Fouskakia are traditional Greek donuts or loukoumades that are prepared on the islands of Skopelos and Alonnisos, in the northwest Aegean Sea. The name of this specialty derives from the Greek word foúska, meaning a bubble, referring to the typically small spherical shape of the fluffy fried pieces of dough which resemble bubbles. These donuts are typically made with a simple batter of flour, water, and yeast, and once deep-fried in oil, they’re usually eaten while still warm. Fouskakia are usually enjoyed drizzled with honey on top and sprinkled with cinnamon or nuts, although they can also be accompanied by scoops of ice cream on the side.
This internationally known, decadent, and sugar-packed dessert is usually made with a mixture of flour, sugar, yeast, and salt, which is deep-fried and then bathed in syrup or honey. The origin of lokma fritters is ancient but often debated. It is presumed that they first appeared in Greece or Turkey, though some suggest Arabic origin. The dish is considered to be one of the oldest recorded desserts in Greek history. It is said that the pastries were even given to winning Olympians as a treat and were called honey tokens. Loukoumades, or loukmades in Cyprus, can be found throughout the streets of Greece, in shops selling nothing else but this caloric dessert. Alternatively, loukoumades can be topped with Greek cheese, chocolate, sesame seeds, or walnuts. In Turkey, lokma fritters are best enjoyed while still warm. They are drizzled with honey or syrup and can occasionally be sprinkled with either ground cinnamon, walnuts, or pistachios. The name probably stems from from Arabic luqma, meaning bite or mouthful, and it is said that lokmas were first prepared in Turkey by the sultans' cooks in palaces of the Ottoman Empire, though the oldest documentation of a similar dish was even found in the tomb of Ramses IV. In some Middle Eastern and Levant countries, this dessert is known as luqaimat or luqmat al-qadi, which roughly translates as judge's mouthful. The deep-fried balls are usually covered with date syrup, honey, or flavored syrups, while some prefer them sprinkled with various seeds. They are also often flavored with saffron or cardamom. The dessert is traditionally made in the month of Ramadan, and consumed after iftar, or breaking the fast. The dish is also found in some African countries, where it appears under various names.
This delicious Greek dessert consists of thin pastry sheets that are rolled, deep-fried, and doused or drizzled with a thick, honey-based syrup. These pastries can be wrapped into various shapes and are often sprinkled with nuts and dusted with cinnamon. Especially popular on the island of Peloponnese, they are a Greek classic that is usually prepared on special occasions.
Pitarakia is a specialty of Milos island, consisting of small half-moon-shaped pastries filled with cheese. The pastry dough is typically made with flour, olive oil, onions, herbs, salt, and lukewarm water, while the filling may be as simple as crumbled local cheese (such as feta or manoura) mixed with freshly ground pepper. Other variations of the cheese filling include a mixture of local mizithra cheese, eggs, spearmint, and salt, or a combination of finely chopped red onions with dry Melian cheese. There’s also a sweet version of the pastry which uses a filling of mizithra cheese, sugar, eggs, and cinnamon. Pitarakia pastries are typically fried in hot oil until nicely colored and crispy, and they’re best enjoyed warm as a meze dish or a snack.
Akoumia is a traditional sweet specialty, a unique type of donut that is prepared on the island of Symi. What makes this dish stand out from other versions of Greek donuts is the addition of boiled rice and ouzo to the dough. It is typically made with a combination of flour, boiled rice, yeast, ouzo, and oil (often corn oil). The deep-fried pieces of dough are usually enjoyed while still warm, with cinnamon sugar or honey on top. On Symi Island, people prepare this deep-fried dessert for special occasions such as engagements, weddings, christenings, birthdays, and name days. Akoumia donuts are also an inevitable part of the island’s New Year’s tradition, which involves placing a coin in one of the donuts, and the person who gets the one with the coin inside is believed to be blessed with a year of luck.
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot,
nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable.
For the “Top 5 Greek Fried Dough Foods” list until June 15, 2026, 824 ratings were recorded, of which 453 were recognized by the system as legitimate.
TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods,
instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.
