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 […]
Sfakiano Goat Yiahni
One of the “must see” regions of Greece is the island of Crete. It’s a big island and your strategy would be to either see it over a few visits or concentrate on one area. The westernmost prefecture is Chania and in the southern part facing the Libyan Sea is the Sfakia area. This goat […]
Kontosouvli in Parchment
One of my favourite meat dishes is Kontosouvli.…chunks of marinated pork slow-roasted on the spit. Many grill houses in Greece offer it, it can be found offered at “panagyria” or feast day celebrations around the country. Many Greeks will make this on their home rotisseries as part of their Easter offerings (or other celebration) or […]
Bay Scallops With Spaghetti
I love seafood and one of my favourites are scallops. The bigger ones are known as Diver Scallops and the smaller ones (what we are cooking with today) are Bay Scallops. They get their name as they are found in shallow bays and estuaries in the northeast Atlantic. Autumn is considered peak season but one […]
Classic Spinach Salad
I used to order a spinach salad from a lunch counter and it was usually filling enough to be a meal. Iron-rich spinach, protein-packed eggs, immune boosting mushrooms, crispy bacon (needs no touting). Wrap all that in a tangy/sweet dressing and you have a salad that serves well as a main or good starter. Classic […]
Chicken with Hilopites
My parents, who come from towns in Florina prefecture, would make this dish with Keftedes or in this case, chicken. Both proteins affordable and complementary to such a rustic dish. It’s an easy dish to prepare but in keeping with Greek cooking philosophy, use quality ingredients and they will speak for themselves. Good chicken, ripe […]
Black Eyed Peas Salad
I first featured a black eyed peas recipe way back in 2009. In Greek, we call them “mavromatakia” which is pretty close to the English description. Last year I visited New Orleans for the first time and I became familiar with the local cuisine and traditions. I also read about the southern tradition of eating […]
Pork Fricassee
Winter is almost officially here and heartier Greek dishes enter the cooking rotation. Greek cuisine is rustic, humble and usually economical. Enter the Fricassee dishes. Fricassee is traditionally a French dish that’s been Greek-a-fied. The most popular versions are made with lamb and today, pork. There are lots of vegetables like onions/leeks, leafy greens (many […]
Greek Omelet With Fries and Sausages
When it comes to eggs, Greeks love to have them for dinner. Fried, scrambled with Feta and tomato or, with potatoes. It’s a shared plate, as a main or appetizer course. Today’s egg dish will remind you of a Spanish tortilla but it’s Greek all the way. Greeks will whip up egg dishes as a […]
Greek Style Peas – Arakas Latheros
This dish really shines when you’re using local, fresh green peas; in season late Spring/early Summer. Thankfully, we have high quality frozen vegetables that are “flash frozen”, preserving them for use in the off season. Frozen green peas shine. Arakas (green peas) Latheros are often found in open kitchen restaurants (magiria). They can be had […]
