Being Crete’s largest island in Greece with its own stunning culture, you’ll find some of the tastiest food the Mediterranean has to offer. Sinking your teeth into some of the many local dishes is a great way to get closer to the Cretan way of life, appreciating the fresh ingredients gathered from around the island for recipes passed down through the generations. Here are just a few to keep your eye on during a Crete holiday across a number of different courses.
Traditional Starters and Meze
Small plates usually kick off Mediterranean meals, known as meze or mezze, acting as appetisers or even a whole meal if you want to share lots of little things. Dakos are crispy barley rusks topped with chopped tomato, local cheese, and plenty of olive oil – a simple yet delicious way to start your meal. Dolmades – vine leaves wrapped around seasoned rice – and saganaki, which is fried cheese served with a bit of lemon juice, also showcase the fresh flavours that make Cretan cooking so special and get you ready for the main courses.
Iconic Main Dishes
For something more filling, potentially after a day of hiking around the island, kleftiko is a great choice – that slowly cooks lamb alongside herbs until it’s tender enough to fall apart on your fork. Another favourite is stifado, a hearty beef stew cooked with small onions and red wine, that can restore your energies after a long day. Or, if you want to try something truly special, keep an eye out for gamopilafo – a buttery rice dish traditionally seen at weddings, but well worth ordering if spotted on a menu.
Unique Local Specialities
Crete isn’t without its more adventurous items that bring more of its heritage to the table. One such dish is antikristo – lamb cooked on a spit around an open fire, harking back to how the Cretan shepherds would cook up in the mountains.
There’s also a dish for the braver food lover in hohlioi boubouristoi, which effectively translates to snails in the skillet, that is a true speciality making use of rosemary and vinegar to balance out the flavours.
Sweet Treats and Drinks
No dinner is really complete without a little dessert, so it’s the perfect time to try kalistounia – sweet cheese pies with honey – or loukoumades, which are a bit similar to doughnut holes soaked in honey and sprinkled with cinnamon. For a Cretan aperitif, nothing hits quite like a glass of raki. This anise-flavoursed spirit is made from grape pomace and is usually served chilled, sometimes mixed with honey and spices, taking the edge off a big meal.
Whether you lean more towards village tavernas or waterfront restaurants, Cretan cuisine has something for every palate. Their take on Mediterranean cuisine is always made with care and makes use of what the island provides, so make sure to give something a bit different a go.
