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 […]
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 […]
Pavlova With Cranberry Sauce, Pomegranate
I love Pavlovas. Beyond making the meringues (finicky and take time), they are an easy dessert, both rich and light and the combinations are plenty. This Pavlova is a festive one, red and white; some vanilla pastry cream and a topping of cranberry sauce and pomegranate seeds to top everything off. Pavlova With Cranberry Sauce, […]
Classic Macaroni & Cheese
People love to eat food that evokes memories (good ones) and I loved Macaroni & Cheese as a child. We’ve all opened a box of Kraft Dinner (KD) and some still do. During the first Covid wave, one of the items to vanish from supermarket shelves was boxed mac n’ cheese. Fast forward to “adult […]
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 […]
Phyllo Triangles With Cheese (Tyropitakia)
A standard when Greeks host parties, are Tyropitakia aka phyllo triangles filled with cheese. Commercial phyllo can be found at practically every supermarket and all Greek and middle eastern shops carry it as well. These are really easy, don’t let live in fear of phyllo – you got this! Phyllo Triangles With Cheese (Tyropitakia) […]
Smoked Cheese Croquettes
I love cheese. I love trying new varieties, from many countries, made from different milks, briny, soft, firm, semi-firm. Mild or stinky, sharp or creamy and smoked cheeses. Back in Greece, the most touted smoked cheese is Mestovone (from Metsovo). Here in Toronto, in its absence I used smoked gouda. It holds up well to […]
Cream Filled Diples
December is almost here and you’re planning (or already) making your holiday treats. We may not have as many visitors or visiting as many people this year but there’s nothing to stop you from gifting a box of cookies and pastries. Besides Melomakarona and Kourabiedes (standard Greek Christmas cookies), many families from the Peloponnese will […]
Seared Calf Liver with Caramelized Onions
Up until about a few years ago, I hated liver – couldn’t stomach it. It smelled nice whenever my parents would fry it up with onions. I would try it on occasion – one bite and with half a chew, I would place a napkin toward my mouth and expel it. Won’t go down. Fast-forward […]