ORTYKIA ME KOUKIA – ορτυκια με κουκια Quail appear in many varied dishes all over Greece, from the preserved quail so revered in the Mani to the quail-stuffed bread, also from the southern Peloponnesos. From the eastern Aegean, we find another unusual quail dish, in which the tiny birds are stuffed into eggplants (the recipe is included in my first book, The […]

Dried beans and peas – limas, pinto, red, black-eyed peas, garbanzo (chickpeas), and Great Northern, to name a few – are favorites in Greek cooking, and easy on the family budget as well. Beans are easy to make, but often not especially quick since most need to be soaked for at least 6 hours, and […]

Vegetable dishes that are cooked with olive oil and tomatoes are referred to as lathera (lah-the-RAH) in Greek, because the key ingredient is flavorful olive oil, or “lathi.” The most popular vegetable to make “lathera style” is the green bean, but you can try this dish with small zucchini, okra, or peppers as well. This version includes […]

In Greek: αρνί με φασολάκια, pronounced ahr-NEE meh fah-soh-LAHK-yah One of the favorite pressure cooker stew recipes, leg of lamb (bone in or boneless) is stewed with tomatoes, potatoes, and green beans. This recipe can also be made using traditional cooking methods. Cook Time: 50 minutes Total Time: 50 minutes Ingredients: 4 pounds of leg of lamb, bone in (or […]

In Greek: γίγαντες τηγανητοί, say: YEE-ghan-des tee-ghah-nee-TEE Yigandes (also spelled “gigantes”) are giant dried beans and are favorites in all areas of Greece. If you can’t find them, use the largest dried lima beans you can find. This delightful dish is a favorite with Greeks during periods of fasting and Lent, and is often served with taramosalata (a delicioius dip […]

In Greek: κουκιά με αγκινάρες, pronounced kook-YAH meh ahg-kee-NAH-ress Here in Greece, fresh broad beans (also known as fava beans) are a culinary event. This recipe is a spring favorite, especially during Lent, and a great choice for vegetarians and vegans. Cook Time: 50 minutes Total Time: 50 minutes Ingredients: 3 1/3 pounds of fresh broad (fava) beans 8-12 […]

In Greek: αρνί με φασολάκια, pronounced ahr-NEE meh fah-soh-LAHK-yah This is a favorite stovetop casserole with leg of lamb (bone in or boneless), stewed with tomatoes, potatoes, and green beans. This recipe can also be made using a pressure cooker. Cook Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes Ingredients: 4 pounds of leg of lamb, bone in (or […]

Saligkaria me Fasolia Gigantes kai Agkinares Ingredients:  500 gr. of Gigantes (dry butter beans) 8 small artichokes (halved), trimmed/cleaned approx. 1 1/2 cups of snails, washed & cleaned thoroughly 1/2 cup of olive oil 1 large onion, finely diced 1 bay leaf 2 cloves of garlic, smashed 1 cup of fennel bulb, diced 1 carrot, diced […]

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 […]

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 […]