Aegean Islands Recipes
Xerotigana literally means dry, as in crunchy and fried. This confection, essentially dough strips fried in olive or other oil and drizzled generously with honey and nuts, is one of the classic Christmas sweets on the island. My dad made mountains of them every Christmas in our New York home, perhaps waxing nostalgic if in […]
Here’s a spruced up version of Greek country dish–fava, or yellow split peas–served as a soup, with truffle oil and a bit of Greek cured pork. I like to serve this in the winter. Vegans and vegetarians: Skip the pork and make this dish your own!
I had been hearing about the use of corn kernels and cornmeal in the Ikarian diet ever since my aunt Mary, who passed away several years ago at the age of 97, mentioned the corn-stuffed cabbage leaves she remembered as a child. This soup is an old recipe and a perfect example of the kind […]
Ikarian cooking in the middle of the 20th century is what most of the island’s nonagenarians remember vividly. They were the stone-hard years of the Occupation, a time of great hunger all over Greece. This pie, really a kind of pancake, stands out to me because it’s cooked on a griddle, the better for using […]
Santorini tomato fritters are one of the best Greek summer meze recipes. they are made in many Aegean islands.
Did you know that marigold leaves are delicious? Try this easy summer potato salad seasoned with spicy fresh marigold leaves, chives, and parsley. 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.
A favorite summer phyllo pie from Ikaria that’s easy to make, nutritious, and delicious and a perfect example of one of the island’s most important “longevity secret” — simple, fresh food in season. To find some of the artisinal Greek products you’ll need to make this, visit my online shop here, where you’ll discover a […]
Tourlou is typically a mixed summer vegetable casserole found all over the Eastern Aegean. The word is Turkish (turlu) and means a hodgepodge. There are many similar casseroles around Greece that go by different names. What I like about this old Ikarian recipe is its utter simplicity. It also reminds me of a similar recipe […]
Skip the mayo and make a healthy Ikaria-style potato salad! 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.
A made-for-summer too-lazy-too-cook kind of spaghetti! For a lovingly curated array of Greek ingredients to pair with this recipe, check out my online store here.