Boiled greens with olive oil and lemon on a white plate

How should I use olive oil? Greeks don’t need to ask, since they consume more of this liquid gold per capita than anyone else in the world. To help those outside the major olive growing regions, Greek Liquid Gold asked Greek olive oil producers and company representatives, plus two prominent European chefs, about their favorite ways to eat olive oil.

Whole baked fish on plate with olive oil at a restaurant, sea and old buildings in the background

When he led the famous Seven Countries Study that inspired worldwide interest in the Mediterranean diet, Ancel Keys was astonished to see Cretans’ food swimming in olive oil. He decided that was a good idea, and eventually much of the rest of the world caught on, although most countries still lag behind Greece in their olive oil consumption. 

Olive oil orange juice cookies on a plate and in two large jars near a glass of wildflowers

This is a revision of a traditional Greek olive oil and orange juice cookie with less sugar, more whole wheat flour, more orange zest, and more spices than the original. Very tasty, it is appropriate for certain types of fasting as well as for vegans, those seeking to lower their cholesterol, and health-conscious eaters who enjoy a slightly sweet treat. 

zucchini burgers on a paper towel on a plate

This zucchini burger recipe comes from a grandmother (yaya) in a Cretan village. It differs slightly from the courgette patties recipe already linked on this site. Originally, this version called for pumpkin rather than zucchini, but it is so good with zucchini that I recommend it that way. You can also try it with pumpkin—the rest is the same.

lamb tartare artistically arranged on a white plate

Chef Vasilis Leonidou strives “to blend the right olive oil into my recipes to impart character and balance between the ingredients and the olive oil.” He also enjoys experimenting with “rare and unique varieties of EVOO that chefs do not use very often in restaurants because of their complexity.” His results have drawn the attention of influential critics.

cuttlefish on a cutting board

In this elegant gourmet recipe by chef Vassilis Alexiou, a spicy, full-bodied Manaki extra virgin olive oil from the Peloponnese in Greece gives a boost to the mild flavors of lentils, cuttlefish, and caviar. The recipe exemplifies this Greek chef’s interest in “waking up” or enlivening a recipe that starts out mild, by adding a bold extra virgin olive oil.

A Cretan mother making spanakopita

If you know anything about Greek food, you’ve probably heard of spanakopita, the classic spinach pie with feta cheese and phyllo (or filo) pastry. My Cretan neighbor’s recipe is especially rich in leeks, onion, herbs, and olive oil, which blend beautifully with the spinach and feta. You can buy your phyllo or make your own, like Arhontoula always does.

a large glass bowl of spanakorizo next to a small bouquet of anemones

You can make this vegan recipe using more or less of various ingredients, including spinach, depending on your preference. You can even use the spinach stems left over after you’ve made something else with the spinach leaves. I prefer to make the dish healthier using wholegrain brown rice, but that must be cooked separately given its longer cooking time.

small cheese pies frying in olive oil in a skillet

If you have some phyllo dough on hand—for example, left over from making spanakopita--you can make miniature pies with all sorts of fillings, like my Cretan neighbor does for everyday snacks, parties, and holidays. For example, soft Greek cheeses and spanakopita fillings make wonderful little pies. This is how Arhontoula makes them, with her homemade dough.

Pancakes with Apple, Orange, and Olive Oil

Cooking breakfast or brunch for a bunch? You can use a mild, fruity, or fruit flavored extra virgin olive oil in a basic pancake recipe. Or try my sugar-free apple-orange pancakes, which are so tasty they can be eaten plain, without syrup (or with maple syrup, honey or all-fruit spread). Of course, many variations are possible; I mention one below.

three slices of trahana bread overlapping on a plate

This recipe from the Greek magazine Gastronomos uses trahana in one of the most wonderfully flavorful breads I have tasted. Trahana is a wheat product mixed with a milk product and then dried. There are many types of it; this recipe calls for the sour version made from wheat. If you can’t find it in your area, you can order it from various online sources.

Peas with olive oil, carrots, onions etcetera in a glass bowl

The Greek name for this recipe translates awkwardly as “oily peas,” emphasizing the substantial amount of olive oil in it. Extra virgin olive oil is crucial to this common, quick and easy Greek dish, making it tasty, filling, and healthy. It can also be made with green beans, but my family and I prefer the sweetness of the peas with onion and carrots.

three layer carrot cake with cream cheese icing, with a big piece cut out

This is my mother’s wonderful recipe. A fruity olive oil works very well with cinnamon in this popular, tasty cake. It makes a 9 X 13 inch rectangle or a (more impressive) three-layer cake. I double the recipe, freeze the rectangle, and eat the layer cake first. There’s always an occasion when we “need” the other cake before too long, and it freezes well.

Two-layer fudge cake (without frosting)

My mother’s original version was so good that I hesitated to tamper with it, but once I gained the courage, I found that it’s even better with yogurt and olive oil than with butter and sour cream! I always make a double recipe and freeze the sheet cake. This cake is so popular, moist and chocolaty, that it comes in handy for any special occasion.

Maria Loi

Appointed Ambassador of Greek Gastronomy by the Chef’s Club of Greece, celebrity chef Maria Loi celebrates the flavor and healthiness of the olive oil rich Greek diet. Loi recently took time out from cooking at her Loi Estiatorio restaurant in midtown Manhattan, New York to share her thoughts about olive oil and the Greek diet with Greek Liquid Gold.

popcorn in a clear glass bowl

I love popcorn. I love olive oil. I often want a quick snack. Here’s the solution: stovetop popcorn made with extra virgin olive oil—two healthy ingredients that combine beautifully to make an ideal snack. An excellent olive oil transfers its flavor to the popcorn; with some salt, no additional flavoring is necessary to make an addictive all-natural treat.

vegetable stir-fry in a glass bowl

It may seem obvious that you can make a vegetable stir fry with extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). However, this recipe strikes me as remarkable because it comes out so tasty with its fresh vegetables and EVOO that you don’t need to add anything with MSG. This is my pseudo-Greek version of the Chinese-American restaurant classic I used to miss in Crete.

The Oliverse duo with some of their students

What should I do with this olive oil? Four years ago, two Greek olive oil professionals decided to focus on answering that question. Kostas Tsoronis and Panagiotis Papanikolopoulos created Oliverse and started leading seminars in Greece and online to explore olive oil – food pairings: the way specific extra virgin olive oils combine with particular foods.

chickpeas in a glass bowl with yellow and white plumeria flowers next to it

This easy, economical, healthy vegetarian (and vegan) chickpea recipe is a Greek classic commonly eaten by just about anyone. It’s even better if you squeeze fresh lemon juice onto your bowl of chickpeas before eating. Start with dry chickpeas rather than using canned, and soak them overnight; it’s healthier, cheaper, and not at all difficult.

Lentils, cuttlefish, and caviar dish by Vassilis Alexiou

From Athens to Paris, from Kalamata to Santorini and Samos, Greek Chef de Cuisine Vassilis Alexiou has sought out the best products and producers. Connecting with farmers, he identified his favorite Greek products, including a variety of olive oils. Then he astonished Parisian chefs by incorporating eleven different extra virgin olive oils into his recipes.

a chocolate cake in a round metal pan with two candles burning on the cake and a bouquet of flowers and a bowl of cherries near it

This is a very tasty, simple cake that requires just one pan, where the batter is mixed, and no bowl, which makes cleanup very quick. Made with extra virgin olive oil, no butter or eggs, and just a reasonable amount of sugar, it is an excellent cake for an everyday treat. This is my young son’s favorite recipe to make and share, so the recipe is in demand.

Vegetarian Dishes

Desserts, Sweet Snacks, Breakfast Items

Appetizers/Snacks

Salads

Other Main Dishes