This is a popular mezé, or appetizer, in Greek cuisine, usually enjoyed with a slowly sipped drink before dinner. Ingredients: 10 peppers, cut in half, stem and seeds removed (have a combination of colors, such as red, green, yellow or orange) 1 head garlic, split in half horizontally, no need to peel it, but remove the excess skin […]

Ingredients: 2 medium onions 2 tomatoes – peeled/seeded/chopped 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 cup brown lentils 1 cup medium coarse bulgur 2 cups hot water 1/3 cup olive oil salt and black pepper Method: wash lentils and boil gently for 10 minutes, drain using cold water chop and lightly brown onions in olive oil, add […]

Ingredients: 2.5 pounds of taro root (kolokas) 4 stems of celery (optional) 2 large onions 4 medium tomatoes 1/4 cup olive oil 1 to 2 tablespoon(s) tomato paste 1.5 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 4 cups water (boiling to speed cooking time) Method: peel/wash/dry taro root…use knife to crack irregular pieces (2 to 3 […]

SKORDOMAKARONA My friend Haralambos, the district education counselor from Molaous near Sparta, is a walking encyclopedia of local history, gastronomy, and folkways. He shared this simple recipe with me, explaining that it was the workers’ lunch during the summer threshing period as well as during the fig harvest. The tremendous amount of garlic—3 whole heads or more— acted as a replacement […]

FASOLAKIA FRESKA ME ANTHOGALA Anthogala, which is what the original recipe calls for, are the billows of cream that float atop fresh milk. Its Greek name translates as “milk blossom”; the French know it as fleur de crème. In the U.S. the best substitute is heavy cream. I found this recipe in a collection of old regional Greek dishes, and […]

SESKOULA YIAHNI ME FETA Makes 4 to 6 servings Ingredients: 2 pounds green chard, trimmed, coarsely chopped, and washed well 1⁄2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus oil for drizzling on 3 large onions, finely chopped 2 cups finely chopped celery 2 cups grated tomatoes or coarsely chopped plum tomatoes (canned are fine) Salt and freshly […]

GIGANTES ME SELINO Gigantes, giant beans, are similar to what Americans know as butter beans. This recipe comes from Ioanna Brotsi, who opened her Arcadian home to us, invited ten of her neighbors, and served us up a feast of old recipes and handwritten cooks’ notebooks. Makes about 4 to 6 servings Ingredients: 1⁄2 pound dried Greek giant […]

MAVROMATIKA FASOLIA ME ZARZAVATIKA KAI HILOPITES Makes 4 servings Ingredients: 1⁄2 pound dried black-eyed peas, picked over and rinsed 1 large onion, finely chopped 1 large carrot, finely chopped 1 leek, white part only, washed well and finely chopped 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and chopped 1 large green bell pepper, seeded and chopped 1 […]

Greek name and pronunciation: Thymari, θυμάρι, pronounced thee-MAH-ree (soft th sound) At the market: Thyme is available both fresh and dried, and fresh thyme is much preferred in cooking. Dried thyme leaves are sold in disposable containers, and fresh thyme is sold in bundles. Thyme is also a good choice for a kitchen herb garden. […]

Greek name and pronunciation: Anithos, άνιθος, pronounced AH-nee-thohs (soft th sound, rhymes with “dose”) At the market: Dill is sold as fresh cuttings (sprigs) bundled into convenient amounts, in sprinkle-pour bottles of dill weed (dried leaves), and in sprinkle-pour bottles of dill seeds. Physical characteristics: The dill plant grows to a height of 8-30 inches. […]