Kleftiko is usually made out of mature Lamb or Goats meat. It must be cooked in a clay sealed pot wrapped in aluminum foil individual pieces. In the old days and even now, in the villages of Cyprus, one can find in almost every house an outdoor oven made out of clay or bricks called […]

In Greek: σουβλάκι αρνίσιο, pronounced soov-LAH-kee ahr-NEE-see-yoh The key to tender lamb souvlaki is the marinade, so don’t skimp on the timing. The longer they marinate, the better they will taste… and they will disappear as fast as you can make them! Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 8-10 pound leg of lamb, trimmed and boned, […]

In Greek: σουβλάκι αρνίσιο, pronounced soov-LAH-kee ahr-NEE-see-yoh The key to tender lamb souvlaki is the marinade, so don’t skimp on the timing. The longer they marinate, the better they will taste… and they will disappear as fast as you can make them! Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 8-10 pound leg of lamb, trimmed […]

BIANCO Makes 4 to 6 servings Another Corfiote fish recipe with an Italian-sounding name. Bianco is pungent with garlic and is called “white” because it is made without tomatoes. Ingredients: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 medium onions, halved and thinly sliced 8 to 10 garlic cloves, to taste, chopped 6 to 8 […]

TIGANITO HTAPOTHAKI APO TIN ITHAKI Makes 8 to 10 meze servings Octopus is the Lenten fare par excellence in Ithaca. There is plenty of it, it is rich and filling despite its associations with the fast, and it is cooked in several unusual ways. The following recipes were given to me by Mihalis Maghoulas, an Ithacan native who tinkers in […]

In Greek: χούμους με ταχίνι (pronounced HOO-mooss meh tah-HEE-nee) This dip is quick and easy to make, delicious, and healthy. No cooking involved. Just grab the blender and go. Chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) and tahini (a paste made from roasted sesame seeds) combine to make a tasty appetizer to serve with wedges of […]

Like other ancient civilizations, the basic ancient Greek foods were cereals, legumes, oil, and wine. Many ancient Greeks lived in Magna Graecia (Megale Hellas), so the food of the Romans overlaps that of the Greeks. There were, of course, other influences on ancient Greek foods, especially from Asia. We know the Greeks had a wide variety of […]

In Greek: αρνί με φασολάκια, pronounced ahr-NEE meh fah-soh-LAHK-yah One of the favorite pressure cooker stew recipes, leg of lamb (bone in or boneless) is stewed with tomatoes, potatoes, and green beans. This recipe can also be made using traditional cooking methods. Cook Time: 50 minutes Total Time: 50 minutes Ingredients: 4 pounds of leg of lamb, bone in (or […]

In Greek: μπακλαβάς ρολό, pronounced bahk-lah-VAHSS ro-LO I encourage you to try this if you’ve been hesitant about using phyllo dough. The recipe includes expanded directions and tips, but if this is your first time working with phyllo and you haven’t read the Beginner’s Guide to Phyllo, you might want to check it out. Cook Time: 1 hour, […]

Domates Liastes In Greek: λιαστές ντομάτες, say: lee-ah-STES doh-MAH-tes Sun-dried tomatoes can be pretty pricey at the market, but they’re easy to make at home. The way they are made in many traditional Greek homes takes some time, but the result is fabulous. Don’t use big meaty tomatoes for this process – instead, look for […]