Greek Recipes

Greek and Cypriot recipes

How to tenderise Octopus for Cooking

Learn the secrets Greek fishermen have known for centuries. For a sweet, tender, melt in your mouth taste, you must first treat or tenderise octopus before cooking it. If you eat a cooked octopus that hasn’t been tenderised it can be tough as boots. It is one of those delicacies that Greeks love, they fish […]

Snails With Gigantes Beans and Artichokes

Saligkaria me Fasolia Gigantes kai Agkinares Ingredients:  500 gr. of Gigantes (dry butter beans) 8 small artichokes (halved), trimmed/cleaned approx. 1 1/2 cups of snails, washed & cleaned thoroughly 1/2 cup of olive oil 1 large onion, finely diced 1 bay leaf 2 cloves of garlic, smashed 1 cup of fennel bulb, diced 1 carrot, diced […]

Feeding the Snails

Unusual, but today is a no-cook day for me. I’m feeding the snails. Snails (called saligaria or kohli) are a favorite Greek food and Crete is famous for dishes made with these little wonders. Right now, I’m preparing to make one of them, but first, I have to feed the snails. It all started last week when I […]

Popping Fried Snails – Kohli Bourbouristi

In Greek: κοχλιοί μπουρμπουριστοί, pronounced kokh-lee-EE boor-boor-ee-STEE “Bourbouristi” is the popping sound snails make when frying. Snails fried in the shell on a bed of salt may sound strange, but they are delicious and very easy to make. Oil, vinegar, and rosemary give the fried snails a uniquely Greek flavor. Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Total […]

Tripe Soup with Tomatoes – Patsas me Domata

In Greek: πατσάς, say: paht-SAHS Patsas, which came to Greece from Turkey in the 1920s, is tripe soup, and considered a classic winter hangover cure. Often made with hooves as well as tripe, this recipe uses only tripe. Some add egg-lemon sauce (avgolemono) and others addskorthostoubi (garlic crushed in vinegar), but I prefer this version with […]

Pureed Meatless Split Pea Soup – Soupa me Bizelia

When the weather turns cold, this thick soup is especially delightful. It’s vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, and a favorite lenten dish as well. In Greek: σούπα με μπιζέλια, pronounced SOO-pah meh bee-ZEL-yah Add a fish dish like taramosalata, some Greek olives, and lots of crusty bread, and you’ve got a traditional meatless Greek Wednesday, Friday, or Lenten […]

Chilled Watermelon Soup – Karpouzosoupa

In Greek: καρπουζόσουπα, pronounced kar-poo-ZOH-soo-pah A delicious soup made with watermelon, sweet wine, mint, honey, and mixed fresh fruit. Fabulous for summer as an appetizer or dessert.A fabulous choice for hot days, this cold soup is made with watermelon – puréed with honey and a sweet dessert wine – and a few other summer fruits […]