Beef

While beef is consumed sparingly in the Mediterranean diet, traditional beef dishes are incredibly flavorful.  Ground beef is used in the traditional pastichio, which is spiced beef with layers of pasta and a creamy bechamel sauce, Mousaka where it's featured with zucchini and eggplant and of course Greek meatballs (keftedes) and bifteki. Beef short ribs and chuck roasts are braised to make the flavorful beef stew, Stifado and braised Youvetsi with Manestra.