Melomakarona – Olive Oil – Walnut – Honey Cookies
Olive oil, honey and nuts make these classic melomakarona Greek Christmas cookies one of the healthiest sweets you can enjoy. You can find great Greek honey and olive oil on my online store here.
Chicken Soup with Trahana
Chicken soup, Greek penicillin (!), is one of the most delicious winter dishes. Most people know it in its restaurant interpretation, as chicken soup avgolemono, with rice and the classic egg-lemon liaison. This old recipe, from northern Greece, calls for trahana, a delicious, sour grain product that is one of the oldest agricultural products in […]
Grilled Mushrooms with Oregano and Garlic
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 […]
Lamb-and-Vegetable Souvlaki
Makes 4 servings For the Marinade: 2 tablespoons coarse salt Freshly ground black pepper to taste 2 tablespoons Greek dried oregano 2 tablespoons minced garlic ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/3 cup fresh strained lemon juice 2 1/2 pounds boneless lamb leg or shoulder, cut into 1 ½- inch cubes (There should be about 16 […]
Ikaria Longevity Tea!
People from Ikaria, famed for their longevity, drink herbal infusions, one secret thought to help promote a long, healthy life.
Melitinia, Sweet Cheese Tartlets from Santorini
Sweet cheese-filled pastries abound all over the Greek islands and are mainly Easter specialties. Melitinia hail from Santorini and from Tinos.
Getting Ready for Greek Easter: Kokkoretsi
Greeks have been doing nose-to-tail cooking long before it became fashionable. Kokkoretsi, a spit-roasted sauasage made with organ meats, is one delicious Greek Easter example.
Penne with Pine Nuts, Spinach, Anchovies & Raisins
The combination of sweet and salty or sweet and sour is a common one throughout the Mediterranean. Greeks love the marriage of honey, vinegar and herbs, for example. Elsewhere, anchovies, pine nuts and raisins are a beloved sweet-sour trio. This is my quick and easy adaptation on a Sicilian classic.
Mediterranean Diet Greek Style: A Northern Greek Spinach-Potato Stew
Bonamatsi This dish is the whole Mediterranean in a pot. It’s a classic village dish, homey and healthy. In the original version there is typically no nutmeg and no lemon garnish, but both add depth and balance to the final dish. It is a traditional dish from Halkidiki in Northern Greece. It’s perfect for meatless […]
Lazy Pie / Tembelopita Zagoriou
“Lazy” Pie from Zagori The notion of a savory pie isn’t limited to the Greek pies that call for phyllo pastry. Indeed, there is a whole range of savory pies that are based on a batter. They typically contain cheese. Some also call for zucchini or onions and herbs. Some call for cornmeal instead of […]
Love, Greek Style
On a recent jaunt through the Athens airport, I heard the best sales pitch ever between an English-speaking male tourist and a stout, blond saleswoman at the Hellenic Gourmet Shop (which btw has some of the best Greek gourmet products in town). While examining a jar of walnuts afloat in thick Greek honey, the saleswoman […]
Cretan Bean Soup with Orange Zest / Haniotiki Fasolada
There is nothing quite as comforting as Greek fasolada, one of the best-known, if humble, recipes that comes in many regional variations. To find the authentic Greek olive oil that gives this dish its velvety, sating texture, go to my online store here.