In season: Apple Crisp with Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Many traditional Greek sweets, especially during periods of fasting, such as Lent, call for olive oil instead of butter. An apple crisp isn’t exactly traditional Greek food. I’ve “hellenized” a classic American dessert by adding two distinct greek flavors, that of olive oil and the scented geranium, arbaroriza in Greek, which Greek cooks often use […]
Easy Mussels Cooked in Greek Saffron-Pepper-Tomato Sauce
Mussels are a classic Greek meze, super easy to cook, and a very popular seafood component of the Mediterranean diet. Did you know that mussels have been farmed in Greece since ancient times? There are a few varieties of Greek mussels, mostly cultivated off the coasts of Northern Greece, and typically a little slimmer and […]
Cauliflower Steaks With Crispy Capers and Spicy Tahini Sauce
Cauliflower is one of my absolute favourite vegetables, but Greek recipes for this often misunderstood food tend toward the boiled, lemon-olive oil approach. Roasting it brings out so much incredible flavour. Dressing it up with tahini and capers, as this recipe does, catapults cauliflower from banality into stardom!
Char-Broiled Broccoli With Avocado-Tahini Sauce
Greeks traditionally use tahini during periods of fasting as a replacement for olive oil and as a great source of calcium. Combining it with avocado in a creamy sauce is new Greek recipe, culled from tradition, of curse, but with a modern twist.
Piperonata
I tried out this recipe for the first time at a friend’s house many years ago. She had served it as part of a Lenten table. It’s not a traditional fasting dish, but it certainly fits the bill. It’s delicious over great bread and can easily be dressed up with a sprinkling of crumbled feta.
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 is […]
Taramosalata – Fish Roe Spread
Taramosalata is the whipped dip with a base of fish roe (tarama) and either potatoes, bread, or a combination of either and nuts. On Ikaria, there is no one specific recipe; most people make the classic stale-bread-tarama version. My husband makes a mean taramosalata, which is exceedingly creamy thanks to the unabashed use of olive […]
Template for a Classic Greek Bean Soup
Fasolada, the classic Greek bean soup, comes in many regional variations. In Western Crete, for example, a few strips of orange zest are sometimes added to the soup as it simmers. In the north of Greece, where the palate is spicier, fasolada is often seasoned with boukovo (hot pepper flakes), or a couple of hot […]
Button Mushrooms in Red Wine with a Touch of Cayenne
Mushrooms are always an elegant addition to the table, no matter the occasion. This makes a great side dish to festive and everyday main courses. You could even serve them over Greek fava, for something extra special.
Taramosalata, Greek Fish Roe Dip
Taramosalata, one of the classic Greek dips, is made with fish roe, typically either from cod or carp, and a base of either potatoes, bread, almonds or walnuts, or a combination of them in varying quantities. It is extraordinarily nutritious. To find some of the Greek products you’ll need to make this, visit my online […]
Honey-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Chestnut Skordalia
Chestnut skordalia is a traditiona recipe from Arcadia in the Peloponnese. The honey-roasted Brussel sprouts go beautifully with the underlying sweetness in the skordalia. This is a great dish for the Fall. 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 […]
Baked Seafood Orzo with Kalamata Olives
Orzo is one of the most popular Greek pasta shapes. In Greek, it’s called kritharaki. 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.