One of the reasons we love Greek cuisine is the fact that you often order small dishes to share. These are called Greek mezedes. The small, flavorful bites together form a larger meal. Here are some of the most popular Greek mezze, and also our favorites!
The classic: bread with olive oil
This one is of course well known, but we think it should never be missing from a table filled with Greek mezedes: bread with olive oil. Add a bit of salt and pepper and you’re good to go. Delicious!
Dolmades
Are you a fan of these vine leaves stuffed with a mixture of rice, herbs, and sometimes meat? In Greece, they’re served hot or cold, often with a slice of lemon. Absolutely delicious when made with the freshest ingredients straight from the land—but even at home, these Greek mezedes are almost just as tasty!
- 200 grams of vine leaves
- 150 grams of rice
- 1 onion
- olive oil
- dill
- parsley
- mint
- lemon juice
- salt
- pepper
And this is how you prepare these Greek mezedes like a real Greek:
- Finely chop the onion and all the herbs
- Sauté the onion in olive oil until soft
- Add the rice, herbs, salt, and pepper
- Add a bit of water and simmer until the rice is half-cooked
- Let the mixture cool and fill the vine leaves
- Roll them up and place in a pan. Add water and lemon juice and simmer until the rice is fully cooked
Dakos with tomato, olive oil, feta, oregano, and olives
Also known as the Greek bruschetta. Yum!
- Bread, preferably Greek paximadi
- 6 tomatoes
- garlic
- olives
- olive oil
- oregano
- pepper
- salt
- 75 grams of feta
You prepare this Greek mezze as follows: check the recipe for Greek dakos.
The Greek Salad
But of course, only with the freshest and purest ingredients, preferably from your own garden — just like at the Greek taverna owned by Nikos and Maria. Here’s how you make it:
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Fava
This dip (or you can just eat it straight with a spoon) is made from yellow split peas. We’re getting hungry just looking at it! Ingredients:
- 500 grams yellow split peas
- 2 red onions
- garlic
- olive oil
- lemon
- pepper
- salt
How to make this Greek mezze? You’ll find the recipe for Greek fava here.
Kolokithokeftedes
These zucchini fritters are vegetarian and finger-licking good. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 zucchinis
- 1 onion
- 4 spring onions
- 200 grams feta cheese
- 2 handfuls dill
- 1 egg
- salt
- pepper
- olive oil
- flour
You can make these Greek mezze by following this recipe for Greek kolokithokeftedes.
Spanakopita
A crispy spinach pie made with phyllo dough, feta, onion, and herbs. This Greek mezze sounds like a party and tastes like more!
- 500g spinach
- 200g feta cheese
- 1 onion
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 pack of phyllo dough
- salt
- pepper
- nutmeg
- butter
Here’s how to make this spanakopita Greek mezze:
- Chop the spinach and finely dice the onion
- Sauté the onion in olive oil, then add the spinach and cook until most of the moisture has evaporated
- Mix everything with the feta, eggs, salt, pepper, and nutmeg
- Place a sheet of phyllo dough in a greased baking dish, brush with butter, and repeat with several layers
- Add the filling and cover with more phyllo, brushing each sheet with butter
- Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C until golden brown
Greek vegetable platter
We’ve already prepared a beautiful article on Greek vegetables for you. These are often also served as mezze. Think of a plate with large white beans, ripe tomatoes, meat and/or horta. You decide what to serve with it!
Greek Mezze: Saganaki
This fried cheese slice, often feta or kefalotyri, is served with lemon:
- 200g kefalotyri or feta cheese
- 1 egg, beaten
- flour
- olive oil
- lemon
Want to make Greek saganaki? Go for it!
Keftedes
Greek meatballs with garlic, herbs, and spices. Serving tip: with tzatziki.
- 500g minced meat (beef or lamb)
- 1 onion
- garlic
- bread soaked in milk and squeezed out
- 1 egg
- parsley
- oregano
- salt
- pepper
- olive oil
Here’s how you make keftedes Greek mezzes:
- Mix all ingredients well and form small meatballs
- Heat olive oil in a pan and fry the meatballs until cooked and golden brown
- Serve with tzatziki.
Tzatziki
Okay, we won’t keep repeating that this is a Greek classic, because there are more coming. This yogurt dip with cucumber, garlic, and olive oil is great with bread but also delicious with Greek fries. Want to make it? Check it out below!
Gavros Marinatos
These raw anchovies in marinade are healthy, fresh, and super flavorful!
- 500 grams of anchovies
- Garlic
- 200ML vinegar
- 1 chili pepper
- 1 lemon
- Handful of rosemary
- 300ML olive oil
- Pepper
- Salt
We make the marinade:
- Finely chop the garlic and chili pepper
- Mix the garlic, vinegar, chili pepper, lemon, pepper, salt, rosemary, and olive oil
- Let sit for 12 hours at room temperature
Greek-style Grilled Octopus!
This takes a bit more effort, but the result is absolutely worth it. What do you need?
- 400 grams of fresh octopus tentacles
- 1 lemon
- Olive oil
- Parsley
Here’s how to prepare it:
- Wash the octopus. Bring a pan of water and lemon to a boil and cook for 45 to 60 minutes. The octopus is tender when you can easily pierce it with a fork
- Heat a (preferably grill) pan and grill the tentacles briefly on both sides
- Remove from the pan and drizzle with parsley and olive oil
- Enjoy!
Our Favorite Greek Mezedes
This is a selection of our favorite Greek mezedes. Of course, there are many more Greek mezzes to think of and make. Keep a close eye on our olive oil recipes — we regularly share new ones there. Also on our Instagram and TikTok pages. Want something a little different? Then check out these Greek vegetables and how to prepare them.
Curious about our organic olive oil? Our extra virgin olive oil is a true Greek olive oil. It contains antioxidants, polyphenols, and healthy fats. You can heat this olive oil up to 207 degrees Celsius, making it perfect for both cold and hot dishes. The best olive oil? We offer different types of olive oil. For example, read more about what pomace olive
