Tasting the Wonders of the Greek Seas

Sea Fresh Food Fare on Your Table

The seas that encircle Greece and its isles are still producing vast amounts of fresh seafood, even though overfishing is a major and ongoing threat. Restaurants do label their foods. Fresh foods are a bit more expensive, but tastier. Frozen food, also known as ‘kat,’ might be slightly cheaper.

Greece presents succulent variations of seafood dishes because the place boasts of fresh foods from its rich seas. Most of Greece is bounded by scenic coastlines. So, it is quite easy to find a seaside taverna that serve traditional seafood dishes.

Small fishes, such as: mackerel or kolios, sardines or sardeles, and anchovies or gavros, are widely popular. These can be fried or grilled, or made into sushi after being marinated for some time and then crusted with salt.

Greek seas are truly abundant in marine resources. Some types that are quite popular are: squid or kalamari, octopus, swordfish or xifia, sea bream or sargos, sea bass or lavraki, cod, red snapper, tuna, and lobster. Various types of edible shellfish are great delicacies, too.

Greek Seafood Dishes from Ancient Greece

If you find yourself in a delightful Greek restaurant outside of Greece, or if you are in Greece experiencing the culture, you will always find universal Greek dishes that originated from recipes in Ancient Greece.

Ordering mezethes is a great way to start your food experience. A well-known Greek dip that is generally paired with a selection of meze or appetizers is the taramosalata – a fish roe dip. Grilled or fried kalamari, anchovies and smelt are also served, as with baked sardines flavored with a lemon, oregano and olive oil dressing. Lakerda or pickled kingfish is another favorite starter. The lakerda is made by curing the meat of the kingfish in a mixture of lemon, salt and olive oil. The process takes a few days, after which the fish will be ready for serving after it is washed and flavored with lemon and olive oil. Vinegar, lemon, and most of all olive oil are favorite seasonings for seafood recipes.

In some Greek tavernas, the best assurance that you are having fresh seafood is to actually point out live fish that you want cooked for you. Many traditional Greek tavernas give visitors this wonderful freedom. This will surely be an unforgettable Greek dining experience.

For seafood lovers, the psarosoupa or fish soup is a wonderful choice. This customary egg and lemon broth fish soup contains potatoes, carrots and onion. The fish is served separately. It’s not only healthy but tastes delicious.

Craving for shellfish? Well, Greek restaurants do serve mussels and clams. One can even find great seashell recipes in places like Lesvos and Athens. These are either steamed or cooked saganaki style. The term ‘saganaki’ refers to the pan used in cooking. Saganaki recipes are generally flavored with feta cheese and tomato sauce. Steaming and saganaki-frying are also popular methods used when cooking shrimps.

Although meats are well-liked in Greece, seafood and vegetables are staples of the famed Mediterranean diet. Fish dishes are healthy, and often, these have refreshing taste. Grilled fish is usually paired with vegetables and rice, seasoned with olive oil, lemon and herbs.

Lobster dishes are a bit pricey, but if you’ve got some money, it can’t hurt to pay a bit of extra for some comforting lobster meat. Although some may find Greek lobsters to be less tasty than Atlantic lobsters, having a lobster dish is still a great and scrumptious indulgence. In Greece, lobsters are generally steamed.

Greek seafood dishes are best paired with the perfect glass of Greek spirit. So, highlight your food experience with splashes of outstanding Greek wines. If you want to enjoy an honest bite, try Greek foods because dishes are not covered in heavy sauces or intense relishes. In Greece, a splash of lemon juice and a bit of olive oil go a long way in intensifying the flavor of simple and clean foods.

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