The essential Greek pantry
A Greek kitchen runs on simple, honest ingredients, the kind that turn everyday cooking into something soulful and vibrant. These are the staples I always keep stocked at home, the same ones I grew up with in Athens and the ones I reach for every single day when I’m in the U.S.
You’ll find the complete list of my essential Greek pantry items below, organized to help you build your own kitchen with ease.
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Extra virgin olive oil sits at the top of my list. It’s the backbone of Greek cooking, and I stick with Cretan olive oil whenever I can find it. The same goes for olives, I love the wrinkled, briny black ones from Crete that taste like sunshine and sea air.
Bring these staples to life in Greek Lemon Potatoes, Gigantes Plaki, or Greek Horiatiki Salad.
Tomatoes are another non-negotiable. In Greece, we enjoy them year-round, but summer tomatoes are pure bliss. When winter hits, I lean on sweet, deep-red Campari tomatoes and good-quality canned varieties like San Marzano D.O.P.
I always keep cheeses like feta, graviera, and halloumi in the fridge. Feta, especially, is a daily presence, it shows up on the side of almost everything.
These shine in Fried Cheese Saganaki, Feta Grilled Cheese Sandwich, or a comforting Pastitsio Pasta Bake.
My pantry is never without pasta (including fat macaroni for a traditional pastitsio), orzo, or a mix of fresh and dried herbs like basil, thyme, mint, oregano, parsley, dill, and sage. Mountain (sage) tea — faskomilo is a classic I still make today.
Lemons are essential. Lemon juice and zest brighten roasted vegetables, grilled fish, potatoes, marinades, and dressings like ladolemono. It’s the flavor that makes Greek food taste unmistakably Greek.
I always have phyllo pastry in the freezer. With herbs, feta, spices, and greens, you can build a savory pie in no time.
And Cretan rusks (paximadia)? They’re magic. Top them with tomatoes, feta, and olive oil for the simplest snack, crumble them into salads, or soften slightly with water and oil for a perfect Cretan-style Dakos.
Make something delicious like Spanakopita, Pistachio Baklava, or a rustic Cheese Pie Tiropita.
I cook almost everything with good sea salt and freshly ground pepper, plus spices like cinnamon (ground and sticks), nutmeg, cumin, and whole cloves. Seasoning blends like za’atar, lemon pepper, and Herbs de Provence also make frequent appearances.
Capers, wine vinegars, balsamic, thyme honey, and strained Greek yogurt round out my essentials. These ingredients bring brightness, richness, and balance — exactly what Greek cooking is about.
Try Melomakarona Cookies, a Yogurt Cake, or a bowl of Greek Yogurt with Honey & Walnuts.
Everything below is a clear, organized list of the Greek staples I rely on. Stock your pantry with even a handful of these, and you’ll always be ready to cook something delicious.
My Go-To Greek Pantry Picks
Use this guide to build your own Mediterranean pantry, discover new essentials, and shop the products I personally love.
Oils & Vinegars
Greek cuisine starts here — bright acidity, rich oils, and clean flavors that bring everything to life.
- Extra virgin olive oil — cold-pressed, golden, fruity. A must for everything from salads to roasting.
- Red & white wine vinegar — sharp, balanced acidity for dressings and marinades.
- Balsamic vinegar — velvety and sweet for glazes and salads.
- Apple cider vinegar — clean, light, perfect for simple dressings.
- White and red wine — just a splash lifts sauces, stews, and braises.
Shop Oils & Vinegars
- EVOO I love → Mythology Greek Olive Oil From Kolymvari Chania Crete
- Greek red wine vinegar → Liokareas Premium Red Wine Vinegar
- Greek balsamic → Neolea Dark Balsamic Vinegar
Salts & Spices
The quiet power players behind Greek flavor.
- Fine sea salt & flaky sea salt
- Whole black peppercorns
- Oregano (wild Greek oregano if possible)
- Thyme, rosemary, bay leaves
- Cinnamon sticks (for tomato sauces and braises)
- Whole & ground cloves
- Cumin and coriander
- Nutmeg & allspice (whole and ground)
- Paprika (sweet or smoked)
- Chili flakes for heat
Shop Spices & Seasonings
- Greek sea salt →Kalas Classic Greek Iodized Sea Salt
- Wild oregano → Mt. Taygetos Wild Oregano in Bunches
Fresh & Dried Herbs
Bright, aromatic, and deeply Mediterranean.
- Parsley, dill, mint, basil
- Sage, rosemary, thyme — perfect for roasts
- Fresh cilantro for a modern Mediterranean twist
Grains, Pulses & Legumes
Foundational staples for Greek home cooking.
- Rice — short-grain for an aromatic pilafi, long-grain for dolmades
- Bulgur wheat — essential for tabbouleh salad
- Orzo (kritharaki) — for youvetsi kotopoulo and manestra
- Pasta: spaghetti, thick no. 6 pasta for pastitsio, short shapes like rigatoni & penne
- Lentils, chickpeas, beans, yellow split peas (for fava)
- Bread, pita bread, barley rusks
Shop Grains & Legumes
- Orzo (kritharaki) →Misko Orzo
- Yellow split peas (for fava) →Agrino Dry Yellow Fava Split Peas
Phyllo, Pastry & Flours
These staples make it easy to whip up pies, pastries, and everyday Greek bakes anytime.
- Thin phyllo sheets – for baklava, galaktoboureko, and delicate savory pies
- Thick/country-style phyllo – sturdy and rustic, perfect for spinach pies, cheese pies, and hearty fillings
- Puff pastry – ideal for quick savory turnovers and sweet pastries
- Courou (kourou) pastry – traditional Greek pie dough with a rich, tender crumb
- All-purpose flour – essential for everyday cooking and baking
- Bread flour – for homemade loaves, flatbreads, and doughs
- Self-rising flour – for fast cakes, fritters, and quick breads
- Pizza flour – for crisp-bottomed flatbreads and Greek-style oven pies
Shop Phyllo, Pastry & Flours
- Thin phyllo sheets →The Fillo Factory, Organic Fillo Dough
- Thick/country phyllo → The Fillo Factory Country Style Fillo Dough
- Puff pastry → Dufour Pastry Kitchen, All Butter Puff Pastry
- Courou pastry → 365 By Whole Foods Market, Frozen Pie Dough
Cheeses & Dairy
Creamy, salty, tangy — the soul of Greek comfort food.
- Feta — sheep’s milk, always in brine
- Kasseri — perfect for saganaki and appetizers
- Kefalotyri — firm, salty, superb for frying
- Graviera — nutty and smooth, similar to Gruyere
- Mizithra & anthotyro — fresh, mild white cheeses
- Greek yogurt — thick, rich, full-fat
Vegetables, Fruits, Greens & Aromatics
Seasonal produce and everyday essentials.
- Tomatoes (fresh in summer, canned all year)
- Romaine lettuce, cabbage
- Onions & garlic
- Olives (Kalamata, green, black)
- Potatoes
- Peppers — roasted, pickled, fresh
- Zucchini, eggplant, pumpkin
- Spinach & wild greens (horta)
- Lemons & oranges
- Seasonal fruits — grapes, melon, watermelon, peaches, apples
Shop Pantry Vegetables
- Canned tomatoes → La Fede San Marzano Canned Whole Peeled Tomatoes Dop
- Kalamata olives → ILIADA Kalamata Pitted Olives
- Roasted red peppers → Hellenic Farms Greek Red Roasted Peppers
Seafood & Proteins
Fresh, simple proteins that make up classic Greek dishes.
- Whole fish or fillets— branzino, sea bass (lavraki), cod, dusky grouper (rofos)
- Small fish — anchovies (gavros), sardines (fresh or marinated)
- Shrimp & shellfish
- Octopus & calamari
- Chicken, pork, lamb, beef
- Eggs — for pies, fritters, and sauces
Condiments, Nuts & Sweets
A mix of sweet, savory, and always Mediterranean.
- Greek honey — thyme or pine
- Tahini & sesame seeds
- Nuts — walnuts, almonds, pistachios
- Capers & pickled vegetables
- Olives (again — because you can never have too many)
Shop Greek Condiments & Sweets
- Thyme honey → Attiki Pure Greek Honey with Wild Flora and Thyme
- Tahini → Soom Foods Organic Tahini
- Capers → Mina Capers Non Pareil
Drinks & Spirits
For sipping, cooking, or serving with meze.
- White wine, red wine & retsina
- Ouzo — aromatic, anise-flavored
- Tsipouro / Tsikoudia / Raki — distilled, warm, bold
- Beer — crisp lagers & pilsners
- Coffee — Greek coffee, Nescafé for frappe, espresso for freddo cappuccino
Shop Greek Drinks & Coffee Essentials
- Greek coffee → Loumidis Papagalos Traditional Coffee
- Briki (Greek coffee pot) → Cuisinox Stainless Steel Briki
- Frappe mixer → Maestri House Rechargeable Milk Frother
- Espresso pods for freddo →Nespresso Capsules Original Line
Download the Free 7-Day Greek & Mediterranean Meal Plan
Plan a whole week of fresh, simple Greek & Mediterranean meals. Includes daily menus, tips, and easy links to my recipes.
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