6 Best Greek Cookbooks

We’re all cooking more than ever- from elaborate mouthwatering pastries to simple one‑pot-wonders; spending more time at home has allowed us to try out plenty of new recipes!  

And cookbooks have become increasingly popular not only because they can teach us how to create new dishes, they also allow us to escape and travel (when we can’t). With so many good ones to choose from, we’ve put together our ultimate list of cookbooks that transport you to Greece through their delightful flavours and stunning imagery! 

Ikaria Lessons by Diane Kochilas 

Insights Greece - 6 Best Greek Cookbooks

Part cookbook, part travelogue, Ikaria is an introduction to the food-as-life philosophy of the famous “blue zone” island and a culinary journey through luscious recipes, gorgeous photography, and captivating stories from its locals. Written by well-known chef Diane Kochilas, who has spent much of her life in Ikaria, Diane captures the true spirit of the island, as she explains the importance of shared food, the health benefits of raw and cooked salads, the bean dishes that are passed down through generations, the greens and herbal teas that are used in the kitchen and in the teapot as “medicine,” as well as the nutritional wisdom inherent in the ingredients and recipes that have kept Ikarians healthy for so long. 

Greece the Cook Book by Vefa Alexiadou 

With hundreds of simple recipes by Vefa Alexiadou, Greece’s famous cookbook writer, TV presenter and chef, this book also includes information on regional specialities, local ingredients and the religious and historical significance of the dishes, which are illustrated with 230 vibrant photographs. This cookbook is the definitive work on the rich and fascinating dishes of modern Greece.

Food From Many Greek Kitchens by Tessa Kiros 

Insights Greece - 6 Best Greek Cookbooks

Greek-Cypriot Tessa Kiros takes you on a colourful journey into the Greek kitchens of her friends and family, cataloguing the traditional foods for fasting, festivals and feast days in her own enchanting way. Food, culture, celebration, and memory are inexorably tied together and recipes include short introductions that explain each dish’s cultural significance. In addition, lavish full-colour photographs take readers on a tour from the local Mediterranean fishmongers and markets into Greek family homes and kitchens- to experience the best in authentic Greek cooking. With a glossary and more than 200 classically prepared Greek recipes, Food from Many Greek Kitchens adds a greater depth of flavour to each dish.

Sweet Greek Life by Kathy Tsaples 

This is a beautiful selection of 116 traditional dishes updated for modern feasting, continuing the story of the cuisine Greek Australian Kathy Tsaples grew up with and her love affair with Greek food and culture. Beautifully styled and photographed, it is a stunning collection of recipes that will impress both home cooks and chefs alike. Flavours are bold, ingredients are accessible and sweet and savoury dishes ranging from Feta loukoumades with honey to wood-fired goat are stylishly interpreted with Tsaples’ characteristic fresh approach.

Insights Greece - 6 Best Greek Cookbooks

A Taste of Greece by Princess Tatiana and Diana Farr Louis

Co-authored by food and travel writer Diana Farr Louis and Tatiana Blatnik, the Hellenophile wife of Prince Nikolaos of Greece, this cookbook features recipes by well known Greeks from the fields of sport, gastronomy, cinema, royalty, photography, literature and music. This is not just a cookbook; it is a declaration of love for Greek culture, Greek lifestyle, and Greek cuisine. Well-known personalities from across the world who all share a special bond with Greece share their favourite recipes, revealing their much-loved foods, and share their memories of Greece. Their stories and recipes illustrated by stunning photos will give you a real appreciation of Greek cuisine, age-old traditions, and a fascinating contemporary culture.

My Greek Taverna by Ioanna Pavlaki and Makis Georgiadis

This cookbook features all the dishes you will find across an authentic Greek taverna and on any family’s Sunday table. In its pages you will find 65 recipes, divided into categories, listing all the ingredients along with step-by-step instructions to help you bring a traditional Greek dish to life in your own kitchen, tasting exactly as it would  in a small taverna by the Aegean Sea. It aspires to become a tasty memory of your autumns, winters, springs and summers in Greece. A memory that will will be renewed each time you go though its pages, choosing something Greek to cook, share and enjoy with your loved ones. It’s a “tasty” souvenir that smells like Greece. 

Featured image by IN+SIGHTS GREECE © (Copyright)