The best Greek dishes, and where to find them in London.
Autumn brings a delightful shift in Greek cooking, as the cooler weather invites a focus on hearty, satisfying dishes. Utilising the season’s freshest ingredients and time-honoured recipes, Greek cuisine offers a feast of flavours that are both comforting and celebratory. In this article, we’ll explore a variety of Greek autumn dishes that highlight the season’s best, from simple comfort foods to more elaborate fare
The best Greek Autumn Dishes
From rich stews and baked casseroles to tangy soups and vibrant vegetable dishes, these traditional recipes highlight the best of autumn’s seasonal ingredients!
Giouvarlakia Avgolemono (Meatballs in Egg-Lemon Sauce)
Giouvarlakia Avgolemono is a traditional Greek soup featuring meatballs made from minced beef or pork, rice, and fresh herbs, all simmered in a flavorful broth. The signature element of this dish is the “avgolemono” (egg-lemon sauce), which is whisked into the broth, creating a creamy, tangy soup that is both comforting and rich in flavour. It’s a classic autumn meal, perfect for warming up on a chilly evening, offering a delicious balance of protein and acidity.
Giouvetsi (Beef with Orzo)
Giouvetsi is a beloved oven-baked dish that combines tender, slow-cooked beef with orzo, a small rice-shaped pasta, all immersed in a rich tomato-based sauce. The dish is often seasoned with cinnamon and allspice, giving it a warm, aromatic flavour. Traditionally served straight from the clay pot it’s baked in, Giouvetsi is a perfect meal for the autumn months, combining the heartiness of beef with the comforting texture of orzo pasta.
Moshari Frikase (Beef Fricassée with Greens)
Moshari Frikase is a slow-cooked beef stew, typically made with leafy greens like lettuce or spinach. The dish is cooked in a delicate, lemony broth, creating a tangy and creamy sauce that pairs beautifully with the tender beef. It’s a unique combination of ingredients that embodies the balance between freshness and richness, making it an ideal autumn meal for those who want something both light and filling.
Kotopoulo me Trahana (Chicken with Trahana)
Kotopoulo me Trahana is a rustic dish featuring chicken cooked with trahana, a traditional Greek ingredient made from fermented wheat and milk. The grain is simmered with the chicken, absorbing the savoury flavours and creating a creamy, porridge-like consistency. Trahana has a slightly tangy taste, complementing the richness of the chicken, and the dish is often seasoned with herbs like thyme or oregano. This hearty meal is a warming and nutritious choice for cooler autumn nights.
Hirino sti Gastra (Pork Stew in a Clay Pot)
Hirino sti Gastra is a traditional pork stew, slow-cooked in a gastra (clay pot), allowing the flavours to intensify over time. The pork is typically marinated in garlic, lemon, and herbs, then baked with potatoes and vegetables. This rustic dish is known for its tender meat and rich, flavorful juices, which are soaked up by the vegetables. It’s a perfect autumnal dish, embodying the simplicity and depth of traditional Greek home cooking.
Psarosoupa (Fish Soup)
Psarosoupa is a hearty Greek fish soup, made with a variety of fresh fish and root vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, and celery. The broth is light but flavorful, often enriched with lemon juice and olive oil to bring out the freshness of the seafood. Psarosoupa is particularly popular in coastal regions and is the ideal dish for a light yet warming meal during the autumn season, offering a taste of the sea in a comforting bowl.
Fasolada (Bean Soup)
Fasolada, often referred to as the national dish of Greece, is a simple yet hearty bean soup made with white beans, tomatoes, carrots, and celery, all cooked in a savoury olive oil-based broth. Seasoned with bay leaves and oregano, the soup has a rich, earthy flavour, perfect for autumn. Fasolada is a wholesome, plant-based dish that’s both nutritious and deeply satisfying, making it a go-to for Greek households during the cooler months.
Revithia (Chickpea Soup)
Revithia is a humble but nourishing chickpea soup, traditionally slow-cooked to allow the chickpeas to become soft and creamy. The dish is often flavoured with lemon juice, olive oil, and rosemary or bay leaves, creating a simple yet deeply flavorful meal. Some versions of Revithia are baked in clay pots, intensifying the flavours, while others remain as a lighter, broth-based soup. Either way, it’s a comforting and nutritious dish for autumn.
Lahanodolmades (Stuffed Cabbage Rolls)
Lahanodolmades are cabbage leaves stuffed with a mixture of minced meat (usually beef or pork), rice, and herbs. The stuffed rolls are simmered in a tangy, creamy avgolemono (egg-lemon) sauce, which adds a rich, zesty flavour to the dish. These delicate parcels are often served as a main course during the autumn and winter months, offering a comforting combination of savoury meat and refreshing citrus.
Patates Yahni (Potatoes Stewed in Tomato Sauce)
Patates Yahni is a simple yet flavorful dish of potatoes stewed in a rich tomato sauce with onions, garlic, and olive oil. Often seasoned with cinnamon, oregano, and bay leaves, the dish is slow-cooked until the potatoes are soft and infused with the fragrant sauce. This vegetarian dish is a common side or main meal in Greek households during autumn, offering a comforting and hearty option for colder days.
The best Greek Autumn Sweets
For a sweet end to a Greek Autumn meal, these traditional desserts are perfect!
Portokalopita (Orange Phyllo Cake)
Portokalopita is a fragrant and moist Greek cake made with layers of crumbled phyllo pastry, and infused with a luscious orange syrup. The combination of tangy oranges with the buttery, flaky phyllo creates a cake that’s refreshingly light yet indulgent. It’s an ideal autumn dessert, bursting with citrus flavour and perfect with a cup of Greek coffee.
Ravani (Semolina Cake)
Ravani is a traditional Greek semolina cake soaked in syrup, often flavoured with citrus or coconut. The semolina gives the cake a distinctive texture, light and airy yet firm, while the syrup adds just the right amount of sweetness. This autumn favourite is often topped with almonds or coconut flakes, making it a sweet treat that feels decadent yet comforting.
Karidopita (Walnut Cake)
Karidopita is a rich, spiced walnut cake that is perfect for autumn with its deep, warm flavours of cinnamon, cloves, and finely ground walnuts. Once baked, the cake is soaked in syrup, which intensifies its sweet and spicy flavours. The walnuts add a satisfying crunch, while the syrup keeps the cake moist and delicious. It’s a dessert that pairs wonderfully with a glass of sweet dessert wine or coffee.
Rizogalo (Rice Pudding)
is a comforting Greek rice pudding, simple yet creamy and rich in flavour. Cooked with milk, sugar, and often flavoured with vanilla and a generous dusting of cinnamon, this dish is typically served warm, making it a perfect dessert or afternoon snack during the cooler autumn months. Its creamy texture and gentle sweetness make it an ideal choice for those seeking a lighter, comforting dessert.
Where to enjoy a Greek Autumn Dinner in London
Discover the best spots in London to savor a Greek autumn dinner, where traditional flavors meet cozy atmospheres. These restaurants offer the perfect setting to enjoy hearty Greek dishes as the season unfolds.
Byzantium Restaurant
An impressive, unique and well-established Greek restaurant that is conveniently located between Bayswater and Queensway, that emphasises family-style food, traditional pastries (tsourekia, baklava etc.) and real Greek coffee.
Contact Information
- Tel: +44 20 7229 9367
- Address: 31 Moscow Road
Kima Restaurant | Modern Greek Seafood
Drawing inspiration from the abundance of the Greek seas, this restaurant brings the Mediterranean culture of the Greek peninsula to London’s dining scene.
Contact Information
- Tel: +44 (0) 77 4520 5136
- email: reservations@kimarestaurant.com
- Address: 57 Paddington Street
Shire Oaks Fulham
The menu comprises vegan and keto diets to suit all dietary needs and choices. At Shire Oaks, Greek flavours are always present, with freddo espressos, frappes, Greek wine, and in the future, traditional Greek sweets and pies.
Contact Information
- Tel: +44 (0)20 3532 5413
- email: fulham@shire-oaks.co.uk
- Address: 226 North End Road Fulham
Halepi | Greek & Cypriot Restaurant
This restaurant is hailed by the Automobile Association of America Guide as the best Greek restaurant in the world. Lunch can include anything from fresh fish dishes to salt marsh lamb and finishing off with sweet-tasting desserts.
Contact Information
- Tel: 020 7262 1070
- Address: 18 Leinster Terrace
Meraki | Restaurant – Bar
Nestled in the heart of Fitzrovia, the team have scoured the length and breadth of Greece’s regions to find the most tantalising ingredients such as Bottarga from Mesologgi, tomatoes from Santorini and butter from Crete.
Contact Information
- Tel: +44 (0)207 305 7686
- email: reservations@meraki-restaurant.com
- Address: 80-82 Great Titchfield Street
Nostimo
In this restaurant they servel kinds of Mediterranean inspired delicacies whilst staying true to Greek heritage, using top quality ingredients while having a passion for Mediterranean cuisine.
Contact Information
- Tel: 2070524471
- email: info@nostimo.london
- Address: 9 Brunswick Centre
Opso Modern Greek Food
Inspired by traditional and contemporary Greek tastes, they create modern Greek tapas based on high quality ingredients, most of which are supplied directly from Greece, focusing on social style dining.
Contact Information
- Tel: +44 (0)207 487 5088
- email: reservations@opso.co.uk
- Address: 10 Paddington St
Ammos Greek Restaurant
This restaurant brings the love for Mediterranean flavours and gave it a home in a friendly and cosy place, five minutes from Hyde Park, in the heart of London.
Contact Information
- Tel: 020 7262 0169
- email: info@ammoshydepark.com
- Address: 28 Sussex Place
Going Greek
The owners of Going Greek have dedicated themselves (and its fancy kitchen) to recapturing the glory of greek food. A lot of the menu options are even veggie/vegan-friendly, too.
Contact Information
- Tel: 020 3030 4543
- email: info@goinggreek.co.uk
- Address: 18 The Green
And here you can enjoy traditional Greek sweets!
Artisimo Greek Bakery
A Greek bakery that combines all the traditional savoury and sweet flavours that we know and love with all the new flavours that modern Greek baking has to offer.
Contact Information
- Tel: 07577505200
- email: artisimolondon@gmail.com
- Address: 770 Green Lanes
Hellenic Bakery | Bounds Green
It offers Greek Traditional Bread, Pastries, sandwiches, snacks, Freddo espresso and Freddo Cappuccino!
Contact Information
- Tel: 02088893281
- email: helennicbakeryboundsgreen@gmail.com
- Address: 112 Myddleton Road
Borneo Cafe & Bakery
Offering a large variety of freshly baked Pastries like Spanakopites and Tsourekia,delicious birthday cakes, breakfast, omelettes, paninis, burgers, freshly squeezed juices, and many more.
Contact Information
- Tel: +44 2082458021
- email: Borneocafebakery@outlook.com
- Address: Green Lanes
Harvest the season!
As you explore the hearty and flavorful world of Greek autumn cuisine, you’re sure to find dishes that warm both body and soul. These recipes, steeped in tradition and seasonal ingredients, offer a taste of Greece’s rich culinary heritage. Enjoy the comfort and satisfaction these autumnal delights bring, and let them inspire your own seasonal feasts. Here’s to a flavorful fall filled with the essence of Greece!
Explore the mountainous paradise of Kalavryta!
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Check here for even more Autumn destinations in Greece!
