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Pastourma With Figs and Greek Yogurt

Here’s a quick, delicious appetizer you can serve to your guests as the summer gently slips away from us. The days are still warm but I sense a little nip in the air as the sun sets. The star of this dish is pastourma, a salt and air-cured beef that’s coated in a spice blend […]

Eggs With Pastourma

One aspect of Greek cuisine that doesn’t get enough attention is charcuterie – yes, cured meats are a part of our cuisine. Mani and Messinia have Siglino and Pasto (smoked pork), the Cretans have Apaki (smoked porn loin), Corfu has Nouboulo (cured pork), Zamponi in Naxos. This is list is just off the top of […]

Macedonian Halva With Spoon Sweet and Cinnamon

This post isn’t so much of a recipe but more so instructions on how to assemble a dessert from ready to eat products. The star of this dessert is Sesame Halva, something us Greeks called Makedonikos Halva. This treat is made by pulverizing sesame seeds and adding honey and often some kind of nut (almond, […]

Rabbit in Parchment (Youlbasi)

One of my favourite methods of cooking meats is to wrap it in parchment, sealing meat with seasoning, herbs, spices; a tightly packed parcel locks-in the flavours and the meat is well cooked yet succulent. Traditonally, this dish is called Yioulbasi, a method of cooking brought to mainland Greece by Asia Minor Greeks. Lamb is […]

Eggs Benedict With Pastourma

One of my favourite breakfast/brunch items to order has to be Eggs Benedict. The classic is served on toasted English Muffin halves, Canadian Bacon (ham), two poached eggs, Hollandaise and crispy diner style potatoes. It’s a hearty dish (rich) and one I order when traveling. I’ll pick up the menu, scan to see what’s available […]

Peinirli

The first time I saw a Peinirli was when the bus I was riding on from Thessaloniki to Amynteon (parents’ home town); the bus made a 20 minute stop in Edessa and some passengers were grabbing a “peinirli” to snack on. During many trips to Greece since, I’ve seen Peinirli at bakeries and there are […]

Schnitzel with Smyrneiko Sauce

I came up with this dish about a decade ago and was reminded of the dish in a recent “facebook memory” that popped up. The gist of the dish is marrying a schnitzel with a Smyrni (Smyrneiko) style tomato sauce, aromatic with a pinch of cinnamon. Serve with rice pilaf and it’s a wonderful meal […]

Politiko Baklava

I’ve been making this version of Baklava for a few years. There are many styles and varieties but this one is my favourite. A round tray is used, I have a diagram below that demystifies how to cut the baklava pieces into diamonds and when you look at the whole pan, it looks like a […]

Giaourtlou Kebab

Post originally appeared on September 19/07 I first had this dish Summer 2007, a taverna with grilled meats in Zografou, Halkidiki. Up to today, I must had this dish at least a dozen times. Savas, O Thanasis, and a few other tavernas in between. The dish arrived on mainland Greece from displaced Greeks who used […]

Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani

Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani http://karamanlidika.gr/ +30 21 0325 4184 Where: the corner of Sokratous 1 and Evripidou 52, Athens (Athens      Central Market District) http://karamanlidika.gr/contact/ The Food: Primarily a shop with cheeses and charcuterie but there are some tables where you can sit with your friends/parea and enjoy Greek mezedes in the Karamanlidika style (Greeks of […]