Mediterranean cuisines have our heart, but as the summer slowly begins to wind down, we often find ourselves turning to Greece. Not only are many of our Greek recipes light and flavorful—often perfect for quick lunches or summertime meals—they use some of the best produce and ingredients of the season. Want a light salad with ripe tomatoes and slabs of feta? We’ve got you covered. Or, as the evenings start to cool, how about eggplant covered in meat sauce, bathed in bechamel, and topped with mashed potatoes? Whether you want creamy soup scattered with chopped herbs, a pan-fried cheese, or even just a classic lamb gyro, we’ve got a list of Greek recipes that we love for when we want a delicious and flavorful snack or meal.
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Patates lemonates, a classic Greek side of potatoes roasted with olive oil, lemon juice, and oregano, are a top contender for the best creamy potatoes.
Get Recipe: Patates Lemonates (Greek Lemon Potatoes)
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Crisp-edged, herb-laced, and rich with tomato, these Greek–style fritters are the perfect summer mezze.
Get Recipe: These Crispy Tomato Fritters Taste Like Summer on a Greek Island
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Vicky Wasik
Flavored with olive oil, vinegar, almonds, and raw garlic, skordalia will give you a whole new perspective on what mashed potatoes can be.
Get Recipe: Skordalia (Greek Garlic and Potato Spread)
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This portokalopita—”orange pie” in Greek—is made with dried phyllo and soaked in spiced syrup for a chewy, custardy cake that stays moist for days.
Get Recipe: This Greek Citrus Pie Is Actually a Cake—and It’s Shockingly Simple to Make
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Vicky Wasik
This Greek classic is a lemon-and-egg thickener in a tangy chicken soup.
Get Recipe: Avgolemono Soup (Greek Lemon-Egg Chicken Soup)
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Vicky Wasik
For the best Greek salad, combine traditional and non-traditional elements—and make sure to grab the best quality ingredients you can find.
Get Recipe: Horiatiki (Greek Salad)
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Photographs and video: Vicky Wasik
Saganaki is a classic Greek appetizer of pan-fried cheese, which may or may not get flambéed. Here, we give the dish a small twist, serving the cheese topped with a toasted-walnut vinaigrette.
Get Recipe: Saganaki With Walnut Vinaigrette (Greek Pan-Fried Cheese)
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Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez
Moussaka is a classic Greek dish made of rich, hearty layers of potato, eggplant, and tomato-based meat sauce, blanketed in creamy béchamel.
Get Recipe: Moussaka
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Serious Eats / Jen Causey
Moist, well-seasoned slices of lamb with crispy edges, chopped tomatoes and cucumber, and a decadently creamy sauce—these are the components of a great homemade gyro.
Get Recipe: Greek-American Lamb Gyros
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Serious Eats / Julia Estrada
With a double-duty marinade, it’s easy to pull together this Mediterranean feast at home.
Get Recipe: Chicken Souvlaki With Tzatziki Sauce and Greek Salad
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Vicky Wasik
For a twist on the classic, this version of traditional Greek spanakopita uses an assortment of greens and tender herbs in addition to spinach.
Get Recipe: Spanakopita (Greek Savory Greens Pie)
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