Spicy food might not be the first thing that comes to mind when Greece is mentioned. However, those who look hard enough can find a variety of Greek spicy food and in this article, we’ll cover some popular choices. From the smoky heat of Spetsofai to the zesty kick in a bowl of Greek-style chili here are some great spicy Greek dishes.
Appetizers/Sauces
We’ll start this guide to Greek spicy food with a few dishes that can be classified as appetizers, side dishes, or sauces, starting with…
Bouyiourdi
Traditionally baked in a clay pot or ‘gastra’, Bouyiourdi is one of the ultimate taverna staples, consisting of baked tomatoes and peppers together with tangy feta cheese topped with chilli flakes for a spicy kick. It’s simple yet fiery, with a bold mix of feta cheese, tomatoes, spicy peppers, and a glug of olive oil. The dish originates from the northern part of Greece and is usually served hot, straight out of the oven bubbling and sizzling at the table.
Tirokafteri
Tirokafteri is a fiery Greek spread made of a blend of feta cheese, hot peppers, a splash of lemon juice, and a drizzle of olive oil and is usually served as a part of a meze platter but it also gets paired up with Greek meat dishes like grilled lamb, chicken, or pork. The flavor of Tirokafteri is spicy (from the peppers) and tangy (from the feta cheese)- a perfect combo if you ask me.
Skordalia
Skordalia is a garlic-packed powerhouse of Greek cuisine- a thick, pungent sauce that’s made of a combination of mashed potatoes or bread, a lot of spicy garlic, olive oil, chilli flakes and a touch of vinegar or lemon juice. It’s best combined with seafood, it’s one of those dishes that brings out the best of all seafood or fish-based dishes with its spicy-tangy flavor combo.
Tzatziki
Speaking of Greek spicy food, I just can’t forget about one of my personal favorites- Tzatziki. In its essence, tzatziki is a Greek yogurt-based condiment consisting of a blend of cool, creamy yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, olive oil, and a dash of vinegar. Tzatziki’s creamy texture and refreshing taste make it a perfect sidekick for grilled meats, chicken gyros, gyro salads, grilled veggies, or soft pita bread. My favorite thing about tzatziki is that it’s a culinary paradox of a sort; on one hand, it’s cool and soothing (because of cold yogurt and fresh cucumber) and on the other, it has a somewhat spicy feel that warms up your throat (because of the garlic).
Enjoying this post? Then you may also like our souvlaki platter, vegan souvlaki recipe, our shrimp souvlaki recipe, and our salmon souvlaki recipe.
Main Course Greek Spicy Food
Now, it’s time for perhaps the most important part of this guide to Greek spicy food- the main course meal for all of you spicy food lovers out there.
Mousaka
Spicy mousaka is a great twist on a classic; traditional Greek moussaka consists of layers of eggplant, potatoes, and ground meat, topped with béchamel. In my humble opinion, the only thing that can make (the already delicious) mousaka even better is adding hot cayenne or red pepper flakes to the meat sauce. The spicy meat sauce, creamy béchamel, and soft, almost sweet layers of eggplant and potatoes are a unique combination that makes mousaka one of the best spicy Greek dishes.
Greek Lamb-Stuffed Courgettes
This spicy Greek dish consists of hollowed-out zucchinis filled with ground lamb spiced up with cumin, paprika, and chili flakes that adds a spicy kick to the robust earthy flavor this dish gets by fine roasting. It’s often combined with some fresh herbs like mint or parsley to help accent the flavors of the other ingredients but that’s not mandatory. My favorite thing about this dish is that you could say that it’s hearty yet not heavy with a slightly spicy flavor but not that spicy that you’ll be running for water.
Lamb Kleftiko
This list of Greek spicy food just couldn’t be complete without some lamb kleftiko. Traditionally, kleftiko means “stolen meat” – a cheeky nod to Greek bandits who cooked stolen lamb in sealed pits to avoid detection. Modern-day kleftiko is less about the heist and more about slow-cooking lamb until it’s fall-apart tender. But, of course, lamb tastes even better when spiced up a little bit; the meat is traditionally marinated with garlic, lemon, herbs, paprika, and chili flakes (or even better fresh chilies).
Stifado
If you’re unfamiliar, stifado is a Greek stew, usually starring beef or rabbit in a rich tomato sauce, boosted with some chili peppers or other kinds of spicy seasonings. But it’s a dish that gives new meaning to the phrase slow cooking- you need a lot of patience to prepare this one. The longer you can cook it and let all those flavors combine, the tastier it will be. You want to aim for meat cooked so well, it melts in your mouth.
Garides Saganaki
Garides Saganaki is a Greek seafood dish with shrimps as the main ingredient. The shrimps are cooked in a spicy tomato sauce that’s a blend of tomatoes, garlic, and a little bit of paprika powder and chili flakes. Depending where you come from, you may not be acustomed to spicy shrimps but this dish is the bomb. I personally like is an appetizer because the spiciness really kicks up your appetite and leaves you wanting more. The dish is traditionally served straight from the skillet, while still bubbling and making you feel even more hungry as you see it.
Greek-Style Chili
When you think chili, Greek cuisine might not be the first thing that pops into your head, but yes, they have it, and yes it’s delish. So, what sets it apart? First off, we’re playing with some classic Greek flavors here – think za’atar spice, cinnamon, and maybe a touch of mint; granted, not your typical chili seasonings, but they bring a whole new dimension to the dish. Texture-wise, this chili is hearty, loaded with beans and chunks of cooked tomatoes, quite spicy and very flavorful. It’s somewhat similar to Greek fasolada, just a dry version of it.
Enjoying this post? Then you may also like our gigantes beans recipe.
Spicy Meats
Last but not least, we’ll conclude this guide to Greek spicy food with a few local spicy meat varieties, including sausages, meatballs, and more.
Spetsofai
Spetsofai is a homemade Greek sausage that’s not spicy on its own but after cooking it in a mixture of tomato sauce, chilli flakes, and a bunch of other herbs and spices, you get a delicious mix of spicy sausage, somewhat of a zesty curry-like dish with smoky flavor from the sausage, and nice soft texture and tanginess from the sautéed veggies.
Loukaniko
Next on our ultimate list of spicy Greek food, we have loukaniko (also known as lukanka in neighboring Slavic countries, including Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Serbia). Traditional loukaniko is known for its unique blend of herbs, garlic, and citrus flavors, but the main ingredient of the marinade is garlic, which gives the sausage its spicy flavor. What I love about spicy loukaniko is its versatility. Grill it, fry it, throw it in a stew – it’s like the Swiss Army knife of the sausage world.
Enjoying this post? Then you may also like this guide to European street food or this guide to Greek street food.
Spicy Keftedes
You might think you know meatballs, but spicy keftedes take them to a whole new level. Like most meatballs, keftedes are made of ground beef or lamb (or less commonly beef) with the meat being marinated in a mixture of local herbs like parsley, za’atar, mint, and local chili flakes or cayenne pepper and cooked in tomato sauce. The final result is a delicious spicy meatball, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside that goes very well alongside a slice of crusty bread or dolma.
Soutzoukakia
Last but not least, we conclude this guide to spicy Greek food with soutzoukakia which is another Greek variety of meatballs (and Greek people love their meatballs), originating from the city of Smyrna spiced, and steeped in a rich and slightly hot tomato sauce. The spices used in preparing this dish feature cumin, paprika powder, chili flakes, and sometimes even a spoonful of harissa paste.
How did you like this guide to Greek spicy food? Did you ever try any of these? Do you know of any other Greek spicy dishes? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
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