In Greek: μπιφτέκια χοιρινά, pronounced beef-TEHK-yah hee-ree-NAH Before the “mad cow” scare, Bobby Bounakis made his burgers with a combination of ground beef and pork; then he changed the recipe. The new recipe, using just the ground pork, was so fabulous, he left it alone and has become famous in my little village and surrounding […]

In Greek: μπιφτέκια σχάρας, pronounced beef-TEHK-yah SKHAH-rahs A mixture of ground beef and pork makes for fabulous burgers on the grill. This simple and easy recipe calls for parsley and onion and, as usual, these burgers are served with wedges of lemon for those who want the authentic Greek taste. The meat can be made […]

This is a favorite winter dish and one that combines the succulent flavors of braised pork, celery, and the beloved Avgolemono (egg-lemon) sauce. It’s a great one-dish meal that screams for crusty bread to dip in the flavorful sauce. Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes Yield: 6 servings Ingredients: 4 tbsp. unsalted butter 1/4 cup olive […]

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 […]

In Greek: κροκέτες σπανάκι, pronounced kroh-KEH-tes spah-NAH-kee The type of cheese in the recipe is purposely vague. Try it with feta, or with a sharp cheese like kefalotyri or parmesan, or a mild cheese like anthotyro or farmer’s cheese. Prep Time: 35 minutes Cook Time: 3 minutes Total Time: 38 minutes Ingredients: 3 1/3 pounds of fresh or frozen spinach 1 […]

In Greek: κροκέτες από κρέας, pronounced kroh-KEH-tes ah-PO KRAY-ahs Use meat leftovers from roasts or boiled dishes to make these croquettes. This is a typical Greek solution to leftovers: a cream sauce to bind the ingredients, and toasted breadcrumbs to coat before frying. Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups of finely chopped cooked meat (roasted, broiled, grilled, […]

In Greek: κροκέτες πατάτας, pronounced kroh-KEH-tes pah-TAH-tahs Potatoes, cheese, and parsley are the basics of these potato croquettes. The taste can be changed each time you make them, depending on the cheese. Mild, sharp, spicy, and flavored cheeses all work well. Try this recipe with leftover mashed or boiled potatoes as well! Ingredients: 2 3/4 […]

In Greek: χορταρικά στο φούρνο, say: hor-tah-ree-KAH stoh FOOR-no This mixed vegetable stew is ideally cooked in a fired clay pot in a beehive oven, but has been adapted for modern indoor ovens. The dish creates a lot of liquid which is delicious served with potatoes, rice, or – more traditionally – a large quantity […]

Kotopoulo gemisto stin katsarola Ingredients: 6 to 8 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, as needed 1 chicken liver (optional), trimmed and chopped 21⁄2 cups of 1-inch bread cubes cut from rustic bread, crusts removed 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1 tablespoon dried Greek oregano 3⁄4 cup water 1 […]

Ingredients: 2 cups of lentil 1 cup of rice 1 1/2 cup of onions thinly sliced 3/4 cup of olive oil 6 cups of water Salt and pepper to taste Method: Wash lentil with plenty of running water. Place the lentil and water in a pot with some salt and cook for about 15 minutes. […]