Greek side dishes have a wide array of flavors, textures, and styles, making it easy to find a dish that compliments whatever meal you’re making.
The Mediterranean is home to a diverse range of unique and delicious ingredients and Greek cuisine makes fantastic use of all of them, even in their side dishes.
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17 Best Greek Side Dishes
Most Mediterranean countries have incredibly diverse and delicious varieties of food due to the fertile climate of the region, and Greece is no exception to this rule. Greek cuisine has a wide range of unique ingredients and side dish recipes which range from rich and creamy soups to light and zesty salads.
1. Greek Side Salad
Greek-style side salads are distinct compared to other salads because they don’t contain any lettuce or creamy dressing, giving them a unique flavor and texture.
Cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes give Greek salad a crunchy texture while the combination of spices, vinegar, and olive oil gives the salad a strong, savory taste.
https://www.ahealthysliceoflife.com/greek-side-salad-recipe/
2. Briami
Briami is a blend of vegetables ranging from peppers to squash, soaked in a mixture of water and tomato sauce, and baked into a tender base.
The best part of Briami is that it can be made with a wide range of vegetables and seasonings depending on what flavor you want to give the finished product.
https://cooklikeagreekblog.com/briami/
3. Greek Cucumber Salad
If you enjoy the fresh, zesty taste of Greek salad but are looking for a side dish with a crunchier texture, then cucumber salad is the right choice for you.
This dish combines many of the same seasonings and oils as classic Greek side salad, but it adds some texture by mixing in a large amount of cucumber.
https://www.kenarry.com/cucumber-greek-salad/
4. Spanakorizo
A lot of Greek dishes have strong savory or zesty flavors, but spanakorizo is unique in that it combines creamy sauce, tender rice, and soft spinach into a hearty side.
Spanakorizo is considered a comfort food in Greece because of how soft and mild the dish is, making it a fantastic side dish for meals with more intense flavors.
https://www.themediterraneandish.com/spanakorizo-greek-spinach-rice/
5. Spanakopita
Spanakopita is a type of buttery, flakey tart made from feta cheese and spinach to create a uniquely savory side dish similar to spinach pie.
Spanakopita tarts can be served in small individual squares or as a sheet that people can pick from, and is easy to make in large amounts.
https://www.lemonblossoms.com/blog/greek-spanakopita-recipe/
6. Grilled Zucchini Salad
By mixing grilled zucchini squash slices and onion rings into a Greek salad, you can add a bit of grilled, smoky flavor to the side dish.
This pairs very well with the naturally savory and zesty flavors of the other ingredients such as feta, olive oil, and lemon to create a fantastic side dish.
https://charlotteshares.blog/2020/08/05/grilled-zucchini-greek-salad/
7. Greek Orzo Salad
Orzo is a type of pasta noodle shaped like a large piece of rice, giving the noodles a similar texture to rice but with a different flavor.
Orzo is a great base for any salad recipe because it absorbs the flavor of other foods around it, making it more delicious and enhancing the taste of the dish.
https://peasandcrayons.com/2018/06/greek-orzo-salad.html
8. Vegan Greek Rice
Cooking rice in broth and seasonings is a fantastic way to make sure the flavor of your ingredients soaks into the rice, and it makes vegan-style Greek rice that much tastier.
This method of cooking rice already makes sure the rice itself is saturated with flavor, but when combined with lemon and dill the rice only becomes more refreshing.
https://christieathome.com/blog/recipe-vegan-greek-rice/
9. Greek Couscous
Couscous initially came from countries like Morocco, on the opposite end of the Mediterranean, but it has been adopted into Greek cuisine over the years as a delicious side dish.
Tender couscous, when cooked and served with tomatoes and olives, has a rich yet zesty flavor that is enhanced by crumbled feta cheese and diced peppers.
https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/greek-couscous/
10. Greek Broccoli Salad
Broccoli salad is a fantastic side dish on its own, but when combined with Greek seasonings and dressing this classic side can develop a new and refreshing flavor.
Ingredients like lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and honey add a sweet and zesty flavor to the salad that give the salad a light, fresh taste.
https://cookieandkate.com/greek-broccoli-salad-recipe/
11. Spinach, Feta and Pine Nut Phyllo Tart
Spinach might seem like an odd filling for a side dish tart, but when combined with toasted pine nuts and feta cheese, it can actually be quite delicious.
Once baked, a sheet of these phyllo tarts combine the strong taste of spinach and feta cheese with the sweet, earthy flavor of toasted nuts and baked bread.
https://www.recipegirl.com/spinach-feta-and-pine-nut-phyllo-tart/
12. Fasolada
Fasolada is such a popular food in Greece it is sometimes called their national food, and for good reason since this creamy soup is both rich and hearty.
Fasolada is a very soothing dish with its thick, creamy texture and strong savory flavor which, combined with its simple recipe, make this soup a great comfort food.
https://www.theoliveandthesea.com/in-the-kitchen/navy-bean-soup-fasolada
13. Greek Quinoa Salad
Quinoa might not be native to the Mediterranean, but that hasn’t stopped Greek cooks from adapting the seeds to their cuisine with this salad recipe.
Quinoa is a naturally sweet, nutty, and fluffy base of a salad while classic Greek cooking provides a range of savory and zesty spices like lemon and parsley for flavor.
https://iheartvegetables.com/greek-quinoa-salad/
14. Kolokythokeftedes
Kolokythokeftedes are a type of fried dough ball filled with grated zucchini and crumbled feta cheese, among other ingredients such as diced onions and herbs.
These zucchini balls are fried with a layer of bread crumbs for a crunchy exterior and often provided with marinara or tzatziki sauce to help add to the taste of the kolokythokeftedes.
https://www.closetcooking.com/kolokythokeftedes-zucchini-and-feta/
15. Greek-Style Lemon Potatoes
Tender baked potato wedges are already a classic side dish, but this Greek variant of the recipe adds a unique twist by baking the wedges in Greek seasonings and lemon.
By adding ingredients like broth, oregano, and lemon, Greek style potato wedges maintain their soft texture but develop a strong flavor that combines zesty and savory.
https://www.saltysidedish.com/greek-style-potatoes-with-lemon/
16. Greek Potato Hash
This delicious side dish combines fried, smashed potatoes with a variety of vegetables and spices including fried onion slices, feta cheese crumbles, and lemon zest.
Greek potato hash combines the salty crunch of fried potatoes with the light, zesty taste of Mediterranean spices to create a dish that is both comforting and refreshing.
https://www.kitchensanctuary.com/greek-potato-hash/
17. Magiritsa
Magirsitsa is a delicious and creamy soup, but not for the faint of heart, since some of the key ingredients are the organs of lambs, such as the heart or intestines.
While lamb offal can be hard to find, let alone work with, Magiritsa has a peculiar but potent and zesty taste that is well worth the effort.
https://www.mygreekdish.com/recipe/traditional-magiritsa-recipe-greek-easter-soup/
Wrap Up
Between the rich variety of ingredients available on the Mediterranean as well as its ancient, storied history, Greek cuisine is both incredibly diverse and uniquely delicious.
Greek side dishes are no exception to this rule, and range in taste from savory to creamy, but the one trait they share is that they are always appetizing.
17 Best Greek Side Dishes
Ingredients
- Greek Side Salad
- Briami
- Greek Cucumber Salad
- Spanakorizo
- Spanakopita
- Grilled Zucchini Salad
- Greek Orzo Salad
- Vegan Greek Rice
- Greek Couscous
- Greek Broccoli Salad
- Spinach, Feta and Pine Nut Phyllo Tart
- Fasolada
- Greek Quinoa Salad
- Kolokythokeftedes
- Greek-Style Lemon Potatoes
- Greek Potato Hash
- Magiritsa
Instructions
- Select your favorite recipe from the list above.
- Organize all the required ingredients.
- Prepare and enjoy in 30 minutes or less!
