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. […]

Greek name and pronunciation: Daphni, δάφνη, pronounced THAHF-nee (hard th sound) At the market: Dried bay leaves, either crushed or whole, are readily available in disposable containers. It is also sold at herb farms for a kitchen herb garden. Physical characterisitcs: Usually encountered in dried form, bay leaves are 1 1/2 – 3 inches long […]

Pastelli se fylla nerantzias Ingredients: 2 cups coarsely ground walnuts 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs or finely crushed rusks 1 cup premium quality Greek honey 1/2 cup sugar orange flower or rose water sesame seeds, toasted Seville orange leaves Method: Combine the walnuts with the breadcrumbs. Prepare a slab of marble (or a rectangular pan 25×30 […]

Due to fasting, the Byzantines incorporated fresh vegetables and wild greens in their meals much more often than the ancient Greeks, although the varieties consumed in both historic periods did not vary considerably. Compared with the modern age, fresh vegetables and wild greens were given different names and varied in their cooking method; for these […]

Original Recipe: al-Baghdadi p. 212/14 Take fine white flour, and with every ratl mix three uqiya of sesame-oil (one part oil to four of flour), kneading into a firm paste. Leave to rise; then make into long loaves. Put into the middle of each loaf a suitable quantity of ground almonds and scented sugar mixed with rose water, […]

Original Recipe Dulciaria Apicius, #294 Little home confections (which are called dulciaria) are made thus: Little palms or (as they are ordinarily called) dates are stuffed – after the seeds have been removed – with a nut or with nuts and ground pepper, sprinkled with salt on the outside and are candied in honey and served. [Vehling, pp. […]

Original Recipe [To cook fish] Hierophile, 13th century …one should choose fish which has a delicate flesh… They should be cooked with oxymel, vinegar and garum. [Master Demetrios, Byzantine Cuisine] Ingredients: 4 lbs. salmon fillets 4 Tbsp. White wine vinegar 2 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. Honey 2 tsp. Fish sauce Olive oil Method: Spread a small […]

(Andalusian p. A-9) It is made with hens, pigeons, ring doves, small birds, or lamb. Take what you have of it, then clean it and cut it and put it in a pot with salt and onion, pepper, coriander and lavender or cinnamon, some murri naqi, and oil. Put it over a gentle fire until […]

(al-Baghdadi) Cut fat meat small, put into the saucepan with a little salt, and cover with water. Boil and remove the scum. Cut up onions, wash, and throw in on top of the meat. Add seasonings, coriander, cumin, mastic, cinnamon, pepper and ginger, well ground. Take dry apricots, soak in hot water, then wash and […]

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 […]