Hoirino Me Mapa – Pork and Cabbage Stew

Pork and Cabbage Ste

  Throughout the Peloponnese, cabbage is referred to colloquially as mapa–mop! This local recipe is made with very few ingredients, but the flavors are complex and absolutely delicious.

Sautéed Spinach with Orange and Garlic

Sautéed Spinach

  In the Mani, the southern part of the Peloponnese and one of the agriculturally poorest parts of the country, little else besides citrus and olive trees flourish. I sampled this humble dish in the home of a local cook many years ago and have made it countless times over the years. Oranges and olive […]

Mosaiko Dessert (No-Bake Chocolate & Biscuit Cake)

Mosaiko Dessert

  Mosaico is one of the favorite desserts of childhood, a refrigerator cake filled with biscuits and chocolate that brings back many sweet memories. This version, the creation of my friend and colleague, Carolina Doriti, is perfect for the kid in all of us!

Bohemian Pastitsio

  When a home cook like me works side by side with the chefs de cuisine at various Greek restaurants, all sorts of ideas germinate. Pastitsio, the classic baked pasta and meat dish, gets a breath of fresh air in this fun and easy recipe. I took the basic components of a classic pastitsio and […]

Cod Croquettes

Cod Croquettes

  Salt cod, or bakaliaros pastos, is sometimes referred to as the fish of the mountains. Cod is not native to the Mediterranean, but to the North Sea and Atlantic. Itinerant merchants would travel inland to sell preserved (salted or air-dried) cod and the tradition of cooking it has remained constant to this day. It […]

Beet Salad

Beet Salad

  Beet salad, patzarosalata in Greek, is an all-time favorite. Earthy beets pair beautifully with garlic and the acidity of good vinegar. You’ll find this salad on tables everywhere, the perfect match to fish recipes like fried cod croquettes and retsina.

Shrimp with Retsina, Lemon, Pepper, and Coriander

  Greece in the summer is about being outside, under a hot sun, near the water, sea salt spraying on the breeze and seafood sizzling nearby. The quaff of choice is often either a chilled glass of retsina or a glass of milky-white ouzo on ice, the perfect foil to smoky seafood, especially when marinated […]

Walnut Skordalia (Garlic Dip)

Walnut Skordalia

  This hearty, earthy skordalia, made dark with the addition of walnuts and red wine vinegar, is especially pungent. It is delicious with boiled or roasted beets.

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