Greek Recipes

Greek and Cypriot recipes

What Did the Ancient Greeks Eat

Question: What Did the Ancient Greeks Eat? Answer:The foods of ancient Greece were similar to foods we eat today, but did not include many that have become important parts of modern Greek cooking. For example, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and bananas didn’t arrive in Greece until after the discovery of the Americas in the 15th century, because […]

Aphrodisiacs in Ancient Greece

There were many foods and beverages consumed in ancient Greece that we might not be anxious to try today, like cheese and garlic added to wine, but no more unusual than at least one of the foods that were considered to be aphrodisiacs. When we think of bulbs, the first thing that comes to mind […]

Vanilla – Vanilia

Greek name and pronunciation: vanilia, βανίλια, pronounced vah-NEEL-yah At the market: Vanilla extract is usually sold as a liquid derived from soaking vanilla beans in alcohol. In Greece, and in specialty stores and large markets, vanilla is sold as an alcohol-free powder in airtight vials. Vanilla beans (pods) are sometimes available. Physical characteristics: Vanilla seed […]

Zivania the AuthenticCypriot Spirit

Its Cypriot story Zivania is a traditional alcoholic beverage, which has been produced for centuries in Cyprus by distillation, and has played an important role in the everyday life of Cypriots. Zivania is a strong drink, high in alcoholic content which according to tradition (also adopted by the 1998 Regulations for the Control of zivania) […]

Byzantine Cuisine

Byzantine Cuisine – Some Words Byzantine Cuisine – Encyclopedia Byzantine Cuisine – Cereals Byzantine Cuisine – Wild greens and vegetables Byzantine Dinner – Byzantine Dinner Byzantine Cuisine – Diverse tastes Byzantine Recipes Meat Vegetable Deserts Fish Beverages

Retsina – Greek Wines of the Gods

Some people say that Retsina, the resinated wine produced in Greece since ancient times, is an acquired taste. I’ll agree – I acquired it immediately. Not everyone agrees – the Epicurious Dictionary describes the flavor as “sappy and turpentinelike”. But cooking expert Sheila Lukinsbreaks ranks and calls it the “quintessential Mediterranean wine”, applauding it as an accompaniment […]

The Meze (Appetizers & Starters)

 More than appetizers (orektika in Greek), although the dishes are often the same, the meze is an accompaniment to beverages – usually alcoholic – and mezethes (plural) are often combined to make an entire meal. Each meze is served on a small plate (more than one plate for a large group), and the choice of […]

Favorite Greek Finger Foods

Greeks love to sit around a table of small plates of delicious food, sharing the food and good company. Here are some favorite dishes that require no utensils. Just grab and enjoy! Listed in alphabetical order. 1. 3-Cheese Eggplant Appetizer Rolls – Bourekakia Melitzanas A mixture of three delicious cheeses marks the filling for thin […]