LEFKADITIKI HAVIAROSOUPA Makes 8 servings Ingredients: 5 pounds cockles or any other small fresh clams 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 4 fresh green garlic stalks, coarsely chopped, or 3 scallions, white and tender green parts, chopped, combined with 2 garlic cloves, minced Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1/2 cup medium-grain polished rice Juice of 2 […]

GALOPOULA AVGOLEMONO Sometime after the sixteenth century, turkey arrived in Corfu from the West. There is some disagreement as to who first brought it. If its name is any indication, then the turkey came with the French, since its name in Greek, galopoula, translates literally as “French bird.” Regardless of its provenance, today it is still the Christmas meal in Corfu. […]

The World’s Most Basic Soup ZOUPA Makes 4 servings This dish is the apotheosis of the trinity of Mediterranean flavors—wheat, wine, and olive oil. “It’s just like the akraton — the breakfast of bread and undiluted wine—that the ancients used to eat.” At first I thought it was one of those dishes, like so many others, lost to time, […]

PRETZA ME PSOMI Pretza is a local feta cheese product made in Zakynthos and Cephalonia, something akin to cream cheese but pungent and peppery. You can find it in several cheese shops in Athens, but it is nowhere to be found in America. You can make an ersatz version by mixing crumbled feta with a little ricotta or fresh Greek myzithra […]

Feta cheese can range from soft to hard, and trying to crumble it for salads and toppings can result in mashing it instead. Here’s the easiest way to crumble it. Difficulty: Easy Time Required: none Here’s How: If you have a block of feta, cut a slice in the amount you want to crumble. Otherwise, just start […]

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 […]

There are many versions of these little pumpkin filled pastries. In Cyprus, they are called kolokotes (koh-loh-koh-TES). Other parts of Greece call thembourekia (boo-REH-kyah). The traditional dough for this recipe is made with olive oil and would be appropriate to eat during fasting periods. I have adapted the recipe and use a sweeter dough that includes butter and […]

Stuffed vegetables are a staple of the summer season and this version of Kolokithia Yemista (koh-loh-KEETH-yah yeh-mee-STAH) or Stuffed Zucchini is a great way to enjoy the bounty. The zucchini are hollowed and stuffed with a savory meat filling and topped with a creamy béchamel sauce that bakes up to a nice golden crust. Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook […]

This recipe for pumpkin bread is unlike one you may have tried before. Most pumpkin breads are more like sweet cake than bread. This recipe makes a traditional loaf of bread that’s slightly sweet and absolutely wonderful toasted and served with jam or preserves. You will need a cup of pumpkin puree to make the […]