Exploring the Differences Between Greek and Middle Eastern Food

If you look at a table with Greek and Middle Eastern food, you’ll see a lot of similarities in ingredients, textures, and preparations. For instance, both cuisines use chickpeas a lot as well as beans, olives, yogurt and meat. But with such stark similarities also come many differences that make each cuisine unique from each other, although they also go great together.

Greek cuisine

They say that the Greeks have the best diet in the world, and that’s true. But Greek food is so delicious that you won’t even notice that you’re already eating healthy. One of the things that make traditional Greek cuisine so unique is the use of local and seasonal ingredients. The Greek love their produce, beans, fish, cheese and yogurt that they incorporate them in almost every dish they cook.

Of course, you can’t talk about Greek food without mentioning olive oil because the Greeks love to douse everything in it. They also have a strong affinity for fruits that grow in their backyards like peaches, nectarines, cherries and apricots that make for amazing pies and desserts. Then, there’s Greek feta that you’ll also find in a lot of Greek dishes.

Some of the best Greek dishes that you need to try include “papoutsakia” or stuffed eggplants, “moussaka” that consists of spiced meat cooked in tomato sauce and bechamel sauce, “souvlaki” that’s basically like a kebab-style meat dish served with pita bread or fries, and of course, “tzatziki” that’s a classic Greek appetizer made with cucumber, garlic, olive oil and yogurt.

Middle Eastern cuisine

Middle Eastern cuisine is synonymous with the use of herbs and spices. If you’re lucky enough to visit one of the Middle Eastern countries, you’ll find souks or local markets with vendors selling mountains of herbs and spices that you can smell from a mile away. Since this part of the world is literally a melting pot of different cultures, you can expect its cuisine to be inspired by other cultures from around the world.

The hallmark of Middle Eastern cuisine is definitely its meat choices like beef, lamb and chicken, the different traditional cooking techniques, and of course, the use of a variety of spices in one dish. You’ll also see a balance between meats and vegetables in most of these dishes and signature sauces that make each serving extra delightful to the palate.

Some of the most popular Middle Eastern dishes include the “kebab” or skewered meat, the “tabouleh” that’s basically a vegetable salad with lots of parsley, the “shawarma” or thin slices of meat and salad wrapped in pita bread and of course, the hummus, which is considered one of the best dips in the world.

Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine: The ties that bind

As much as these two cuisines have their own unique characteristics, they are also very similar in a lot of ways. This is mainly due to the fact that Middle Eastern cuisine is greatly influenced by the Mediterranean climate and its use of ingredients. Now, if you want to try the best of both, online order or book a dinner reservation with us at Porto Falafel today! We also offer catering services so you can have a smooth event with the best Middle Eastern food. Contact us today!