5 Authentic Greek Side Dishes

5 Authentic Greek Side Dishes

Have a thing for side dishes? We do too! Mostly when they're made with fresh and delicious Greek ingredients. In the Greek culture, side dishes are a big deal. As an essential accompaniment to your meal, authentic side dishes can take your dining experience from fab to drag. Recipes featuring vegetables, rice, eggplant, feta and even cheese are all quite popular and can be made in a snap. Take your Greek dining experience to the next level and try out our favorite Greek sides. Keep reading as we discuss some of the most authentic Greek ingredients and how they're used for cooking up meals you and your guest will love.

The Greek Diet

Greek food is highly praised for being one of the healthiest diets around. Based on simple, fresh and locally sourced ingredients, Greek cooks rely on in-season foods to make their meals. This seasonal eating style keeps dishes fresh and healthy and provides many well-rounded fruit and vegetables throughout the year. Here's a quick snapshot of classic Greek ingredients to gain more insight into Greek cuisine and the ingredients commonly used.

Olives and Olive Oil

Olives and olive oil are the prominent ingredients in Greek seasoning. Harvested and eaten all over Greece, olives are incorporated into nearly every dish and used for much more than cooking! Worked into salad dressing recipes, used as a dip and as a flavoring, olive oil is the star of Greek cuisine.

Lemons

When in season, lemons are squeezed over everything. Cheese, seafood and salads often feature lemon juice as a flavorful ingredient used to balance the dish's flavors.

Herbs and Spices: Oregano

5 Authentic Greek Side Dishes | Bob's Red Mill Blog Herbs and spices are used heavily in Greek cuisine. Because Greek dishes often feature minimal ingredients, they rely on herbs and spices to provide flavor. This makes for tasty, light meals that are just as great for you as the taste. Fresh and dried oregano is prominent in Greek cooking and sprinkled on cheese dishes, potatoes, noodles and bread!

Greek Yogurt

It's no surprise that Greek yogurt comes from Greece. Greek yogurt is used in countless recipes throughout Greek cuisine and is made from cow's or sheep's milk. Greek yogurt is used to make dips, as an accompaniment to fruit-based desserts, or as a healthy breakfast option. For a delightful "Greek" treat, mix a bit of Greek yogurt with honey and nuts and enjoy it as a healthy snack.

Feta Cheese

No Greek ingredient list would be complete without listing Feta cheese. Feta is a unique cheese as its texture is both crumbly and creamy at the same time. Made with sheep or goats milk, feta is used to top salads, flavor meats, or serve as an appetizer.

Vegetables: Eggplant, Zucchini and Tomato

As we mentioned previously, Greeks are known for their seasonal eating style, and when it comes to veggies, the ones that are eaten are the ones in season. Grown heavily in Greece, vegetables like eggplant, zucchini and tomato are featured in Greek recipes and can be found in everything from salads to meat dishes.

Authentic Greek Side Dishes

Now that you know a bit more about Greek cuisine, it's time to try your hand at a few Greek recipes yourself. To get you started, we've put together a list of our favorite authentic Greek sides. They're sure to impress anyone you serve them to!

Mediterranean Eggplant Freekeh Salad with Honey Tahini Sauce

5 Authentic Greek Side Dishes | Bob's Red Mill Blog A staple in many Greek households, this vegetable-based salad is mixed with grains and is a great way to combine various fresh, seasonal ingredients. Flavored with spices, herbs and honey, a generous amount of tahini sauce is used to wake this dish with a burst of flavor. After combining foods like grilled eggplant, farro and garbanzo beans, the ingredients in this appetizer are then layered into a mouth-watering salad that tastes just as great as it sounds. Rich in flavor and culture, this Mediterranean Eggplant Freekeh Salad with Honey Tahini Sauce can double as a side dish or a main course. And because its a meal that's entirely customizable it can be made according to your taste preferences.

Mediterranean Farro Salad

Here at Bob's Red Mill, we love our salads. But, we love them even more so when they're made with whole grains! Farro, a high-fiber, high-protein ancient grain, looks and tastes similar to barley. So identical, in fact, that these two ingredients can often be swapped for each other in recipes. A prominent grain in the Mediterranean diet, farro is a Greek staple. And because of its many nutritional benefits, it's one of the healthiest grains around. Incredibly easy to prepare, Farro's chewy texture and nutty flavor make it easy to add to various dishes. This simple Greek side dish is prepared with Bob's Red Mill Organic Farro, kalamata olives and crumbled feta for a real burst of Greek flavor. When combined with other healthful ingredients like cherry tomatoes, cucumber and artichoke hearts, it makes a wholesome, healthy dish your body and taste buds will love. The use of farro in this Mediterranean Farro Salad transforms the texture and makes it a bit more filling than traditional sides. The perfect salad for family gatherings, it's an extremely versatile recipe that tastes best when paired with grilled meats and vegetables. We're confident it will become a new favorite.

Mediterranean Farro Stuffed Peppers

5 Authentic Greek Side Dishes | Bob's Red Mill Blog Searching for an easy crowd pleaser? You've found it. These Mediterranean Farro Stuffed Peppers consist of garbanzo beans, ground lamb, ground beef, bell peppers and organic farro to create a drool-worthy side dish that everyone will love. Inspired by Mediterranean ingredients, it's the perfect side dish to make when you're craving authentic Greek flavors. This salad is an excellent use of farro and combines its nutty flavor with tangy ingredients and a hint of mint to make a perfectly balanced meal. It tastes wonderful when paired with roasted meats, fish or alongside a green salad. While this dish can be enjoyed year-round, one of the most praised Greek eating traditions is to source in-season, local ingredients. This being, we believe this side dish truly shines in the early winter months when bell peppers are at their peak harvesting season. Best eaten fresh, make this appetizer before guests arrive and serve when ready to eat!

Mediterranean Pupusas

A Greek take on traditional food from El Salvador, while an excellent pupusa recipe may not yet be in your recipe book, we're here to change that! After trying this Mediterranean Pupusa Recipe, you'll want to make it over and over again. Never heard of a pupusa? You're not alone! Pupusa is similar to a pita and a tasty dough-cooked packet stuffed with your favorite fillings. In this recipe, authentic Greek ingredients are used to turn it into a great side dish to accompany any Greek dinner setting. The dough itself is easy to make, and the combination of fillings is endless. Filled with marinated beets, spice-smashed chickpeas and served with quick pickles; it's an appetizer that's overflowing with flavor. To make this recipe even more Greek, instead of traditional flour, Organic Amaranth Flour is used to make the flatbread that is then stuffed with fillings and two kinds of cheese. A natural gluten free flour, amaranth flour is made from amaranth seeds, which get their name from the Greek word for "immortal." Because the amaranth plant is nearly indestructible, it creates a durable and nutritious flour that's loaded with essential amino acids, ancient grains and dietary fiber.

Mediterranean Smashed Chickpeas

5 Authentic Greek Side Dishes | Bob's Red Mill Blog Now, you may have heard of chickpeas being used to make hummus, but did you know that these legumes taste great when eaten as a dish themself? Chickpeas, a.k.a garbanzo beans, are both a starch and a protein, and while they are starch, they also provide a significant amount of fiber. Originating in the Middle East thousands of years ago, chickpeas are now an essential ingredient in many kitchens worldwideespecially in Greece. While chickpeas can be eaten in several different ways, the most popular ways to eat them are whole, hummus or ground into flour. Because of their subtle flavor, chickpeas work well with various flavors and can be combined with countless dishes. One of our favorite Greek-inspired appetizers featuring chickpeas is this Mediterranean Smashed Chickpeas dish. A simple recipe using prominent Greek ingredients like lemon, olive oil and chili flakes, this appetizer can be prepared and served in under an hour. An excellent side dish, dip or snack, it's the perfect recipe to start with if you're new to Greek cuisine. Use this list as inspiration the next time you're searching for an authentic Greek side dish to make! From smashed chickpeas to stuffed bell peppers, we're confident that there's a recipe on this list you and your family will enjoy. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, happy cooking! Have an authentic Greek side dish recipe that youd like to share? Wed love to hear about it. Share your favorite recipe with us in the comments below.  
Bob's Red Mill
January 15 2021

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