Top 5 Most Popular Greek Desserts

June 20, 2022January 2, 2023 By happyadmin FoodFood,Greek Food

History, season, and place are the defining factors of Greek desserts. All of Greek cuisine is influenced by neighboring countries to the east, such as Turkey, Israel, and Lebanon, making each dish an amalgamation of flavors from places that were once the Ottoman Empire. Season also plays a great role in the type of dessert that is served. In the summer, lighter desserts such as halva, rizogalo, and spoon sweets paired with Greek yogurt are offered, whereas in winter, you’re likely to see baklava and steamy galaktoboureko after traditional family lunches. Most desserts are made with dough (phyllo), semolina, milk and butter, nuts, sugar in syrup form, and a variety of eastern spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom. Usually, desserts are served right after lunch, both at home and in traditional restaurants. They are almost always accompanied by fresh seasonal fruit, for those who prefer unprocessed sugar. The most interesting aspect of Greek desserts is that they are prepared differently in every region of the country. For example, in some northeastern parts of Greece, rosewater is added to rizogalo or Greek rice pudding. Little tweaks like that differentiate the original recipes, so it’s definitely worth traveling the whole country to taste all the scrumptious variations.

1. Baklava

Baklava is one of the classic Greek renditions of the Turkish dessert. It’s made with multiple layers of phyllo pastry, all spread with melted butter and a light layer of nuts, either pistachios or walnuts. The best part of this dessert is the silky cinnamon-orange syrup that is poured over it once it is baked.

2. Galaktoboureko

Galaktoboureko, or Greek custard pie, is another all-time classic dessert enjoyed in Greece. It is made with phyllo pastry and a custard made with semolina. Of course, cold spiced syrup is poured over the dessert once it comes out of the oven. The difference between baklava and galaktoboureko is that the latter can be served hot in the winter and refreshingly cold in the summer. Both ways of serving are equally delicious and either way highlights different aspects of its flavors.

3. Rizogalo

Rizogalo is the Greek version of rice pudding. It’s one of those dishes that has infinite variations around the globe and each one manages to taste completely different. In Greece, rizogalo is prepared by combining glutinous sticky rice, water, heavy cream, cardamom, cinnamon sticks, and sugar. It’s topped with more ground cinnamon and is usually served cold in a glass bowl. In some regions in the northeast, drops of delicate rosewater are poured over the dessert, confirming its Turkish roots. It’s considered to be a refreshing summer treat.

4. Bougatsa

Bougatsa is kind of a Greek custard pie. It’s made with phyllo pastry filled with custard containing semolina, milk, and sugar. After it’s baked and cooled, it is dusted with icing sugar and cinnamon. It’s a dessert that is particularly prevalent in Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece. Savory bougatsa can also be found there, varying from cheese-filled to meat-filled. The crunchy dough and fresh filling of the custard make for a simple and tasty breakfast or snack.

5. Portokalopita

Portokalopita, or orange pie, is a very unique Greek dessert. It looks like a moist cake but is made with scrunched up phyllo pastry, orange juice and zest, sugar, eggs, and milk. Like many Greek desserts, orange flavored syrup is poured on top once the pie is out of the oven. It’s usually served with either vanilla or mastic ice cream and orange spoon sweet. Since the pie is quite sweet, the ice cream complements the portokalopita perfectly.