Dear Traveller and food enthusiast,
Hello, and thank you for visiting our blog post "What to Eat in Corfu"! Below you will find some local cuisine foods - dishes we believe a traveller must taste when in Corfu!
We kept the list as short as possible to help you make a confident and easy decision about what to eat at a local taverna.
"Food, in the end, in our own tradition, is something holy. It's not about nutrients and calories. It's about sharing. It's about honesty. It's about identity."
- Louise Fresco
(Dutch scientist and writer known for her work on globally sustainable food production.)
Corfiot cuisine has been shaped by various cultures and civilizations throughout its history. Italian (Venetian), Greek, French, Russian, and British cuisine influences the island's culinary traditions. These diverse culinary traditions have all played a role in shaping the island's unique cuisine.
Local and Greek creative cuisine chef Aristotelis Megoulas, creator of the Pomo d’ Oro restaurant, in one of his interviews, describes the cuisine of Corfu as “the epitome of poor Mediterranean cuisine based on seasonality and the intelligence of the people who are expected to manage the available raw materials.”and we couldn't agree more with him!
Below are some of Corfiot cuisine's signature dishes- flavours that we, as locals, believe a traveller should taste.
If you have limited time in Corfu and can only try two signature dishes of the local cuisine, we highly recommend 'Sofrito' and 'Pastitsada' if you are a fan of veal. If you prefer fish, then 'Fish Bianco' and 'Bourdeto' are must-try dishes from the local seafood dish selection! And for those with a sweet tooth, don't forget to grab a Sikomaida (fig pie) and a couple of Kumquat delicacies!"
Find below the local dishes list and navigate fast and easy to your favourite dish:
Pastitsada (Veal, beef, chicken or rooster meat)
Sofrito (Veal or beef meat)
Noumboulo foumicado (cold cut - pork)
Salado (cold cut - pork + beef)
--------------------------------------------
Sweet Tooths' Section
Kumquat & Bergamot spoon sweets, marmalade or deserts
Bourdeto
Fish cooked in spicy wine sauce. Traditionally, it is spicy hot sauce. Some locals prefer to add tomato to the sauce, while others do not. In both cases, the dish has a red coloured sauce because of the ground paprika spice. (My grandmother used to cook potatoes with the red scorpionfish in the sauce).
Fish Bianco
Fish & potatoes cooked in white wine sauce, with loads of garlic, black pepper and a drizzle of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Savouro
Fried fish preserved and marinated in red or white wine vinegar with various Mediterranean herbs, garlic and sometimes raisins.
Pastitsada
Beef or Veal meat cooked in spicy red wine and tomato sauce. This dish is served with bucatini-style pasta. Boukatini looks a lot like traditional spaghetti. However, it's more round, and a hole through the middle gives each noodle a hollow centre. Traditionally, this dish used to be cooked with a rooster. Sometimes it is also served in modern times with fried potatoes.
What makes Pastisada stand out from other stew recipes that contain tomato sauce is the spice mixed called in the local dialect "Spetseriko". "Spetseriko" is a mixture of various spices. Each family - home has a slightly different analogy of the spice mixture. My grandma used to mix cinnamon, sweet red pepper, allspice, nutmeg, clove, black pepper, red hot pepper, cumin and salt. She also used to add one bay leaf per four portions.
You can find the "Spetseriko for Pastitsada" spice mix recipe here!
Sofrito
Beef or Veal meat thinly sliced, cooked in white wine & vinegar sauce with plenty of garlic, fresh parsley and black pepper. Served with rice or potato puree and sometimes with french fries.
Pork "Dolce garbo"
Slow-cooked pork in white wine sauce with onions and spices, such as cinnamon, clove, black pepper and fresh rosemary! Served with polenta, pasta or rice.
Neratzosalata
Spicy orange salad (ideally, if you are lucky, you will find it an add-on to a green leafy salad).
🍃Vegan-friendly, unless paired with an animal protein source such as cheese or cold cuts
Bakaliaros Skordalia
Battered-fried salted Cod fish served with garlic-infused potato puree. My family always pairs this dish with a warm salad of wild-boiled greens!
Tsigareli
Wild greens cooked with spicy red hot paprika and tomato paste (rare to find at a restaurant).
🍃Vegan-friendly if the dish does not contain an animal protein as an add-on (salted cod fish is the most common add-on source of protein).
Noumboulo Fumikado
Smoked Cold cut made of pork tenderloin, cured with salt and spices and marinated in wine. You can enjoy it thinly sliced on fresh bread or as a perfect complement to leafy green salads or a cheese platter.
Salado
"Salado" is the traditional Corfiot smoked air-dried salami, made from pork and beef, flavored with whole black peppercorns and garlic, and smoked using locally grown herbs. It's the perfect addition to a cheese platter and pairs wonderfully with grape spirits (such as tsipouro or ouzo), beers, red wines, or mature white wines.
"Sweet Tooths' Section."
Tzaletia
Tzaletia are the Corfiot cuisine pancakes! They take their name from the Italian word 'Giallo,' which translates to yellow. The pancakes are made with cornmeal flour, giving them a yellowish color. They also contain orange juice, orange zest, and black raisins. They are served drizzled with cinnamon, honey, or sugar.
They are great for breakfast, as an afternoon treat and as a dessert if you had a light meal! This local delicacy is 🍃vegan-friendly if it contains margarine instead of butter!
For me, Tzaletia is one of the most characteristic delicacies of the local 'Cucina Povera' – the humble but tasty, traditional kitchen!
Sikomaida
Sikomaida is a delightful combination of minced sun-dried figs with hints of black pepper, anise, and grape must. It pairs perfectly with a cheese platter or can be enjoyed alongside cognac or Metaxa. My grandmother used to cover "Sikomaida" with sundried bay leaves and add ouzo to the fig and must mixture.
This local delicacy is 🍃vegan-friendly!
Kumquat & Bergamot spoon sweets, marmalade or deserts infused with their citrus aromas and flavours!
Spoon sweets are made by boiling fruits and preserving them in thick sugar syrup.
The name 'spoon sweets' refers to the fact that the fruit or nut concoction is so sugary that it can only be eaten one spoonful at a time, often as an afternoon treat, tempered by a dollop of yoghurt. Spoon sweets would typically be served with a Greek coffee and a glass of water.
The spoon sweets, marmalades - jams and glace fruits are 🍃vegan-friendly!
"Mondoles"
Caramelized almonds.
🍃Vegan-friendly treat!
"Mandolato"
Soft nougat is traditionally prepared with a light meringue base enriched with honey, sugar, and almonds. Nowadays, you can find creatively modern and tasteful versions of Mandolato. Chocolate, hazelnut, kumquat, and strawberry flavours are some of the creative additions to the traditional recipe!
Before leaving you we would like to share the following clarification regarding the local cuisine signature dishes - recipes!
Chef Aristotelis Megoulas points out in an interview that " when we talk about classic Corfiot dishes like Burdeto, Pastitsado (or Pastitada), Sofrito, and Bianco, it's a misconception to call them merely recipes. In reality, they are cooking techniques developed based on the ingredients available in each region and during different times of the year. 'People used these techniques with whatever protein was available, whether it was plant-based or animal-based,'. For example, the famous Pastitsada has been historically prepared with various protein resources, including rooster, beef, lamb, and mutton, or even with octopus in fishing villages, and sometimes simply with olives."
As locals, we have compiled a list of the most characteristic foods you should try while on vacation in Corfu but if you need more inspiration please keep exploring our posts.
(If you plan to spend more than a day or two in Corfu, we strongly recommend taking some time and reading our posts on "What to eat when in Greece generally" and "What to drink when in Corfu, Greece". We also believe that you will find extra inspiration and helpful tips to experience real Corfu in our blog post "Discover the Signature Products of Corfu!". )
💡 Insider tip:
Locals, especially those in the villages, still grow potatoes, legumes and vegetables. Some local tavernas and restaurants serve homegrown potatoes and vegetables like peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, and zucchini. Kind reminder: Regarding food, it's important to prioritize freshness, locality, and seasonality. Καλή σας όρεξη!!! Kali sas orexi!!!
In Greek, "Kali sas orexi" is a way of saying "Enjoy your meal," which literally translates to "Have a good appetite" or "Bon appetit" !
Yours Sincerely,
Katerina
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