Recipes related to holidays and special occasions
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.
Everyone loves baklava but it’s not something a lot of people may want to attempt at home for fear of working with phyllo. In this version, the nut filling is the same, there’s no syrup, and the puff pastry roll up is very easy. I’ve take a few liberties by adding chocolate and heat!
Drunken chestnuts have long been a specialty around Christmas time in Italy, mainly Tuscany. In Greece, blessed with thousands of chestnut trees, this dessert is definitely borrowed. Instead of red wine, I use raki or ouzo. The anise flavor of the beverage pairs beautifully with the chestnuts’ earthy sweetness.
Duck, papia in Greek, is a special treat usually reserved for holidays or hunters. This simple Xinomavro Duck recipe marries one of the world’s richest meats with a tannic Greek red wine, Xinomavro, typically from Naoussa and other areas in Northern Greece. The wine is a beautiful counterbalance to the richness of the duck. I’d […]
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 […]
Unless you really aren’t a mushroom fan (and I don’t know too many such folks), grilled mushrooms are a classic, easy recipe fit for the holidays and every day. The tang of garlic, Greek olive oil and oregano make these grilled mushrooms even better. You can serve them right out of the oven, or at […]
Lemony pork stewed with collards (lahanides in Greek) is probably the most popular winter recipe on Ikaria, a Sunday and holiday treat that calls for strong wine and company. There are at least three versions of this dish. The first is with fresh pork, preferably bone-in (for more flavor). But the more traditional versions, if […]
Most people think of quince paste as a Spanish specialty, but in Greece quince in all its manifestation is very popular, especially when in season in the winter. This dish is as simple and elegant a meze or starter as you can get. To find some of the artisinal Greek products you’ll need to make […]
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 […]
Nothing imparts Greek summer more than the smokey aroma of eggplants and fish on the grill. This wonderful dish is a contemporary classic in Greek cuisine. 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.