Planning a Greek feast or simply seeking some exciting flavours to kickstart your dinner party? Look no further than our collection of much-loved Greek appetizers, or mezedes as they're called in Greece. These bite-sized dishes, rich in flavor, often become the stars of the show, leaving guests craving for more. With a diverse selection of creamy dips, such as tzatziki and taramosalata, phyllo-wrapped goodies, saganaki, and various feta cheese delights, your only struggle will be saving enough room for the main course!

The home chef in you will love tzatziki, a creamy yogurt dip that's surprisingly simple to make. A few essential ingredients, fresh pita wedges or a platter of crudités, a drizzle of olive oil - and you're set with an appetizer within minutes!

Spanakopita, a classic Greek appetizer, is another guest favorite. Whether you fold, roll, or layer it, this feta-filled cheesy phyllo pastry with a dash of earthy greens will have your guests begging for the recipe.

If you're looking for something distinctive, then you should try cheese saganaki. This Greek staple, favored by many, includes fried halloumi cheese with spiced honey, lemon yogurt, brandy-doused nectarines, and fresh tomatoes, a delightful invention by Houston-based chef Christian Hernandez.

A Mediterranean commonality, stuffed grape leaves, transcend regional lines and take various forms in Lebanese and Greek cuisine alike. Akin to dolmades in Greece or warak enab in Lebanon, these dolmas are stuffed with a savory lamb, herb, and rice mix that simply melts in the mouth.

For lovers of herbs, try out the green jam balls, bursting with flavors of steamed basil, mint, and cilantro, preserved lemon and currants. Infusing this mix in olive oil with cubed feta gives it a nice, brininess.

Making use of jarred roasted red peppers and feta cheese, a simple yet tantalizing dip known as tirokafteri steals the show. This savory, smoky accompaniment can be prepared in mere five minutes!

With a lemon water bath followed by stovetop browning, then a quick round of roasting until crispy, and finally cooked with garlic, crushed red pepper, and dry white wine, these baby artichokes or aginares in Greece will leave you wanting more. To top it off, they're generously sprinkled with fresh parsley and mint, a pinch of sea salt, and a drizzle of olive oil.

A soulful start to any meal is a bowl of silky avgolemono soup, a Greek classic. Made with lemon juice, egg yolks, hearty chunks of shredded chicken, and rice, this soup is a joy in any season.

When planning something for the crowd, you can never go wrong with a classic Greek salad to tickle all taste buds.

Tirokroketes, the sweet-savory cheese balls, and the mushroom-filled phyllo triangles, make for the perfect starters or desserts, thanks to their double-coated crunch.

In the Greek meze dips pantheon, the creamy, briny taramosalata dip made with jarred tarama (carp roe) holds a special place, rivalling the likes of hummus, melitzanosalata, and skordalia.

Sometimes simplicity yields the most delicious results. This applies to souvlaki, which translates to "small skewer" in Greek. Serve it with pita bread and veggies for a full meal or just tzatziki for a delightful appetizer.

In Greek, saganaki means "little frying pan," which is often used to sauté shrimp with tomatoes, olives, and feta cheese. Served directly from the skillet with bread, this dish is worth trying.

Inspired by a turnover recipe from the Marianthi tavern in the Greek Monemvasía village, chef Jacques Pépin has created a flaky crust using olive oil.

Dill, parsley, and mint infused zucchini fritters with a zing of feta and a chilled yogurt-cucumber sauce for dipping is another appetizing idea.

Chef Michael Psilakis's innovative take on halloumi saganaki involves a substitution with manouri cheese, a fresh, milky white cheese resultant from the whey drained off during feta production, and caramelized plums.

Finally, Paula Wolfert's award-winning mussels, steamed with butter, cinnamon, and white wine with a seasoned chile-tomato broth swirled with feta cheese, can be a delightful closer to your gourmet selection of appetizers.