Youvetsi (yoo-VEH-tsee) is a traditional Greek stew that can be made with beef or lamb. The meat is cooked in a rich tomato sauce together with orzo pasta and finished with a heap of grated Kefalotyri cheese on top. If you don’t happen to have a covered ceramic baker, don’t worry. The dish can also be […]

Shinos – Σχίνος (Pistacia lentiscus) Arbaroriza – Kiouli – Scented pelargonium Marjoram Makes an excellent tea and is widely used as seasoning in cooking. Resembles oregano and combines perfectly with meat, fish and pasta dishes. It aids digestion, helps to lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels, soothes the throat and is diuretic. Oregano The most popular […]

In Greek: αρνάκι κλέφτικο, pronounced ahr-NAH-kee KLEF-tee-koh This recipe is an adaptation of a dish fixed in the mountains by guerillas (bandits) who needed to cook without being seen. They placed the meat on coals in a hole, covered it up, and let it cook for up to 24 hours. No trace of any stolen […]

Serves 8-10 Ingredients: 900 gr macaroni 100 gr butter 200 gr onion -finely chopped 650 gr minced beef 900 gr riped tomatoes -peeled and finely chopped 2 tablespoons tomato paste ½ tablespoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon sugar Pinch of nutmeg (optional) Seasoning 100 gr halloumi cheese For the sauce: 50 gr butter 50 gr flour 600 […]

There are a multitude of different fillings, according to the season and the occasion. The pastry used to wrap them also varies, from the paper-thin fillo pastry found in the cities to permutations of homemade puff pastry, or a simple, homemade substitute for fillo. Fillo pastry freezes well and it will keep frozen for up to […]

This rich tomato sauce with cubes of fried Cypriot cheese goes great with penne or other short pasta with a good chewy bite. It is slightly sweet, flavored with cinnamon and mint, and just a little spicy. Ingredients: 2 packages Halloumi [see note 1] (each 1/2 lb) Olive oil, for deep frying 2 – 3 […]

Halloumi, as it is also known, is the most unique of the Cypriot delicacies. It is full fat soft cheese made of whole goat’s milk, salt and a hint of mint. Ingredients: 1 halloumi (hellim) cheese -cut into thick slices Method: Sliced halloumis can be cooked under a hot oven, grill or on charcoal until […]

In Greek: σπανάκι με σπαράγγια ογκρατέν, pronounced spah-NAH-kee meh spah-RAHG-yah oh-grah-TEN Ograten (au gratin) dishes became part of the Greek cooking experience in the early 1900s, and this combination of fresh spinach and asparagus on a bed of grated potatoes, with cream and sharp cheese is a delicious example of this type of cooking. Serve as a […]

In Greek: πιπεριές με τυρί, pronounced pee-peh-reeYES meh tee-REE This recipe is a specialty in the shadows of Mount Olympos, where it is served as a meze with a locally made spirit. Serve it as an appetizer, meze, or side dish. The recipe calls for bull’s horn (or Anaheim or Cubanelle) peppers (long and tapered, light green […]

Briam is an oven roasted vegetable dish that can be adapted according to what is in season. Layers of vegetables are baked in a savory tomato sauce and served either as the main meal or as a tasty side dish. This recipe features zucchini but the traditional version with eggplant is also delicious. Add a bit […]