Vegetables

Onion

Κρεμμύδι · Kremmydi

Onions, a foundational vegetable across Greek cooking

Onion underpins a larger share of Greek savoury cooking than any single herb or spice, providing the base for nearly every braise, ladera dish and meat filling in the repertoire. Its role shifts dramatically depending on how it is used: finely chopped and slowly sweated as an aromatic base is standard practice, but Greek cooking also treats onion as a headline ingredient in its own right in a way many cuisines do not.

Stifado is the clearest example, a beef stew built around a large quantity of small whole or halved shallots or pearl onions rather than a token chopped onion softening in the background. The onions cook down over hours until sweet and soft, thickening the sauce as much as providing flavour, and a version made with too few onions barely counts as stifado at all.

Grated raw onion is the other technique worth knowing: it turns up in Cypriot sheftalia and koupepia fillings, releasing its juice directly into a meat mixture to keep it moist, in a way that finely diced onion, which stays drier and more textured, cannot replicate.

Photo: Mixed onions.jpg by Colin, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Recipes with onion

110 recipes on the site using it.

A tray of Greek moussaka with a browned bechamel top, one square lifted out Greek Main CoursesGreek Moussaka Μουσακάς · 1h 55m · serves 8 A Greek village salad with tomato wedges, cucumber, red onion and a whole slab of feta topped with oregano Greek SaladsGreek Salad Χωριάτικη σαλάτα · 12m · serves 4 A tray of spanakopita cut into squares showing green spinach filling under crisp golden phyllo Greek Breads and PiesGreek Spanakopita Σπανακόπιτα · 1h 30m · serves 8 Charred pork souvlaki skewers on a wooden board with lemon wedges and oregano Greek Main CoursesGreek Pork Souvlaki Σουβλάκι · 32m · serves 4 A slice of pastitsio showing distinct layers of pasta, meat sauce and golden bechamel Greek Main CoursesGreek Pastitsio Παστίτσιο · 1h 40m · serves 8 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 A dish of baked giant beans in a rich orange tomato sauce with parsley and olive oil Greek Main CoursesGigantes Plaki Γίγαντες πλακί · 2h 5m · serves 6 Greek Dips and SaucesMelitzanosalata Μελιτζανοσαλάτα · 45m · serves 6 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 tray of baked stuffed tomatoes and peppers with browned tops and potato wedges between them Greek Main CoursesGemista Γεμιστά · 2h 10m · 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 bowl of thick Greek white bean soup with carrot and celery, olive oil pooled on the surface Greek SoupsFasolada Φασολάδα · 1h 45m · serves 6 A tray of collapsed roasted Greek vegetables, browned at the edges and glossy with olive oil Greek Main CoursesBriam Μπριάμ · 2h · serves 6 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 Prawns baked in tomato sauce with melting feta and parsley in a small pan Greek Main CoursesGarides Saganaki Γαρίδες σαγανάκι · 37m · 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 A pot of Greek beef stifado with whole small onions in a dark cinnamon-spiced sauce Greek Main CoursesGreek Stifado Στιφάδο · 3h · serves 6 A bowl of thick Greek lentil soup with olive oil and a small jug of vinegar Greek SoupsFakes Φακές · 1h 7m · serves 6 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 Greek Main CoursesTavas Ταβάς · 2h 55m · serves 6 Golden fried Cypriot koupes bulgur shells on a plate with lemon Greek Meze and AppetisersKoupes Κούπες · 1h 40m · serves 8 A tray of Cypriot baked macaroni with a golden halloumi topping Greek Main CoursesMakaronia tou Fournou Μακαρόνια του φούρνου · 1h 35m · serves 8 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 A Greek bifteki patty cut open showing melted feta inside Greek Main CoursesBifteki Μπιφτέκι · 40m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesPastitsada Παστιτσάδα · 3h · serves 6 Greek giouvetsi baked beef and orzo in a clay dish Greek Main CoursesGiouvetsi Γιουβέτσι · 2h 55m · 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 plate of golden fried Greek revithokeftedes chickpea fritters Greek Meze and AppetisersRevithokeftedes Ρεβιθοκεφτέδες · 45m · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesGamopilafo Γαμοπίλαφο · 2h 20m · serves 8 Corfu bourdeto fish stew in a bright red paprika sauce Greek Main CoursesBourdeto Μπουρδέτο · 55m · serves 4 Thessaloniki giaourtlou kebab with tomato sauce and garlic yogurt Greek Main CoursesGiaourtlou Γιαουρτλού · 45m · serves 4 Greek hylopites egg pasta with chicken in tomato sauce Greek Main CoursesHylopites Χυλοπίτες · 2h · serves 6 A rustic loaf of Epirus batzina cornbread with greens Greek Breads and PiesBatzina Μπατζίνα · 55m · serves 8 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 A pot of Dodecanese sitaraki pasta in tomato sauce Greek Main CoursesSitaraki Σιταράκι · 35m · serves 4 A pot of Greek fasolakia lathera green beans in tomato sauce Greek Side DishesFasolakia Lathera Φασολάκια λαδερά · 1h · serves 4 Santorini ntomatokeftedes tomato fritters, golden and crisp Greek Meze and AppetisersNtomatokeftedes Santorinis Ντοματοκεφτέδες Σαντορίνης · 40m · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesHtapodi Krasato Χταπόδι κρασάτο · 1h 35m · serves 4 Greek Breads and PiesKalasouna Naxou Καλαθούνα Νάξου · 1h 15m · serves 6 Karpathos makarounes pasta with caramelised onion and cheese Greek Main CoursesMakarounes Karpathou Μακαρούνες Καρπάθου · 1h 30m · serves 6 Kefalonia kreatopita meat pie in golden phyllo, sliced Greek Breads and PiesKefalonitiki Kreatopita Κεφαλονίτικη κρεατόπιτα · 2h · serves 8 Greek Main CoursesPapoutsakia Παπουτσάκια · 1h 30m · serves 6 Greek melitzanes imam baked aubergine with onion and tomato Greek Main CoursesMelitzanes Imam Μελιτζάνες ιμάμ · 1h 20m · 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 A bowl of Greek marouli salata shredded romaine lettuce salad Greek SaladsMarouli Salata Μαρουλοσαλάτα · 15m · serves 4 A bowl of Greek patatosalata potato salad with red onion and herbs Greek SaladsPatatosalata Πατατοσαλάτα · 45m · serves 6 A bowl of Greek fasolia salata white bean salad with red onion and parsley Greek SaladsFasolia Salata Φασόλια σαλάτα · 1h 15m · serves 6 A pot of Greek bamies latheres okra in tomato sauce Greek Side DishesBamies Latheres Μπάμιες λαδερές · 1h · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesAnginares a la Polita Αγκινάρες αλά πολίτα · 1h 20m · serves 4 A pot of basic Greek tomato sauce, saltsa domatas Greek Dips and SaucesSaltsa Domatas Σάλτσα ντομάτας · 40m · serves 6 Greek SoupsPsarosoupa Ψαρόσουπα · 1h 10m · serves 6 Greek SoupsKakavia Κακαβιά · 1h 10m · serves 6 Pontic Greek manti dumplings served under garlic yogurt sauce Greek Main CoursesManti Pontika Μαντί ποντιακό · 1h 50m · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesBakaliaros me Prasa Μπακαλιάρος με πράσα · 1h 15m · serves 4 Vegan Greek melitzanes gemistes stuffed aubergine halves Greek Main CoursesMelitzanes Gemistes Μελιτζάνες γεμιστές · 1h 40m · serves 6 A pot of Greek arni kokkinisto lamb braised in red tomato sauce Greek Main CoursesArni Kokkinisto Αρνί κοκκινιστό · 2h 5m · serves 6 A slice of Greek kreatopita meat pie showing layered phyllo and filling Greek Breads and PiesKreatopita Κρεατόπιτα · 1h 50m · serves 8 A slice of Greek spanakotyropita spinach and cheese pie Greek Breads and PiesSpanakotyropita Σπανακοτυρόπιτα · 1h 25m · serves 8 A slice of Greek hortopita wild greens pie Greek Breads and PiesHortopita Χορτόπιτα · 1h 25m · serves 8 A pot of Greek melitzanes yahni aubergine and tomato stew Greek Main CoursesMelitzanes Yahni Μελιτζάνες γιαχνί · 1h 10m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesRevithopita Sifnou Ρεβιθόπιτα Σίφνου · 1h 20m · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesSoupies Krasates Σουπιές κρασάτες · 1h 25m · serves 4 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 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 Main CoursesKouneli Stifado Κουνέλι στιφάδο · 2h · serves 6 Greek SoupsRevithosoupa Ρεβιθόσουπα · 1h 45m · serves 6 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 A pot of Greek kolokithakia yiahni courgette in tomato sauce Greek Side DishesKolokithakia Yiahni Κολοκυθάκια γιαχνί · 45m · 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 bowl of Greek fakes salata lentil salad with red onion and parsley Greek SaladsFakes Salata Φακές σαλάτα · 45m · serves 6 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 Side DishesBulgur Pilafi Πιλάφι με πλιγούρι · 30m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesExohiko Εξοχικό · 1h 40m · serves 4 Greek Meze and AppetisersBourekakia me Kima Μπουρεκάκια με κιμά · 1h 20m · serves 8 Greek astakomakaronada lobster pasta in rich tomato sauce Greek Main CoursesAstakomakaronada Αστακομακαρονάδα · 1h 15m · serves 4 Aubergine-wrapped Greek dolmades in tomato sauce Greek Main CoursesMelitzanes Ntolmades Ντολμάδες με μελιτζάνα · 1h 30m · serves 6 Greek loukaniko sausage braised in red wine sauce Greek Main CoursesLoukaniko Krasato Λουκάνικο κρασάτο · 50m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesMoschari Kokkinisto Μοσχάρι κοκκινιστό · 2h 35m · serves 6 A dish of Greek kotopoulo giouvetsi chicken and orzo in tomato sauce Greek Main CoursesKotopoulo Giouvetsi Κοτόπουλο γιουβέτσι · 1h 20m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesKokoras Pastitsada Κόκορας παστιτσάδα · 3h · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesKolokasi me Kotopoulo Κολοκάσι με κοτόπουλο · 1h 30m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesPitaridia Kalymnou Πιταρίδια Καλύμνου · 1h 15m · serves 4 A bowl of Greek patsas tripe soup Greek SoupsPatsas Πατσάς · 4h 40m · serves 6 Greek SoupsLouvana Λουβάνα · 1h 10m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesArnisio Kapama Αρνίσιο καπαμά · 2h 25m · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesKeskek Κεσκέκ · 4h 30m · serves 8 Greek Main CoursesBourani me Kotopoulo Μπουράνι με κοτόπουλο · 1h 15m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesSpetzofai Σπετζοφάι · 50m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesBakaliaros Plaki Μπακαλιάρος πλακί · 1h 10m · serves 4 Greek SoupsMelitzanosoupa Μελιτζανόσουπα · 1h 5m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesXifias Souvlaki Ξιφίας σουβλάκι · 40m · serves 4 A dish of Greek kalamari gemisto stuffed squid in tomato sauce Greek Main CoursesKalamari Gemisto Καλαμάρι γεμιστό · 1h 20m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesHtapodi Makaronaki Χταπόδι μακαρονάκι · 1h 35m · serves 4