Kalliopi's KitchenYIAYIA'S GREEK FOOD RECIPES

Fruits

Lemon

Λεμόνι · Lemoni

Fresh lemons, the primary souring agent in Greek cooking

Lemon is Greek cooking's default acid in a way that crowds out most other options: where a French or Italian dish might reach for wine vinegar, a Greek recipe reaches for lemon juice almost without exception, in dressings, marinades, sauces and the finishing squeeze over grilled meat and fish alike.

Its most technical role is inside avgolemono, the egg and lemon liaison used to thicken soups and sauces without flour or cream. The acid in the lemon juice is part of what helps stabilise the beaten egg as it is tempered with hot liquid, alongside the crucial step of taking the pot fully off the heat first, and lemon's brightness is what keeps the finished dish from tasting merely eggy.

Lemon and oregano together, whisked into olive oil, is the base marinade behind most Greek grilled meat, from souvlaki to whole roast chicken, and the combination is common enough that it functions almost as a house dressing across the entire savoury repertoire.

Photo: Lemon.jpg by André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5.

Recipes with lemon

120 recipes on the site using it.

Charred pork souvlaki skewers on a wooden board with lemon wedges and oregano Greek Main CoursesGreek Pork Souvlaki Σουβλάκι · 32m · serves 4 A bowl of pale golden avgolemono soup with shredded chicken, rice and a lemon wedge Greek SoupsGreek Avgolemono Soup Κοτόσουπα αυγολέμονο · 1h 30m · serves 6 Diamond-cut baklava pieces glossy with honey syrup, studded with walnuts and a clove Greek DessertsGreek Baklava Μπακλαβάς · 1h 45m · serves 24 Greek Dips and SaucesMelitzanosalata Μελιτζανοσαλάτα · 45m · serves 6 Greek Side DishesGreek Lemon Potatoes Πατάτες λεμονάτες · 1h 35m · serves 6 A plate of dark boiled greens dressed with olive oil and lemon wedges Greek Side DishesHorta Χόρτα βραστά · 35m · serves 4 A bowl of golden loukoumades glossy with honey, dusted with cinnamon and chopped walnuts Greek DessertsLoukoumades Λουκουμάδες · 45m · serves 6 A square of galaktoboureko showing thick yellow custard between crisp golden phyllo Greek DessertsGalaktoboureko Γαλακτομπούρεκο · 1h 30m · serves 12 Thin strips of crisped pork gyros piled in a warm pita with tomato, onion and tzatziki Greek Main CoursesGreek Pork Gyros Γύρος · 2h · serves 6 A plate of golden brown Greek meatballs with lemon wedges and fresh mint Greek Meze and AppetisersGreek Keftedes Κεφτέδες · 45m · serves 6 A slice of golden fried Greek cheese in a small pan with a lemon wedge Greek Meze and AppetisersGreek Saganaki Σαγανάκι · 15m · serves 4 A bowl of smooth yellow split pea puree topped with raw red onion, capers and olive oil Greek Dips and SaucesSantorini Fava Φάβα Σαντορίνης · 1h · serves 6 Slow-cooked Greek lamb kleftiko falling off the bone with potatoes and lemon Greek Main CoursesGreek Kleftiko Κλέφτικο · 4h 25m · serves 6 Charred grilled octopus tentacles dressed with olive oil, vinegar and oregano Greek Meze and AppetisersGreek Grilled Octopus Χταπόδι στα κάρβουνα · 1h 30m · serves 4 Squares of bougatsa custard pastry dusted with icing sugar and cinnamon Greek Breakfast RecipesBougatsa Μπουγάτσα · 1h 10m · serves 8 Golden grilled halloumi slices with lemon wedges and dried mint Greek Meze and AppetisersGrilled Halloumi Χαλλούμι · 11m · serves 4 Rolled stuffed vine leaves arranged in a dish with lemon wedges and olive oil Greek Meze and AppetisersDolmades Ντολμάδες · 1h 50m · serves 8 Golden Greek courgette fritters piled on a plate with tzatziki and lemon Greek Meze and AppetisersKolokithokeftedes Κολοκυθοκεφτέδες · 55m · serves 6 Crisp Rhodian chickpea fritters piled on paper with lemon wedges Greek Meze and AppetisersPitaroudia Πιταρούδια · 45m · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesHirino me Selino Χοιρινό με σέλινο · 2h 5m · serves 6 Cypriot koupepia stuffed vine leaves arranged on a plate with lemon Greek Main CoursesKoupepia Κουπέπια · 1h 50m · serves 6 Grilled Cypriot sheftalia sausages wrapped in caul fat with charred edges Greek Main CoursesSheftalia Σεφταλιά · 45m · serves 6 Greek Side DishesLouvi Λούβι · 55m · serves 4 Cubes of Cyprus delight loukoumia dusted in icing sugar on a plate Greek DessertsLoukoumia Λουκούμια · 1h 30m · serves 30 Greek DrinksBrandy Sour Μπράντι Σάουρ · 5m · serves 1 A bowl of pale homemade taramosalata drizzled with olive oil Greek Meze and AppetisersTaramosalata Ταραμοσαλάτα · 15m · serves 8 A pot of Greek spanakorizo spinach and rice, deep green and glossy Greek Main CoursesSpanakorizo Σπανακόρυζο · 45m · serves 4 A pot of Greek prasorizo leek and rice, pale and glossy with olive oil Greek Main CoursesPrasorizo Πρασόρυζο · 50m · serves 4 Fried Greek salt cod fillets served with a bowl of garlic potato skordalia Greek Main CoursesBakaliaros Skordalia Μπακαλιάρος σκορδαλιά · 50m · serves 4 Charred Greek paidakia lamb chops on a grill with lemon and oregano Greek Main CoursesPaidakia Παϊδάκια · 25m · serves 4 A tray of Greek lemon chicken and potatoes roasted golden Greek Main CoursesKotopoulo Lemonato Κοτόπουλο λεμονάτο · 1h 35m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesKontosouvli Κοντοσούβλι · 3h 30m · serves 6 A bowl of Greek magiritsa Easter soup with fresh dill Greek SoupsMagiritsa Μαγειρίτσα · 2h 30m · serves 8 Greek Main CoursesRevithada Ρεβιθάδα · 8h 15m · serves 6 A slice of Greek karydopita walnut syrup cake on a plate Greek DessertsKarydopita Καρυδόπιτα · 1h 5m · serves 12 A plate of golden fried Greek revithokeftedes chickpea fritters Greek Meze and AppetisersRevithokeftedes Ρεβιθοκεφτέδες · 45m · serves 6 Cut bars of Greek pasteli sesame honey candy on a wooden board Greek DessertsPasteli Παστέλι · 25m · serves 16 Greek Main CoursesGamopilafo Γαμοπίλαφο · 2h 20m · serves 8 Cretan antikristo lamb propped facing an open fire on skewers Greek Main CoursesAntikristo Αντικριστό · 4h 30m · serves 8 Corfu bourdeto fish stew in a bright red paprika sauce Greek Main CoursesBourdeto Μπουρδέτο · 55m · serves 4 Greek Side DishesTsigareli Τσιγαρέλι · 30m · serves 4 Thessaloniki trigona Panoramatos custard-filled pastry triangles Greek DessertsTrigona Panoramatos Τρίγωνα Πανοράματος · 1h 20m · serves 10 A bowl of Greek giouvarlakia meatball soup in avgolemono sauce Greek SoupsGiouvarlakia Γιουβαρλάκια · 1h 15m · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesMarouli Dolmades Ντολμάδες με μαρούλι · 1h 25m · serves 6 Greek SaladsPolitiki Salata Πολίτικη σαλάτα · 20m · serves 6 Greek SaladsLachanosalata Λαχανοσαλάτα · 15m · serves 6 Greek Side DishesKolokithakia Tiganita Κολοκυθάκια τηγανητά · 35m · serves 4 Greek DessertsKatimeria Kalymnou Κατιμέρια Καλύμνου · 1h 15m · serves 8 Golden fried Greek aubergine slices with tzatziki Greek Side DishesMelitzanes Tiganites Μελιτζάνες τηγανητές · 45m · serves 4 Grilled Greek sardines dressed in ladolemono olive oil and lemon Greek Main CoursesSardeles Ladolemono Σαρδέλες λαδολέμονο · 25m · serves 4 Golden Greek fried baby squid rings with lemon Greek Meze and AppetisersKalamarakia Tiganita Καλαμαράκια τηγανητά · 30m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesPsari Plaki Ψάρι πλακί · 1h 15m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesArni Fricassee Αρνί φρικασέ · 2h · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesArni me Anginares Αρνί με αγκινάρες · 2h 10m · serves 6 A bowl of Greek kotosoupa avgolemono chicken and rice soup Greek SoupsKotosoupa Avgolemono Κοτόσουπα αυγολέμονο · 1h 50m · serves 6 Greek Side DishesPatates Riganates Πατάτες ριγανάτες · 1h · serves 4 A sliced Greek yiaourtopita yogurt cake dusted with icing sugar Greek DessertsYiaourtopita Γιαουρτόπιτα · 1h · serves 10 Grilled yogurt-marinated chicken souvlaki skewers with charred edges Greek Main CoursesSouvlaki Kotopoulo me Giaourti Σουβλάκι κοτόπουλο με γιαούρτι · 37m · serves 4 A bowl of Greek marouli salata shredded romaine lettuce salad Greek SaladsMarouli Salata Μαρουλοσαλάτα · 15m · serves 4 Greek SaladsKolokithosalata Κολοκυθοσαλάτα · 15m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesAnginares a la Polita Αγκινάρες αλά πολίτα · 1h 20m · serves 4 A small jug of Greek ladolemono olive oil and lemon sauce Greek Dips and SaucesLadolemono Λαδολέμονο · 5m · serves 6 Greek SoupsPsarosoupa Ψαρόσουπα · 1h 10m · serves 6 Greek SoupsKakavia Κακαβιά · 1h 10m · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesFournaristo Kalymnou Φουρνιστό Καλύμνου · 3h · serves 8 Corfu bianco, a pale white fish stew with potato and garlic Greek Main CoursesBianco Corfu Μπιάνκο · 55m · serves 4 A slice of Greek milopita apple phyllo pie showing layered crisp pastry Greek DessertsMilopita Μηλόπιτα · 1h 20m · serves 10 Greek Main CoursesMelitzanes Souvlaki Σουβλάκι μελιτζάνας · 37m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesRevithopita Sifnou Ρεβιθόπιτα Σίφνου · 1h 20m · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesLamb Souvla Σούβλα αρνί · 4h 30m · serves 10 Greek Main CoursesArnaki Lemonato Αρνάκι λεμονάτο · 3h 40m · serves 6 A plate of golden Greek marides tiganites fried whitebait with lemon Greek Meze and AppetisersMarides Tiganites Μαρίδες τηγανητές · 23m · serves 4 Golden fried Greek barbouni red mullet with lemon Greek Main CoursesBarbouni Tiganito Μπαρμπούνι τηγανητό · 25m · serves 4 Greek Dips and SaucesSaltsa Avgolemono Σάλτσα αυγολέμονο · 15m · serves 6 A bowl of Cretan elies tsakistes cracked green olives with garlic and coriander Greek Dips and SaucesElies Tsakistes Kritis Ελιές τσακιστές Κρήτης · 30m · serves 10 A bowl of Greek kritharosalata orzo pasta salad with tomato, feta and olives Greek SaladsKritharosalata Κριθαρόσαλατα · 32m · serves 6 Macedonian giaprakia stuffed cabbage rolls with avgolemono sauce Greek Main CoursesGiaprakia Thessalonikis Γιαπράκια Θεσσαλονίκης · 2h · serves 6 Greek Meze and AppetisersSaganaki Metsovone Σαγανάκι μετσοβόνε · 18m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesApaki Kritis Απάκι Κρήτης · 40m · serves 8 Greek Meze and AppetisersSfela Saganaki Σαγανάκι σφέλα · 18m · serves 4 A whole roasted Greek galopoula turkey stuffed with chestnut rice filling Greek Main CoursesGalopoula Gemisti me Kastana Γαλοπούλα γεμιστή με κάστανα · 5h · serves 12 Greek DessertsKumquat Spoon Sweet Γλυκό κουμκουάτ · 1h 30m · serves 12 Greek SoupsRevithosoupa Ρεβιθόσουπα · 1h 45m · serves 6 Fried Greek galeos dogfish with skordalia garlic potato dip Greek Main CoursesGaleos Skordalia Γαλέος σκορδαλιά · 40m · serves 4 Greek kokoretsi lamb offal wrapped and grilled on a spit Greek Main CoursesKokoretsi Κοκορέτσι · 3h 30m · serves 8 A tray of Greek halvas simigdalenios semolina halva with cinnamon and walnuts Greek DessertsHalvas Simigdalenios Χαλβάς σιμιγδαλένιος · 40m · serves 10 Greek DessertsKarydaki Glyko Καρυδάκι γλυκό · 3h · serves 16 A slice of Greek ravani semolina syrup cake dusted with coconut Greek DessertsRavani Ραβανί · 1h 5m · serves 12 Greek kolokithoanthoi gemisti stuffed courgette flowers Greek Meze and AppetisersKolokithoanthoi Gemisti Κολοκυθοανθοί γεμιστοί · 1h 10m · serves 6 Greek SoupsSoupa Selino Avgolemono Σούπα σέλινο αυγολέμονο · 1h 55m · serves 6 Greek piperies tiganites fried green peppers with lemon Greek Side DishesPiperies Tiganites Πιπεριές τηγανητές · 22m · serves 4 A pot of Greek anginares me araka artichokes with peas and dill Greek Side DishesAnginares me Araka Αγκινάρες με αρακά · 1h · serves 4 A glass of Greek limonada fresh lemonade with ice and mint Greek DrinksLimonada Λεμονάδα · 15m · serves 4 A bowl of Greek revithosalata chickpea salad with red onion and parsley Greek SaladsRevithosalata Ρεβιθοσαλάτα · 1h · serves 6 A bowl of Greek soupa kritharaki orzo soup Greek SoupsSoupa Kritharaki Σούπα κριθαράκι · 40m · serves 4 A bowl of Greek red lentil soup with cumin and a drizzle of olive oil Greek SoupsFakes Kokkines Soupa Σούπα φακές κόκκινες · 40m · serves 4 Greek Meze and AppetisersSaganaki me Batzo Σαγανάκι με μπάτζο · 18m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesExohiko Εξοχικό · 1h 40m · serves 4 A jar of Greek kydoni glyko quince spoon sweet, deep amber red Greek DessertsKydoni Glyko Κυδώνι γλυκό · 2h 10m · serves 16 A jar of Greek vissino glyko sour cherry spoon sweet Greek DessertsVissino Glyko Βύσσινο γλυκό · 1h 45m · serves 16 A bowl of Greek angourodomata cucumber and tomato salad Greek SaladsAngourodomata Αγγουροντομάτα · 10m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesGopes Tiganites Γόπες τηγανητές · 30m · serves 4 A roasted whole leg of Greek katsikaki goat with lemon and herbs Greek Main CoursesKatsikaki Lemonato Κατσικάκι λεμονάτο · 3h 40m · serves 6 A bowl of smoky Greek melitzanosalata dip with charred aubergine skin nearby Greek Dips and SaucesMelitzanosalata Kapnisti Μελιτζανοσαλάτα καπνιστή · 45m · serves 6 Greek Meze and AppetisersKolokithoanthoi Tiganismena Κολοκυθοανθοί τηγανισμένοι · 25m · serves 4 A jar of Greek nerantzi glyko candied bitter orange peel Greek DessertsNerantzi Glyko Νεραντζάκι γλυκό · 2h 30m · serves 16 Greek DessertsTriantafyllo Glyko Τριαντάφυλλο γλυκό · 1h 20m · serves 16 A jar of Greek melitzanaki glyko candied baby aubergine spoon sweet Greek DessertsMelitzanaki Glyko Μελιτζανάκι γλυκό · 2h 15m · serves 16 Greek Main CoursesKolokasi me Kotopoulo Κολοκάσι με κοτόπουλο · 1h 30m · serves 4 A bowl of Greek patsas tripe soup Greek SoupsPatsas Πατσάς · 4h 40m · serves 6 Greek DessertsPastelli Παστέλι · 25m · serves 12 Greek SoupsLouvana Λουβάνα · 1h 10m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesBourani me Kotopoulo Μπουράνι με κοτόπουλο · 1h 15m · serves 4 Greek DessertsVerikoko Glyko Βερίκοκο γλυκό · 1h 15m · serves 16 A tray of Greek kataifi shredded pastry and walnut rolls in syrup Greek DessertsKataifi Κανταΐφι · 1h 15m · serves 12 A dish of Greek ekmek kataifi with custard and whipped cream Greek DessertsEkmek Kataifi Έκμεκ κανταΐφι · 1h 15m · serves 10 Greek Meze and AppetisersGavros Tiganitos Γαύρος τηγανιτός · 30m · serves 4 A whole baked Greek tsipoura sea bream with lemon and herbs Greek Main CoursesTsipoura Psiti Τσιπούρα ψητή · 40m · serves 2 Greek Main CoursesXifias Souvlaki Ξιφίας σουβλάκι · 40m · serves 4 Greek Side DishesKolokithokorfades Κολοκυθοκορφάδες · 35m · serves 4

More fruits

OrangeFigPomegranate