Spaghetti With Grouper, Capers, Kalamata Olives

This dish takes me back to a visit I took to the island of Santorini. A beautiful island of steep cliffs, villages dotted atop of these cliffs and the blue Aegean sea below. The island also boasts of many excellent tavernas serving local specialties, lamb and many fish and seafood dishes. One dish that stood […]
Gamopilafo aka Cretan Wedding Rice

The first time I had Cretan Wedding Rice (Gamopilafo) was 10 years ago, my first trip to Crete. Traditionally, this rice is served at Cretan weddings usually made with a combo of goat or lamb and rooster to make the stock. This dish is an center piece offering exemplifying the host family’s wealth and well […]
King Crab Pasta With Tomato and Ouzo Sauce

I love fish and seafood and it the summer months, I crave lighter dishes – foods that aren’t meat. Crab and lobster are rivals when it comes to gaining the attention of seafood lovers but if we’re talking about King Crab, they win “claws down”! This dish makes use of frozen crab legs, which is […]
Fava Santorini

Fava in the Greek food sense has nothing to do with fava beans. Rather, it’s a dip made from yellow split peas. Making fava is easy -a ll one has to do is simmer the fava until the liquid has been absorbed and then give it whiz in the processor with your favourite flavourings. […]
Sheet Pan Gnocchi With Shrimp and Feta

One of the better “convenience products” now available in supermarkets are these packages of vacuum packed gnocchi. In other words, they are shelf-stable until you open the package. A great new pantry item to add to your list. Of course, making these potato dumplings yourself would be better but this sheet pan gnocchi recipe is […]
Baked Potato

For potato lovers: we love them fried, mashed, roasted, griddled and last but not least, baked. A classic side you find at a steak house, it’s an easy dish to prepare. You can use any potato you like but the Russet will give you best results. I like my baked potato served with a big […]
Cypriot Inspired Meatballs

The Cypriots are known for their Seftelia, which are seasoned pork crepinettes wrapped in lamb caul fat. They are slow cooked over glowing embers. The fat in caul fat melts, keeps the ground pork moist and the combo of pork and lamb is to die for! Not everyone can find caul fat so this easy […]
Jerk Chicken

Update: original post appeared June 14, 2007…about a month after I began the kalofagas blog. It was time to update the photos and revisit how I cook the chicken. Look at the photo from 2007! I used to grill direct heat but now I prefer a slower cooking method using indirect heat. This method can […]
Crab Cakes With Louie Dressing

I do enjoy my seafood and I like to splurge on more expensive seafood. If your budget allows, try some crab cakes. It’s not a hard recipe, instead relying quality ingredients – real crab meat. One can buy tins of crab meat at many seafood shops and at some supermarket seafood sections. Many of the […]
Ouzo Shrimp With Spinach Rice

I like taking two Greek dishes and putting them together to make a new dish. In one pan, sauteed shrimp with Ouzo and cream sauce. In another pan, a simple spinach rice inspired by traditional Spanakorizo. Put them together and you have a delicious pairing that will be a hit with family or next time […]