Category: Lent / Fasting

Artichokes Braised a la Polita with Shrimp & Greek Saffron

One of the great classics of Greek urban cuisine, artichokes a la polita, or “of Contantinople,” braised with carrots, potatoes and, here, shrimp.

Beet Napoleon with Taramosalata

I love beets and I love them even more when paired with something tangy like taramosalata. Did you know that tarama,the fish roe used to make this filling dip, is one of the most nutritionally dense foods in Greek cuisine? To find some of the artisinal Greek products you’ll need to make this, visit my […]

Broccoli Shrimp Bisque with Greek Olive Oil

A great soup for lunch, brunch, or dinner! It’s easy, elegant and nutritious. 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.

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 […]

Greek Rice Pilaf with Leeks and Saffron

Leek rice is one of the great vegetable rice main courses in the Greek kitchen. It’s also a wonderful bed or accompaniment for protein, such as grilled salmon or Greek branzino, grilled chicken, and more. You can skip the cheese and make this a totally vegan and/or Lenten dish. To find some of the artisinal […]

Tahini-Chocolate Mousse

  Tahini (sesame paste) replaces milk and butter in many Greek Lenten desserts, both traditional and contemporary. It goes particularly well with chocolate and with honey. Enjoy it with a sip of Greek herbal tea, too! For a lovingly curated array of Greek ingredients to pair with this recipe, check out my online store here.

Cranberry Bean Stew with Cumin, Grape Molasses, and Whole Onions

This dish, called handres stifado, is from the island of Lefkada. Stifado refers to specific stews in Greece, which are studded with sweet, small whole caramelized onions—stifado onions. For a lovingly curated array of Greek ingredients to pair with this recipe, check out my online store here.

Tagliatelles with Shaved Greek Botargo

Botargo, or avgotaraho, has been a luxurious local food since at least the Byzantine era. Most Greek avgotaraho comes from the marshlands on the western coast of mainland Greece. This pasta dish is exquisite and very simple to prepare.

Classic Skordalia Recipe

Classic Skordalia from my forthcoming book: Ikaria, Lessons in Food, Life & Longevity from the Island Where People Forget to Die (Rodale, Oct. 2014)