Tsimbites – Pinched Cheese Cakes
Tsimbites means pinched in Greek, as in the pinched pastry that decoratively cloaks these delicious sweet Greek cheesecakes from the Cycladic island of Tinos. They are one of the most unique Greek recipes in the Aegean islands.
An Athenian Sloppy Yianni
This recipe is inspired by the quasi-American culture that once predominated along the coastal towns of the Athenian Riviera, especially fun places like Glyfada, that had some of the best burger and meat joints in greater Athens. It’s my homage to that time, a clearly hybrid dish inspired by the classic Sloppy Joe, christened Yianni! […]
My Secret Classic Cinnamon Tomato Sauce
It’s been my experience that all cooks have their little secrets, ingredients they embrace often to add that something special (and unidentifiable) to a dish. A few of those little secrets come into play in this classic Greek tomato sauce, seasoned with the trio of cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. It’s wonderful with pasta and it […]
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 […]
Braised Chickpeas with Spicy, Aromatic Pork Shanks
This dish definitely elevates the whole concept of pork and beans! In Greece, hearty stews that combined meat and vegetables or beans, were a way to stretch a meal, providing a little animal protein to every member of the family, for example, while filling bellies on more economical raw ingredients such as chickpeas, an ancient […]
Buckwheat Pilaf with Pomegranate and Spices
Buckwheat, called fagopyro in Greek, is an ancient grain and one of the healthiest things you can eat. The colors in this easy pilaf make it perfect for a festive table. 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 […]
Baklava Oatmeal
Baklava, the classic, cinnamon-flavored phyllo dessert filled with nuts and drenched in honey syrup is the inspiration for the topping on this easy oatmeal Greek breakfast recipe. To find the Greek olive oil and honey called for in this recipe as well as other carefully curated Greek ingredients, visit my online store here.
Mastiha Spiced Hot Chocolate
Mastiha, Greece’s most seductive spice, is pounded and used to flavor classic hot chocolate. I mix in a little Greek honey and cinnamon, too.
Ikaria-Style Chicken Braised in Wine: Stifado
The door to my kitchen on Ikaria opens up onto our little stone terrace and a few years ago Vassili planted an herb bed in a dirt patch he left unpaved right in the middle, under a trellis of grapes and between a few very old almond trees. We’ve planted rosemary, sage, mints, lavender, oregano, […]
Honeyed Dough Strips: Xerotigana aka Diples
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 […]
5 Reasons to Bake with Olive Oil: Greek Christmas Cookies, Melomakarona
5 REASONS TO BAKE WITH OLIVE OIL 1) Olive oil actually helps make cake batters smooth because it acts as an emulsifier. 2) Its antioxidant qualities work to preserve cakes and cookies, giving them a longer shelf life. 3) Confections made with olive oil actually require less overall fat, about 25 percent less, than those […]
Fresh Pumpkin Pie – Glykia Kolokythopita
Enjoy this traditional Greek fresh pumpkin phyllo pie. It’s a much healthier alternative to the canned pumpkin pies that most Americans are familiar with.