters from tasting great.
For anyone interested, kolokithi means “zucchini” and keftedes means “meatballs” (if you’ve heard of kofte, keftas, or any similar variations, it’s the same thing). These don’t contain any meat, but what they do contain, aside from zucchini, is fresh herbs (dill, mint, chives) and feta cheese.
All fried up together, they taste absolutely irresistible, with a crispy outside and a cheesy, herby, flavorful explosion inside.
Briam (Greek Vegetable Bake)
This is a dish of vegetables baked in a rich tomato sauce. You can really use any kind of vegetables that you like for this, but if you want to make it as authentically Mediterranean as possible, pick things like zucchini, peppers, and eggplant.
If you like, you can crumble some feta cheese over the top of it all before you put it in the oven to add a cheesy tang to everything.
Either way, this is a great side dish for souvlaki, gyros, grilled lamb, or more or less any kind of meat or fish you can think of.
Horiatiki Salata (Greek Salad)
Horiatiki Salata translates to “village salad” or “peasant salad”, which refers to the rustic simplicity of this lovely salad. It can be served as part of any meal, and has a wonderfully fresh taste that can bring life to any occasion.
The term “Greek salad” is often thrown about outside of Greece when referring to all kinds of salads, many of which have nothing at all to do with Greece. This, however, is an authentically Greek version.
Its stars are the freshest, highest quality vegetables and olive oil you can get your hands on – Greek dishes generally let good ingredients speak for themselves.
That includes the feta cheese that adds such a wonderful richness to this salad. With great ingredients, the dish will shine.
Skordalia (Greek Potato and Garlic Dip)
If you love potatoes, and you love garlic, then there’s no better combination than skordalia, a traditional Greek dip that combines these two ingredients in a blissfully happy marriage.
It’s often served as part of a meze platter alongside a whole host of other dishes, but it can also be served solo, with just some bread as an accompaniment.
Spanakorizo (Greek Spinach Rice)
Here’s another Greek side dish that goes so well with so many things, from fish to pot pies. Those flavors of olive oil and garlic are back again, alongside the distinctive taste of spinach.
The rice that results is wonderfully fluffy and can be garnished with all kinds of different things – olives, feta cheese, and lemon zest would all be delicious choices.
Cheese Saganaki (Pan Seared Greek Cheese)
This delicious Greek dish will work equally well as an appetizer or a side dish with a larger meal.
It consists of a firm Greek cheese, cooked in a pan until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with some lemon juice squeezed over at the end to season.
The cheeses traditionally used for this recipe are graviera, kefalograviera, and kefalotyri. You might have some luck searching for these at a Greek deli, but if not, there are other options.
Halloumi is sometimes used, but doesn’t soften in the middle the way those other cheeses do. Other good choices are provolone and Monterey Jack.
Whichever cheese you end up using, this is a rich, delicious dish made light by lemon – a wonderful combination.
Mageiro (Ikarian Vegetable Stew)
Ikaria is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea which, according to tradition, takes its name from Icarus, who is supposed to have fallen into the sea nearby.
This dish is typical of the island and is one of those dishes where you can throw in anything you have to hand, all kinds of vegetables and leafy greens.
It’s easy to cook, too, and simply seasoned for an authentically rustic summer dish that everyone will love.
Bamies Laderes (Greek Okra Stew)
This works as a light vegetarian meal by itself or as a side dish next to meat, fish, and so on. The okra stars here, along with the tomato, and the just softened crunch of that okra makes this dish a delight.
It’s great served with oregano and salty feta cheese, but these are optional, and you can have it as is if you prefer. To top things off, it’s an extremely healthy dish – all vegetables and low calories. Ideal!
Horta (Boiled Greek Leafy Greens)
This dish is eaten all over Greece, particularly during the summer, as it’s simple, tasty, and easy to prepare. It has a long history, even being mentioned in the writings of the ancient philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras.
The traditional way to serve the boiled greens is very simple – with olive oil and lemon juice. But, if you don’t mind breaking with tradition a bit, you can try other dressings. Just don’t pick anything too thick, as it will smother the light greens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Greek Food Healthy?
The short answer is that yes, Greek food is very healthy.
Being a Mediterranean country, the cuisine of Greece is part of what’s often called the Mediterranean diet, which is acknowledged by scientists and the media as being one of the healthiest styles of food in the world.
Simple ingredients well-prepared, a focus on vegetables, and subtle seasoning mean that Greek dishes are almost never stodgy, fatty, or overloaded with sugar.
Is Greek Food Easy To Make?
We’re happy to report that the answer is yes, of all the world’s major cuisines, Greek food is among the simplest.
This is due to its focus on the simple preparation of high quality ingredients.
There are very few Greek dishes that involve difficult cooking techniques or elaborate, unusual equipment to make, and everything on this list will be fairly easy for a home cook.
Are There Good Greek Side Dishes?
Thankfully yes. Greek cuisine is full of smaller dishes that can be served as side dishes, though lots of them are also served alone as breakfast dishes or snacks or even, in some cases, as main dishes in their own right.
Lots of Greek side dishes are vegetarian too, and a good number of them are even vegan, so there’ll definitely be something for everyone.
Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve read this list, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to picking a side dish for your Greek feast. You could even pick a few and serve them together as a kind of meze platter, so enjoy!
13 Great Greek Side Dishes (+ Simple Recipes)
We’ve gathered together 13 of the best Greek side dish recipes to use next time you want to have a great Greek dinner party.
Ingredients
Directions
- Pick a recipe from the list above
- Click the recipe name and visit the website
- Collect the ingredients and cook the food
- Enjoy – don’t forget to leave a review
Recipe Video
Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.
I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!
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