Greek Recipes

Greek and Cypriot recipes

Moussaka with Zucchini – Mousakas Kolokythakia

In Greek: μουσακάς κολοκυθάκια, say: moo-sah-KAS koh-loh-kee-THAK-yah Layers of zucchini, meat sauce, cheese, and a creamy béchamel create a fabulous oven-to-table casserole. Select mature zucchini or Italian squash (they look like large zucchini) for best results. Prep Time: 45 minutes Cook Time: 45 minutes Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes Ingredients: 5-6 pounds of mature zucchini, trimmed, cut in 1/2 inch slices […]

Custard-Filled Phyllo Rollups – Galaktoboureko Rolla

In Greek: γαλακτομπούρεκο ρολλά, pronounced gah-lahk-toh-BOO-reh-koh roh-LAH Galaktoboureko is a favorite dessert, and these individual servings are made with the same delicious custard filling rolled up into neat packets made with phyllo pastry sheets. Cook Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: For the syrup: 2 cups of sugar 2 cups of water 2 tablespoons of lemon juice 1-2 […]

Baked Stuffed Apples – Mila Psita sto Fourno

In Greek: μήλα ψητά στο φούρνο, pronounced MEE-lah psee-TAH stoh FOOR-no This is a favorite cold weather dessert, using red apples. Once the apple is cored, the walnut stuffing goes in. Cinnamon and cloves add traditional tastes. Cook Time: 45 minutes Total Time: 45 minutes Ingredients: 14 Gala or Braeburn apples 1/2 pound of coarsely chopped walnuts 4 tablespoons […]

Moustalevria: Grape Must Pudding

In Greek: μουσταλευριά, pronounced moo-stah-lev-ree-AH Grape must is the juice from pressed grapes before fermentation, and is often used as a sweetener in traditional bread recipes, as well as in the preparation of desserts and candy. This grape must pie is a favorite, especially popular at grape harvest season when the must is fresh. You […]

Greek Cheeses some words

According to Greek mythology, Aristaios, son of Apollo and Cyrene, was sent by the gods to give the gift of cheese-making to the Greeks. It was called a “gift of everlasting value,” and if the reputation of today’s variety of Greek cheeses is anything to go by, the value of that gift keeps increasing with […]

Myzithra – Greek Cheese

In her book “When Zeus Became a Man (with Cretan shepherds),” author Sabine Ivanovas describes myzithra as “the most sensuous cheese of the world.” When she visited cheesemaker Vassilikos in the village of Xeraxyla on Crete and asked for a sample of his just-made myzithra, she reported that it melts on the tongue and fills […]

Manouri – Greek Cheese

Manouri is a semi-soft fresh white cheese made from the drained whey from feta production (sheep or goat milk). It is similar to feta cheese but creamier and less salty or salt-free. It is made in Central and Western Macedonia and in Thessalia. Greek name and pronounciation: μανούρι, pronounced mah-NOOR-ree At the market: Manouri has […]

Anthotyro – Greek Cheese

Anthotyro is a white whey cheese, a variation of and similar to myzithra, made from sheep’s and goat’s milk. Greek name and pronounciation: ανθότυρο, pronounced ahn-THOH-tee-roh Alternate spelling: anthotiro At the market: Like myzithra, anthotyro comes in a soft, fresh version that has a light lemon flavor, and in dryer (aged) form (photo) which is semi-hard […]

Orange cream

This is a beautifully refreshing desert to make when oranges are in season. The custard-like orange cream (or ‘krema portokaliou’) is a particular favourite for grandmothers to make for their grandchildren, who call it ‘kremoula’. INGREDIENTS: 3 large oranges 1 tbsp corn flour 1 lemon – juice Grated rind of 2 oranges 3 heaped tbsps […]

Sesame-Seed Brittle – Pastelli – Peloponnesos

PASTELLI The Peloponnesos used to produce enough sesame to cover its needs for the production of one of its most famous local confections, pastelli. The sesame-seed brittle is a sweet whose roots clearly go back to the seed-and-honey and nut-and-honey desserts of the ancients. In these parts the confection is bound indelibly to one old local producer, Pastelli Lambo, who has a […]