10 Most Famous Dishes of Crete
The island of Crete is known not only for its unforgettable landscapes but also for its delicious cuisine. In this article, you'll learn about the most famous Cretan dishes.
Crete is an island belonging to Greece. It has many areas filled with wild nature and mountains. Crete boasts a unique and delicious cuisine that is renowned both in Greece and far beyond. It is distinguished by mountain herbs and greens, unique cheeses, and Greek cuisine fresh fish, famous Cretan olive oil and grape brandy.
If you are lucky enough to visit the island of Crete, you should definitely try the following dishes:
1. Cretan cheeses
It seems like every Cretan village produces its own cheese, because they all taste different. The cheeses are made from goat's milk, sheep's milk, or a combination of both.
There is also such a product as engraverThis is also a cheese, only harder than regular cheese. It has a slightly sweet, nutty flavor. The older it is, the more aromatic it becomes.
Soft creamy cheeses are also very popular in Crete. The best is considered to be pikhtogalo hanya.
2. Dakos
Dakos – a very popular dish in Crete. What is it exactly? It's a fantastic Greek salad made with barley rusks. The rusks are lightly moistened with water or olive oil and spread on a plate, then topped with freshly grated tomatoes and myzithra cheese, as well as creamy sheep's or goat's cheese. Finally, everything is drizzled with Cretan olive oil, salt, pepper, and oregano.
3. Fried snails
Snails aren't just a delicacy in France. They've always been eaten in Crete. Here, they're fried with flour and olive oil, then wine or vinegar is added to the pan—and voila! The snails are ready! Some like to add fresh rosemary, but you can also do without it. In Crete, only women harvest these gastropods, and the snails are always cooked alive.
4. Cretan cheese pies
Small cheese pies can be found everywhere in Greece, but they're especially delicious in Crete. Firstly, the dough is always handmade, and the pies themselves are cut into tiny cups. The filling may vary across different regions of Crete, but it's always homemade. Cretan cheese pies are mostly sweet. Some pies are flavored with rose water. These pastries are sometimes topped with Cretan honey. The combination of honey and cheese creates an unforgettable taste sensation!
5. Lamb with stamnagati
Like all Greeks, Cretans love lamb. They adore pairing it with stamnagati, a wild green vegetable that has recently become very popular in Crete. First, the lamb is sautéed in hot olive oil with oregano and stamnagati, then topped with avgolemono, a sauce made with eggs and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
6. Gamopilafo
"Gamo" means "wedding" in Greek. The rice dish gamopilafo is commonly served at traditional Cretan weddings. It can now be enjoyed not only there but also in many Cretan tavernas. The rice is cooked in a rich meat broth left over from cooking goat, lamb, or chicken. Then, lemon juice and a little butter, made from the cream that forms on the surface of fresh goat's milk, are added to the rice. It's simply unimaginably delicious!
7. Mountain bulbous
The secret of Cretan cuisine lies in its use of a variety of bulbous plants growing in the hills around the villages. Cretans gather them and make salads with olive oil, vinegar, or lemon. They are also stewed with olive oil, vinegar, and flour. The white flowers of these bulbous plants are also edible. They are boiled and added to a variety of dishes.
8. Smoked Apaki Pork
This type of smoked pork is hard to find even in Greece. The preparation process is very lengthy. First, the strips of meat are marinated in vinegar for several days. Then, they are smoked over an open fire with a variety of herbs, such as sage, bay leaf, and rosemary. The smoking process is important, as is the infusion of the herbal flavors into the meat. The finished pork has a fresh herbal flavor and is usually served cold, cut into thin slices.
9. Sfakian pies
In the mountainous areas of the coastal region of Sfakia, they make delicious sochni. At first glance, they resemble pancakes. However, the dough is made with local olive oil and the Cretan liqueur rakia, as well as soft white sheep's or goat's cheese. The pies are fried in olive oil and served with thyme and heather honey.
10. Cretan brandy tsikoudia (or raki)
In the fall, after the grape harvest, you can see bonfires everywhere, where locals brew brandy. Cretan brandy will be served in any tavern or coffee shop. It's drunk from short glasses and not diluted with water. It's usually accompanied by olives, barley rusks, or simply enjoyed on its own.
If you are lucky enough to visit the island of Crete, you should definitely try the following dishes:
1. Cretan cheeses
It seems like every Cretan village produces its own cheese, because they all taste different. The cheeses are made from goat's milk, sheep's milk, or a combination of both.
There is also such a product as engraverThis is also a cheese, only harder than regular cheese. It has a slightly sweet, nutty flavor. The older it is, the more aromatic it becomes.
Soft creamy cheeses are also very popular in Crete. The best is considered to be pikhtogalo hanya.
2. Dakos
Dakos – a very popular dish in Crete. What is it exactly? It's a fantastic Greek salad made with barley rusks. The rusks are lightly moistened with water or olive oil and spread on a plate, then topped with freshly grated tomatoes and myzithra cheese, as well as creamy sheep's or goat's cheese. Finally, everything is drizzled with Cretan olive oil, salt, pepper, and oregano.
3. Fried snails
Snails aren't just a delicacy in France. They've always been eaten in Crete. Here, they're fried with flour and olive oil, then wine or vinegar is added to the pan—and voila! The snails are ready! Some like to add fresh rosemary, but you can also do without it. In Crete, only women harvest these gastropods, and the snails are always cooked alive.
4. Cretan cheese pies
Small cheese pies can be found everywhere in Greece, but they're especially delicious in Crete. Firstly, the dough is always handmade, and the pies themselves are cut into tiny cups. The filling may vary across different regions of Crete, but it's always homemade. Cretan cheese pies are mostly sweet. Some pies are flavored with rose water. These pastries are sometimes topped with Cretan honey. The combination of honey and cheese creates an unforgettable taste sensation!
5. Lamb with stamnagati
Like all Greeks, Cretans love lamb. They adore pairing it with stamnagati, a wild green vegetable that has recently become very popular in Crete. First, the lamb is sautéed in hot olive oil with oregano and stamnagati, then topped with avgolemono, a sauce made with eggs and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
6. Gamopilafo
"Gamo" means "wedding" in Greek. The rice dish gamopilafo is commonly served at traditional Cretan weddings. It can now be enjoyed not only there but also in many Cretan tavernas. The rice is cooked in a rich meat broth left over from cooking goat, lamb, or chicken. Then, lemon juice and a little butter, made from the cream that forms on the surface of fresh goat's milk, are added to the rice. It's simply unimaginably delicious!
7. Mountain bulbous
The secret of Cretan cuisine lies in its use of a variety of bulbous plants growing in the hills around the villages. Cretans gather them and make salads with olive oil, vinegar, or lemon. They are also stewed with olive oil, vinegar, and flour. The white flowers of these bulbous plants are also edible. They are boiled and added to a variety of dishes.
8. Smoked Apaki Pork
This type of smoked pork is hard to find even in Greece. The preparation process is very lengthy. First, the strips of meat are marinated in vinegar for several days. Then, they are smoked over an open fire with a variety of herbs, such as sage, bay leaf, and rosemary. The smoking process is important, as is the infusion of the herbal flavors into the meat. The finished pork has a fresh herbal flavor and is usually served cold, cut into thin slices.
9. Sfakian pies
In the mountainous areas of the coastal region of Sfakia, they make delicious sochni. At first glance, they resemble pancakes. However, the dough is made with local olive oil and the Cretan liqueur rakia, as well as soft white sheep's or goat's cheese. The pies are fried in olive oil and served with thyme and heather honey.
10. Cretan brandy tsikoudia (or raki)
In the fall, after the grape harvest, you can see bonfires everywhere, where locals brew brandy. Cretan brandy will be served in any tavern or coffee shop. It's drunk from short glasses and not diluted with water. It's usually accompanied by olives, barley rusks, or simply enjoyed on its own.
Author of the article: Natalia Semenova "TopCook"
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