Category: Meze / Starters

Ouzo Saffron Rice Pilaf with Peas, Pistachios and Almonds

My favorite rice is, of course, Greek! It’s more flavorful than other rices from around the world because it grows near the river deltas in N. Greece, seasoned by the salty spray of the sea nearby. We cook rice for dinner in Greece, as a main course, not only as a side dish. This recipe […]

Artichoke Gratin from Tinos

In the mineral-rich soils of the Komis Plain, in the prefecture of Exomvourgo, on the eastern side of Tinos, the island’s tiny, firm, complex-flavored artichoke flourishes. Local authorities organize a local artichoke festival every year. Artisans make pickled or olive oil-preserved artichokes, and taverna cooks created a kind of flan with the artichoke and bread, […]

Kale with Greek Olive Oil, Oranges and Garlic, Mani Style

My local farmer's market in Athens just started carrying kale and I couldn't think of a better way to cook it than this, inspired by a very traditional greens recipe from the Mani, where spinach and other sweet greens are cooked with garlic, oranges and olive oil. To find some of the artisanal Greek products […]

Jewelled Quinoa with Chick Peas, Orange, Greek Raisins & Olive Oil

I fell in love with jewelled rice, a Persian classic, since first tasting it many years ago. I have adapted it here so that quinoa is the starch. You can find Greek olive oil and other carefully curated Greek artisan products at my online food store, here.

Greek Tea-Smoked Giant Bean Salad with Charred Vegetables

This is what happens when my restaurant self rears its head in my home kitchen! A seemingly simple giant bean salad with a great twist: home-smoked over Greek sage and Greek mountain tea. To purchase the teas, giant beans, olive oil and more, To find some of the artisinal Greek products you’ll need to make […]

Greek-Style Ouzo-Greek-Balsamic-Mustard Glazed Chicken Wings

You can use this glaze for ribs and roasted whole chicken or Cornish game hens, too. To find some of the artisinal Greek products you’ll need to make this, visit my online shop here, where you’ll discover a host of lovingly curated Greek ingredients.

Ikaria Fettucine al Greco with Greek Yogurt and Herbs

What do Ikaria and Fettucine Alfredo have in common? Well, nothing really, except that this version of a creamy fettucine dish is a lot like the classic Alfredo, without the eggs, butter or heavy cream. It’s a dish I learned to make from my friend Eleni Karimanli on Ikaria.

Potato Skins Stuffed with Charred Broccoli, Feta, and Greek Yogurt

Tater skins stuffed with charred broccoli, Greek yogurt, a bit of lovely Greek mustard, feta and sautéed onions and garlic…how can you go wrong! Drink a glass of white wine from Monemvassia in the Peloponnese with this. To find some of the Greek specialties called for in this recipe, visit my online shop!

Greek Island Mushroom Patties with Cumin & Greek Cheese

On Ikaria, traditional cooks knew instinctively what science is proving now: that mushrooms are as nutritious as red meat and a lot better for us and the planet. On the island, as throughout the Aegean, recipes for mushrooms abound and there are dozens of wild varieties. This particular dish, seductively seasoned with cumin, comes from […]

Broccoli Stalk Slaw

One of the best winter salads in Greece is a kind of slaw, called Politiki Salata, made with cabbage, carrots, and dill. I re-invent it a bit here, using broccoli stems, too, as a way to use up something that we typically discard but that is both delicious and nutritious. To find some of the […]