The relatively large-scale consumption of legumes and cereals is another nutritional characteristic that markedly sets apart ancient Greeks from other European peoples. Legumes and cereals were the fare of the poor and constituted the dietary basis for the majority of Greeks who could not often afford expensive meat, both in ancient and more recent times. […]

It appears that in classical times Greeks ate two meals a day, although in the pre-classical period daily meals amounted to three. Breakfast was usually called “αριστον” [ariston] and in the Byzantine period the participle “αριστευσας” [aristefsas] signified not only the student who had earned a mark above “very good” but also someone who had […]

Now, when you entertain people to a Greek meal, you can impress them with your knowledge of Greek! The letters in bold italics show where the accent should go when you pronounce it. almond – ameegdalo (soft d) aniseed – anitho apple – meelo apricot – vereekoko artichoke – aggeenara (hard g) asparagus – sparangee (hard […]

Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups natural barley salt 3/4 cup Feta cheese, crumbled 1 lb. ground beef 1 onion, finely chopped bread crumbs 4 zucchini, sliced 3 cups medium white sauce: 2 Tbs olive oil 2 Tbs flour 1 cup of warm milk pinch of salt Method: Cook the barley in salted water until done. Drain […]

 Moussaka  Salad Oxogarita  Byzantine Murri  Byzantine Mustard Sauce  Carotæ and Pastinacæ (Carrots and Parsnips in Wine Sauce)  Fungis (Mushrooms In Sauce)  Ius in Assaturae (For Roasted Meat)  Lenticulam (Lentils With Leeks)  Mystron (Savoury Barley)  White Sals (Walnut Dip)  Carrot Paste  Cooked dish of lentils  Isfanakh Mutajjan (spinach in garlic) Fried cheese with onions (Tiganito tyri me krotyon) […]

Ingredients: 1 lb. ground lamb (may be pounded if you like) 1 grated onion 2 cloves of chopped garlic 6 Tbs natural barley (crush it coarsely in the blender of food processor) 3 Tbs chopped parsley 2 Tbs mint or basil (fresh) 1 Tbs dried oregano or thyme salt 1 egg slightly beaten 5 cups […]

Ingredients: 3/4 cup of olive oil 1/2 onion, chopped 8 scallions, chopped fine 2 lg. cloves of garlic, chopped 1 cup natural barley chopped fresh dill to taste 1/2 cup parsley, chopped juice of 1/2 lemon salt to taste 1 cup hot water 1 one pound jar grapevine leaves 3-4 pound chicken, cut in quarters […]

Ingredients: 1 lb. lean beef or veal, ground 1 medium onion, grated 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 egg, beaten lightly 2 slices of bread, crusts removed, soaked in water and squeezed dry 3 Tbs minced parsley 2 sprigs fresh mint 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 Tbs red wine 2-3 Tbs water, if necessary salt 1 […]

Serves four. This recipe, from the manuscript of Yahya ibn Khalid al-Barmaki, makes striking use of murri,the indigenous Middle Eastern barley “soy sauce.” Most dishes flavored with murri were vinegary, but this is the exception, being quite sweet. The result is surprisingly reminiscent of a Chinese “red-stewed” meat dish. The name comes from the Persian word for […]

Soups with Meat Soups with out meat With pulse Lentil Soup (Soupa Fakes) Lentil Soup (Soupa Fakes) recipe 2 Fasolada soup recipe1 Fasolada soup recipe2 Classic White Bean Soup – Fassolatha Fava – A purée of yellow split peas Cranberry Bean Soup with Chervil and Onions Split Pea Puree Sandorinis – Fava Sandorinia Chickpea Soup – Soupa […]