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 […]
Eggs Baked in Spicy Tomato Sauce

This recipe makes a great brunch or light dinner dish. There are several traditional Greek recipes for baked eggs, coddled in cooked greens, yogurt, or, like this, in tomato sauce. They are all delicious. To find some of the artisinal Greek products you’ll need to make this, visit my online shop here, where you’ll discover […]
Greek Shrimp Diavolakia with Tarama and Hot Pepper Flakes

This pungent Greek variation of the classic shrimp diavolo calls for a touch of tarama (fish roe), which adds depth and sea flavor. It is great with rice, pasta, or over bruschetta. 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 […]
Tortellini, Mushrooms and Bacon in Light Yogurt Cream Sauce

There’s a lot of talk these days about reducing the consumption of meat and, indeed, rethinking it as a garnish. That’s exactly what I did in what would otherwise have been an uber-rich tortellini and cream dish. Greek yogurt helps lighten the burden, too, so to speak, without sacrificing any flavor. To find some of […]
Ikaria Cabbage Pomegranate Superfood Slaw

Cabbage is an important part of the longevity diet on Ikaria and one of the healthiest foods you can eat, rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory qualities. Ikarians cook it, of course, in several traditional ways, from braised to rolled in dolmades, but they also use cabbage as the winter salad staple, often tossed with dill […]
Vegetarian Grec-Mex Chili with Homemade Pita Chips

This recipe is inspired by a great chile recipe my friend Martha Rose Shulman published in her column “Recipes for Health” in the New York Times. I’ve tweaked it to marry Greek ingredients such as great olive oil, Greek oregano and feta cheese to the chile. It’s perfect cold-weather food, especially for a hearty weekend […]
Ikaria Longevity Lentil Soup with Sage and Chile Peppers

As unexpected (and seemingly Southwestern American) as the use of sage and chile peppers might be in this Ikarian soup, cooks from a generation or two ago on the island used both to flavor lentils. “We put chile peppers in bean soups in general, because black pepper was too expensive,” my neighbor Titika taught me. […]
Spanakopita Mac ‘n’ Cheese with Olive Oil Bechamel

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