With the exception of Throubes (an olive from the island of Thassos that’s picked when fully mature), olives straight off the tree are hard and bitter. Curing is what removes the bitterness. Once cured, olives can be stored with flavorings (lemon, oregano, garlic, and others), but the first step is the curing. Ancient Greeks cured olives by […]

Greek secrets When making soups and sauces that call for sprigs of herbs (i.e., rosemary, thyme), dried herbs (i.e., oregano, crushed bay leaves), or whole spices (i.e., peppercorns, allspice berries), make a bouquet garni. Wrap the herbs and/or spices in a small square of cheesecloth or tulle, tie off the top, and add to the pot. […]

Bouquet Garni for Soups & Sauces There’s nothing quite as disconcerting as finding a whole allspice berry or piece of dried rosemary in a sauce or bowl of soup. A tip from Margarita Krasanaki. Cure Your Own Olives Greek olives are known the world over for their variety, flavors, and colors. Learn about the methods […]

INGREDIENTS: 500gr mushrooms 0.5lt water 2-3 tablespoons olive oil Salt and pepper METHOD: Wash the mushrooms, cut into cubes and put them into a saucepan with water to boil for 2′. Drain and discard water. Place into the saucepan the 0.5lt of water, the mushrooms, the olive oil, salt and the pepper and let it […]

INGREDIENTS: 4 portobello mushrooms 150gr gouda (grated) 2 slices bacon (cut in half) olive oil 100gr feta cheese 1 small tomato, cut in cubes salt, pepper, oregano METHOD: In a bowl, add the feta cheese and with a fork grate it. Add some salt, pepper, oregano and stir the mixture. Remove the stem from the […]

Ingredients:  ¼ lb penne pasta  1 eggplant, chopped 1 tsp salt, approximately  ¼ cup olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped  2 cloves garlic, crushed 2 cans crushed tomatoes, undrained 1/3 cup tomato paste  2 tsp vinegar  1 Tbs. granulated sugar  1 tsp. dried oregano  ¼ cup large pitted olives 7 oz. feta cheese, chopped 4 […]

 In Greece this Chicken (Kota) dish is made with cinnamon and cloves, in Cyprus this meat is braised with coriander and red wine. Ingredients:  1 Frying or roasting chicken (2.5 lbs. cut into serving pieces)  1 Lemon (juice only)  4 Tbs. Extra Virgin Olive Oil  1/2 cup Dry white wine (optional)  1 1/2 lb Peeled, […]

Notes: Psari a la Spetsiota (Fish done in the style of Spetses) A very tasty fish dish done in the style of Spetses, an island close to Athens Total Time:50 mins Prep Time:10 mins Cook Time:40 mins Ingredients: 2 lbs cod or 2 lbs halibut or 2 lbs red snapper fillets 1 small lemon, juice […]

Kasseri cheese is a medium texture, slightly tart, table cheese that is popular in Greek cuisine. Its color ranges from off white to slightly yellow, depending on how long it has been aged and the type of milk that is used. Kasseri is usually aged for at least four months, until it develops a hard consistency like Parmesan or Romano cheese. A […]

Touloumotyri is a goat cheese made throughout the Aegean. It is a moist cheese that takes its name from the goat hide (touloumi) in which it is ripened and stored. It is similar in texture to feta but sweeter because of the way it is cured. It is one of the oldest varieties of cheese […]