Question: What Did the Ancient Greeks Eat? Answer:The foods of ancient Greece were similar to foods we eat today, but did not include many that have become important parts of modern Greek cooking. For example, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and bananas didn’t arrive in Greece until after the discovery of the Americas in the 15th century, because […]

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: ορτύκια με μπάμιες, say: or-TEEK-yah meh BAHM-yes Quail are popular game birds in Greek cooking, and this delightful recipe combines favorite tastes of tomatoes, onion, garlic, parsley, and baby okra. This recipe is particularly pretty when served due, in large part, to the size of the baby okra and boiler onions. No quail […]

In Greek: αρνί γεμιστό, pronounced ahr-NEE yeh-mee-STOH Versions of this stuffed leg of lamb are often first choice for Greek families at Easter, but this is such a beautiful dish that it’s perfect for special occasions and family meals. Stuffing the butterflied leg of lamb with layers of peppers (red and green) and cheeses is […]

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, […]

Phyllo (in Greek: φύλλο, pronounced FEE-lo), also spelled “filo,” is most often used to describe wafer-thin sheets of dough that are used to make some of the most delicious pastries and savory pies in the world. However, phyllo has gotten a reputation as being hard to use, or too delicate, with the result that many […]

PASTA PHYLLO APO TO LEVITHI – PELOPONISOS Ingredients: For the syrup 4 cups sugar 3 cups water 1 medium cinnamon stick 5 whole cloves Juice of 1⁄2 lemon 1 strip lemon zest   11⁄2 to 2 cups well-drained Greek citrus fruit spoon sweets (bitter orange, lemon, bergamot), to taste 6 large eggs, separated 1 cup […]

There were many foods and beverages consumed in ancient Greece that we might not be anxious to try today, like cheese and garlic added to wine, but no more unusual than at least one of the foods that were considered to be aphrodisiacs. When we think of bulbs, the first thing that comes to mind […]

It is really important that you use a good quality feta cheese for this recipe. I used the best: Feta Tripoleos, which is authentic Greek feta cheese from the southern Greek city of Tripolis. This particular feta is stored in wooden barrels and not tins or plastics. Some of the finer cheese shops will stock […]

Greek name and pronunciation: Kanela, κανέλα, pronounced kah-NEL-ah At the market: Cinnamon is available in powdered and stick (quill) form (sticks are usually 2- to 6-inch long sections of dried bark). The essential oil of cinnamon is sometimes available. Physical characteristics: Ground cinnamon has a tan color. Quills, made from dried cork-like outer tree bark, […]