Greeks frequently use dried herbs, which are more flavorful than dried herbs found in American supermarkets. You can find Greek dried herbs at gourmet stores or through the Internet. Meats Lamb, chicken and pork are common in Greece. Beef is less common, but you can substitute ground beef for ground lamb in Greek recipes if necessary. Pastry You can make filo pastry at home, but it's a laborious process and most Greeks buy it readymade.
Supermarkets sell packages of frozen filo.
It dries out quickly, so when working with filo pastry, keep it covered with a damp cloth and have all your ingredients ready to go. Produce Freshness is most important. Greek cooks use a lot of artichokes, eggplant and spinach. Green beans are often slow-cooked with tomatoes, and potatoes are roasted with lemon and olive oil. Greek cooks can pick fresh grapevine leaves, but most Americans must buy theirs in jars at a gourmet store.