Flaky phyllo sheets are layered with a savory spinach and feta cheese filling. Spanakopita can be made as a “pie” or pita, or as individual phyllo triangles. I always keep trays of uncooked spanakopita in the freezer as a handy appetizer or side dish for guests. It freezes very well and heats beautifully. This recipe […]

In Greek: χορτοπιτάκια, pronounced hor-toh-pee-TAHK-yah These tasty little turnovers can be made with homemade phyllo or commercial. They can be made ahead of time up to the cooking stage, and frozen for later use. In this version, I use spinach, but it can be made with the greens of your choice. For more help, see […]

In Greek: ζαμπονοτυροφλογέρες, pronounced (take a deep breath) zah-bon-oh-tee-roh-floh-YEH-res These delightful appetizers are a delicious combination of ham and cheese, rolled up in phyllo and dipped in grated cheese before frying. In Greek, they’re called floyeres (flutes) because of the shape. Prep Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 26-27 thin slices of boiled ham, sandwich-sized […]

In Greek: ριγανάδα, pronounced ree-ghah-NAH-thah This is one version of Greek bruschetta and a favorite and easy recipe for a quick snack or accompaniment to drinks. Use homemade crusty country bread, or thick slices of sourdough, french, or italian bread. Cook Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 10 minutes Ingredients: 3/4-inch slices of country style bread chopped tomatoes […]

The use of grape leaves to wrap food dates back to the days of Alexander the Great. Stuffed with rice, pine nuts, and fresh herbs, dolmathakia (dol-mah-THAH-kya) take a little bit of time to prepare, but they are worth the effort. They can be served cold or at room temperature and are a classic Greek appetizer or […]

Keftethes(keh-FTEH-thes) are savory Greek meatballs that are served as an appetizer ormeze(meh-ZEH). The traditional recipe calls for frying the meatballs, but I’ve found that this baked version is quite good and a bit healthier.For the tastiest meatballs, prepare the ground meat mixture earlier in the day and allow it to sit in the refrigerator for […]

In our house, Dad is known as the “cheese triangle wizard.” Growing up, I would marvel at how quickly and efficiently he could butter and fold the phyllo (FEE-loh) sheets into neat little triangle packets. This is the recipe that I have adapted from my Dad. There are many, many different variations, however this is our family […]

In Greek: μπουρεκάκια μελιτζάνας, pronounced boo-reh-KAHK-yah meh-leed-ZAH-nahs A mixture of three delicious cheeses marks the filling for thin slices of eggplant that are rolled, dipped in flour, breadcrumbs, and egg, then fried to perfection. Make these in large batches because they will disappear very quickly! Ingredients: FOR THE FILLING 1 egg 1 cup of cold […]

In Greece, we love nuts! Little nut shops abound where, not coincidentally, dried fruits are also sold. The combination of dried fruits and nuts is a Greek favorite, and while there are many wonderful Greek dishes to serve at a party, these should not be overlooked. Little dishes with nuts – mixed or one type – […]

In Greek: σκορδαλιά pronounced skor-thal-YAH My older family members would fix this using a mortar and pestle to first degrade the garlic with salt, then add other ingredients to create the purée texture desired. Today, I often use a food processor or hand mixer which makes things a lot easier and takes a lot less […]