Cretan cuisine is renowned for its simplicity, freshness and delicious flavours. It uses high- quality local ingredients. Here are just a few of the distinctive features of Cretan food:
- Olive oil: Olive oil is an essential part of Cretan cuisine. Crete is one of the main olive oil- producing regions in Greece, and its oil is renowned for its exceptional quality. It is used in many dishes and adds a rich, fruity flavour to preparations.
- Vegetables and herbs: Vegetables play an important role in Cretan cuisine. Products such as tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, courgettes, green beans and artichokes are commonly used. Aromatic herbs such as oregano, mint, thyme and rosemary are also widely used to enhance the flavours of dishes.
- Cretan cheese: Crete is renowned for its quality cheeses, such as feta, graviera and anthotyro. These cheeses are often eaten on their own or used in a variety of traditional Cretan dishes.
- Seafood: As Crete is an island, seafood plays an important role in the local cuisine. Fresh fish, prawns, squid and octopus are often used in Cretan dishes, whether grilled, baked or in soup.
- Traditional dishes: Cretan cuisine offers a variety of tasty traditional dishes. Signature dishes include dakos (a salad of dry bread, tomatoes, cheese and olive oil), souvlaki (grilled meat kebabs), stifado (a meat stew with onions and spices), and ntakos (a dry bread salad with tomatoes and cheese).
- Sweet treats: Finally, don't miss the Cretan sweet treats. Cretan honey is famous for its quality and is often used in desserts. Traditional pastries such as kalitsounia (small cheese or herb tarts) and loukoumades (fried doughnuts served with honey and cinnamon) are also a must.
