In Greek: λαχανικά μαρινάτα, pronounced lah-hah-nee-KAH mah-ree-NAH-tah This dish requires at least 4 hours in the fridge before serving, so plan ahead – but preparation time is minimal. It’s a delightful selection of tastes and uses regular celery instead of wild celery, which is used in most Greek recipes. Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 25 minutes […]

Recipe for an Aphrodisiac In Greek: βολβοί, pronounced vohl-VEE In many parts of Greece, the bulb of the tassel hyacinth (muscari comosum) is used to make this dish. If you can’t find these edible bulbs, I’m told that pearl onions can be substituted, although the taste will be different. Ancient Greeks also believed that onions […]

In Greek: φασόλια ξερά σαλάτα, pronounced fah-SOL-yah kseh-RAH sah-LAH-tah This is a simple dish to make and a Greek favorite. Great Northern or navy beans are my choice, but you can use any dried white beans. This is a great dish to include in a picnic or cookout menu! Enjoy it as a salad, appetizer, […]

In Greek: πατάτα με αυγό και γιαούρτι, say: pah-TAH-tah meh av-GHOH keh yee-ah-OOR-tee Mashing up your potato salad for babies may work for some, but for most, there are ingredients and perhaps spices that might bother young eaters, so this recipe is a great solution! Potato salad is always a family favorite and this recipe […]

Tender grilled eggplant, zucchini, red peppers, and potatoes are tossed with Greek vinaigrette and topped with a bit of crumbled Feta cheese for a little extra zing. This is a great Summer side dish or light vegetarian main course. Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 35 minutes Yield: 4 – 6 servings Ingredients: Olive oil for brushing vegetables […]

Greece is known for fabulous lamb dishes, from small souvlaki (skewered kebabs) to stuffed baby lamb to spit-roasted whole lamb – and a lot of grilled, roasted, and stewed recipes in between! Learn more about cooking with lamb. What is baby lamb? Spring lamb? Young? Mutton? The age of the animal is calculated based on […]

PASTELLI The Peloponnesos used to produce enough sesame to cover its needs for the production of one of its most famous local confections, pastelli. The sesame-seed brittle is a sweet whose roots clearly go back to the seed-and-honey and nut-and-honey desserts of the ancients. In these parts the confection is bound indelibly to one old local producer, Pastelli Lambo, who has a […]

Soutsoukakia ‘The Mediterranean diet is currently considered by Nutritionists as a modus vivende that endows people with longevity and sound health, with Crete at its epicentre, as supported by research conducted on an international scale.’ These cumin-flavoured meatballs may be casseroled or oven-baked with potatoes – here is the oven version. Ingredients: 500g minced meat (lamb […]

SAMOUSATHES Makes about 30 pieces Ingredients: For the pastry: 3⁄4 cup strained fresh orange juice 4 large eggs 31⁄2 to 41⁄2 cups all-purpose flour, as needed For the filling: 3⁄4 cup sesame seeds 3 cups finely ground walnuts or almonds (not blanched) 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cloves For the syrup: 2 cups […]

RAFIOLIA In the pastry shops of Monemvassia, the beautiful Venetian fortressed port on the east coast of the Peloponnesos, these little crescents are a main attraction. I love the name—clearly Venetian, although the pastry itself is as Greek as one can get. Rafiolia are a specialty throughout this whole southeastern region of the Peloponnesos, all the way down to Neapoli. This recipe […]