Greek night with the best Greek dinner ever! That’s what happened to us on a warm late spring night in Ta Kastra, Nea Potidea, Chalkidiki, Greece.
If you happen to find yourself in a region around Thessaloniki, nestled in the heart of Macedonia be sure to try these simply amazing traditional Greek foods there. Alternatively, if you find yourself far from Greece, then let this perfect Greek dinner menu serve as inspiration for your own Greek night at home!
How to do a Greek night at home?
Experiencing a Greek night is truly unparalleled when enjoyed in Greece itself. However, you can bring the spirit of Greece at home with a Greek-themed party. Celebrate the vibrant culture and delicious cuisine of Greece. It’s easy to create an authentic and memorable Greek night at home! Just fill it with delicious food, lively music, and cultural enrichment in few simple steps. Opa!
- Set the Ambiance – Decorate your space with blue and white colors. Use tablecloths, napkins, and plates with traditional Greek patterns
- Greek Dinner Menu – Choose a simple Greek Dinner Menu like the one we share. You can prepare it by yourself or order from a Greek restaurant nearby. We love delicious, healthy Mediterranian recipes, that are so easy and simple that anyone can prepare them.
- Prepare Greek Drinks – Serve traditional Greek drinks like ouzo (anise-flavored liqueur) and offer non-alcoholic options such as Greek coffee or frappé (iced coffee).
- Play Greek Music and Dance – Play Greek music in the background to create a festive atmosphere and simply dance to it. There are several good Spotify Greek music playlists out there.
- Enjoy Greek Entertainment – Have a dance party with your family or friends, and enjoy dancing to Greek music together.
- Greek Customs – break some plates for good luck.
- Capture Memories – that’s all we have at the end. Still thinking about our Greek dinner…
What do you serve at a Greek dinner party?
At a Greek dinner party, you would typically serve a variety of traditional Greek dishes to delight your guests and create an authentic Mediterranean dining experience.
You start with handmade spreads and greek cheeses, then offer salads and appetizers, and greek drinks. After you serve seafood, fresh fish and meat plates. And we finish up with a Greek frappé and a light yogurt dessert or Greek baklava (samousades, zournadakia, and masourakia).
Overeating in Greece is the norm and no wonder with the high quality and super delicious meals they have.
Luckily, we found these 40+ Mediterranean diet recipes that take 30 minutes or less and are just perfect to create your own simple Greek dinner menu in the perfect portion size, if you want to keep it delicious and healthy.
What does a Greek dinner consist of? Greek Night – Greek Dinner Party Ideas
We’re excited to share snapshots of our full Greek dinner menu! We were a group of three adults and a child. Surprisingly, for all the delicious dishes we devoured on-site and half of them we took home, the total bill amounted to approximately 150 EUR in 2023. The food served was so abundant, it felt like we were feasting as if there were no tomorrow.
What do you eat at a Greek night? – Our Simple Greek Dinner Ideas
Spreads
These traditional Greek spreads are perfect for serving as appetizers or meze (small plates). Serve them alongside bread, crackers, or fresh vegetables.
- Tzatziki
- Spicy Feta Spread (Tirokafteri)
- Aubergine Spread with garlic (Melitzanosalata)
- Garlic Spread with walnuts
- Fava
- Hummus
- Taramasalata
- Skordalia
- Ktipiti
- Kalamata Olive Spread
Greek Spreads
- Tzatziki: The creamy yogurt-based dip is always infused with grated cucumber, garlic, lemon juice or vinegar, and dill so that it offers a refreshing and tangy flavor.
- Tirokafteri: This creamy spread is made not only from whipped feta cheese mixed with Greek yogurt, olive oil, with roasted red peppers, herbs or spices like oregano or red pepper flakes. No wonder it offers such a tangy and rich flavor!
- Melitzanosalata: Also known as eggplant dip, this spread features roasted or grilled eggplant blended with garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and sometimes herbs like parsley or mint, offering a smoky and savory taste.
- Garlic Feta Spread with walnuts
- Ktipiti: This creamy dip is made of course from feta cheese blended with garlic, olive oil, and fresh red bell peppers.
- Fava: The smooth and velvety spread is made from yellow split peas. As long as you cook them with onions, garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice and then blend everything nicely together, nothing can go wrong. Finally, garnish them with chopped onions, capers, or parsley, so that you get a hearty and earthy flavor.
- Hummus: A classic Mediterranean spread made from pureed chickpeas, tahini (sesame seed paste), lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil, offering a smooth and savory taste.
- Taramasalata: A creamy spread made from salted and cured fish roe (typically cod or carp), mixed with breadcrumbs, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic, offering a briny and rich flavor.
- Skordalia: A pungent spread made from mashed potatoes, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil, often served as an accompaniment to fried fish or vegetables, offering a bold and garlicky flavor.
Appetizers
- Fried Zucchini
- Grilled Vegetables
- Greek Falafels with Yogurth and Spearmint Sauce
- Greek Salad
- Saganaki
- Fried Zucchini: Crispy slices of zucchini, coated in a seasoned batter and fried until golden brown. Served hot and crunchy, these zucchini slices are a delightful appetizer or side dish, perfect for dipping in tzatziki sauce.
- Grilled Vegetables: A colorful medley of seasonal vegetables, such as bell peppers, eggplant, zucchini, and onions, grilled to perfection.
- Greek Falafels with Yogurt and Spearmint Sauce: Flavorful chickpea patties seasoned with aromatic herbs and spices, then deep-fried until golden and crispy. Served with a creamy yogurt sauce infused with fresh spearmint, these Greek falafels are a satisfying and wholesome vegetarian dish, perfect for dipping or stuffing into pita bread.
- Greek Salad: This is the classic refreshing salad in Greece. Make it with ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, tangy red onions, briny Kalamata olives, and of course creamy feta cheese. Just toss them all in a simple dressing of extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and of course oregano. Indeed, this classic Greek salad is bursting with flavor and vibrant colors, offering a taste of the Mediterranean in every bite.
- Saganaki: Saganaki is a traditional Greek appetizer. Make it by frying cheese until it is golden and melty. Typically, you can use a semi-hard cheese like kefalograviera or graviera. The cheese is often flambéed with brandy or ouzo, creating a crispy crust while leaving the interior gooey and delicious. Serve it with a squeeze of lemon juice and accompanied by crusty bread.
Seafood
- Shrimp cooked in tomato sauce with feta cheese
- Fried Calamari
- Grilled Octopus
These delectable Greek seafood dishes are sure to transport you to the shores of the Mediterranean with their bold flavors and fresh ingredients. Enjoy them as part of your Greek night!
- Shrimp cooked in tomato sauce with feta cheese: Succulent shrimp simmered in a rich tomato sauce infused with garlic, onions, and aromatic herbs, then topped with crumbled feta cheese.
- Fried Calamari: Tender rings of calamari coated in a light and crispy batter, then fried until golden brown. Served with lemon wedges and a side of tzatziki sauce or marinara for dipping, fried calamari is a popular Greek appetizer or main course.
- Grilled Octopus: Tender octopus tentacles marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs, then grilled to perfection until charred on the outside and tender on the inside. Grilled octopus is a beloved Greek seafood dish, often served with a squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of olive oil, and accompanied by roasted potatoes or a simple salad.
Main Plates
- Grilled Fresh Fish
- Fried Cod
- Souvlaki
- Meat balls
- Lamb
These mouthwatering Greek dishes showcase the diverse flavors and culinary traditions of Greece, offering a delightful dining experience for any occasion.
- Grilled Fresh Fish: Grill a whole fresh fish, such as sea bass or sea bream, Gilt-head bream “Tsipoura”. Before that marinate it in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs, then grilled to perfection over an open flame. Cook until the skin is crispy and the flesh is flaky and tender.
- Fried Cod: Just dipp some cod fillets in a light batter or breadcrumb coating, then fry until golden and crispy.
- Souvlaki: Souvlaki is a classic Greek dish. Make it with skewered and grilled pieces of meat, typically pork, chicken, or lamb. Beforehand, marinate the meat in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs, then threaded onto skewers and grilled until tender and flavorful. Souvlaki is of course served with pita bread, tzatziki sauce, and garnishes like tomatoes and onions.
- Meatballs: Greek meatballs, also known as “keftedes,” are seasoned ground meat patties made with a mixture of beef, pork, or lamb, combined with breadcrumbs, onions, garlic, and herbs. Fry them until golden brown and crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
- Lamb: You can prepare lamb in various ways, such as roasted, grilled, or braised. Whether it’s a succulent roasted leg of lamb, grilled lamb chops, or tender lamb shanks slow-cooked in a flavorful tomato sauce, lamb dishes are beloved for their rich flavor and tender texture in Greek cooking.
Desserts
After this abundant Greek dinner, we did not have any space for dessert. However, you can finish up with a Greek frappé and a light yogurt dessert or Greek baklava (samousades, zournadakia, and masourakia).
What food should I try in Greece?
Next, we are headed to Salzburg to have some Austrian pancakes. And as you can imagine, they were simply delicious.
