Winter Soufico – Ikarian Pumpkin Stew with Dried Chiles
This delicious Greek recipe for pumpkin comes from my native Ikaria and I can happily say that it’s one of the many longevity recipes that are plant-based and delicious and that people still cook today. This Greek pumpkin recipe is one of many Greek dishes in which vegetables make for a satisfying, craveable delicious meal. […]
Ikarian Greek Honey Dough Puffs – Loukoumades
Loukoumades are essentially Greek doughnuts, with or without a hole. On Ikaria, loukoumades are almost always drizzled with Ikarian pine honey, sprinkled with cinnamon and, of course, served warm. You can also serve them sprinkled with sesame seeds. The secret is not to let the yeasty batter sit too little or too long. The former […]
Ikaria Longevity Zucchini Patties, with Greek Oregano & Mint
In the summer gardens of Ikaria, the island of longevity, zucchini prevails! This local Ikaria recipe for zucchini fritters is one of the most popular Greek summer recipes on the island. Serve it with Greek yogurt or tzatziki, and sip a little Greek ouzo for pleasure, too!
Zucchini Stir-Fry with Teardrop Tomatoes, Greek Herbs & Greek Feta
Every Greek summer, in my Ikaria "longevity" garden, zucchini rules. I cook it up in lots of different Greek recipes all great examples of the healthy Greek diet. You can grill or stir-fry the zucchini and add a sprinkling of Greek feta and Greek herbs. Don’t forget to use extra virgin Greek olive oil in […]
Greek Salad of Green Beans and Tomatoes, with Fresh Corn-Feta Polenta
This Greek salad recipe is inspired by a classic Greek summer vegetable stew. On the Blue Zone Aegean island of Ikaria this vegetarian recipe is called mageirio. Elsewhere in Greece it is known as tourlou. I’ve taken the basic ingredients of green beans, tomatoes, onions, garlic and corn and transformed them into something lighter and […]
Mageirio – Ikarian Vegetable Stew
Mageirio, after the verb, to cook, “mageirevo,” is essentially an all-purpose summer stew, a kind of “throw-everything-in-one-pot,” dish that almost every home cook makes at least once a week, making use of everything that grows in her garden. This and the next recipe offer slight variations on the theme. If amaranth greens are unavailable, you […]
Ikarian Sfouggato – Aromatic Greens Cooked with Roe and Chile Pepper
From: Ikaria: Lessons on Food, Life, and Longevity from the Greek Island Where People Forget to Die. Sfouggato is the name given to various egg-based dishes throughout the Greek islands; some are essentially omelets, while others are more like croquettes. But among older Ikarians, sfouggato was a dish that called for quite a different egg […]
Soufico, One-pot Vegetable Stew
Makes 6 to 8 servings Soufico is one of the “national” dishes of Ikaria, an island (not a nation!), in the northeastern Aegean that also happens to be where my family roots are. It is one of many dishes throughout Greece and throughout the Mediterranean at large that call for the same medley of summer […]
Ikaria Summer Tomato Salad with Grilled Pita Strips
I first ran across this salad at a small taverna high up in the mountain village of Carres, in the area of Raches, Ikaria. Theodosis Politis and his son Nikos ran a taverna up there and this salad was one of their signature dishes. The grilled pita adds an irresistible smoky note to the succulent […]
Zucchini Sticks from Ikaria
These Ikaria-style zucchini sticks are whimsically called maridaki, the Greek word for smelts, because smelts, long and slim, are typically floured and fried just like these little sticks. They’re great. 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 […]
Linguine with Wilted Arugula, Anchovies and Chilli Peppers
We used to serve this simple pasta dish at a small restaurant called Villa Thanassi that we ran on Ikaria many years ago. 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.
Ikaria Fettucine al Greco with Greek Yogurt and Herbs
What do Ikaria and Fettucine Alfredo have in common? Well, nothing really, except that this version of a creamy fettucine dish is a lot like the classic Alfredo, without the eggs, butter or heavy cream. It’s a dish I learned to make from my friend Eleni Karimanli on Ikaria.