Almonds or almond extract – whole or slivered, raw or toasted, almonds are frequently used. If you don‘t have almonds, get almond extract, a liquid made from almond oil used to give an almond flavour to food.
Bay leaf – bay leaf is the dried leaf of the laurel or bay tree. It is used fresh or dried, but mainly dried, to season food.
Currants – currants are similar to raisins –dried grapes- but with no seeds.
Dill – dill is one of the aromatic herb, both seeds and leaves are both used in cooking. Dill leaves can be found fresh or dried. It is used to flavor fish and meat, or in some dips and sauces, tzatziki, for instance.
Feta cheese – feta is the best known of all Greek cheeses. This salty, crumbly cheese is eaten plain, used in salads, and added to stews and soups. Made from goat or sheep milk.
Fillo – Fillo is the paper thin dough used in many Greek recipes. Fillo dough is available chilled or frozen at many supermarkets.
Grape leaves - the leaves of grapevine plants, usually found packed in cans or glass jars with brine. These leaves are used in many Greek recipes as wrappers for different kinds of fillings. Grape leaves are available at supermarkets and at specialty Greek delicatessens.
Greek olives – usually black, the olives are pickled in brine, their skin appears wrinkled and they are sharp-tasting.
Honey – honey is used in many popular Greek pastries and it is a popular sweetener in Greece.
Kasseri – semi-hard Greek cheese made of goat and ewe’s milk, used for grating and the table. A second option as grated cheese is the hard variety of mizithra.
Kefalotiri – the Greek cheese for pastries and desserts.
Lemons – lemon juice flavors everything, from soup to grilled seafood.
Lentils – these are the flat, edible seeds of the lentil plant and very popular for soups.
Mint – a refreshing aromatic herb often combined with yogurt and cucumber for sauces and salads.
Olive oil – Olive trees grow all over in Greece, and the oil that is pressed from these olives is some of the finest in the world. In Greece, olive oil is used for frying, dressing salads, flavoring foods, and for making pastry dough.
Oregano or marjoram - both are fragrant herbs of the mint family often used in Greek cooking.
Orzo – a type of pasta, small, it looks like an oversized grain of rice.
Pine kernels - The edible seed of certain pine trees. They have a very characteristic taste. Pine nuts can be expensive. If you don‘t find them, substitute with chopped almonds or walnuts.
Red-wine vinegar - vinegar made with red wine that is often used with oil for dressing salads
Spring onions – A type of green onion.