Fifteen minutes in the oven and these cheeses are transformed into hot savory mezethes, appetizers, or even side dishes. Feta and kasseri cheeses are most common (read down for kasseri). a saganaki is a small, two-handled pan, which gives its name to these oven- or stove-to-table dishes that use it. In the market, look for small paella pans or […]

In Greek: μελιτζάνες τηγανητές, pronounced meh-leed-ZAH-nes tee-ghah-nee-TES Eggplant is notorious for absorbing as much olive oil as possible, so this recipe for a light and crispy appetizer or side dish, which calls for quick frying in hot oil, is a good choice since the eggplant doesn’t have enough time to get soggy with oil. Use […]

In Greek: μαρίδες, pronounced mah-REE-thess The smaller the better as far as I’m concerned! If the fish are less than 2 inches long, they don’t need to be gutted; from 2-3 inches long, they do, and anything over that is too big if it’s a picarel! Whitebait smelt (the smallest smelt) is an acceptable substitute, […]

Flaky phyllo sheets are layered with a savory spinach and feta cheese filling. Spanakopita can be made as a “pie” or pita, or as individual phyllo triangles. I always keep trays of uncooked spanakopita in the freezer as a handy appetizer or side dish for guests. It freezes very well and heats beautifully. This recipe […]

In Greek: χορτοπιτάκια, pronounced hor-toh-pee-TAHK-yah These tasty little turnovers can be made with homemade phyllo or commercial. They can be made ahead of time up to the cooking stage, and frozen for later use. In this version, I use spinach, but it can be made with the greens of your choice. For more help, see […]

The use of grape leaves to wrap food dates back to the days of Alexander the Great. Stuffed with rice, pine nuts, and fresh herbs, dolmathakia (dol-mah-THAH-kya) take a little bit of time to prepare, but they are worth the effort. They can be served cold or at room temperature and are a classic Greek appetizer or […]

Keftethes(keh-FTEH-thes) are savory Greek meatballs that are served as an appetizer ormeze(meh-ZEH). The traditional recipe calls for frying the meatballs, but I’ve found that this baked version is quite good and a bit healthier.For the tastiest meatballs, prepare the ground meat mixture earlier in the day and allow it to sit in the refrigerator for […]

In Greek: σουβλάκι αρνίσιο, pronounced soov-LAH-kee ahr-NEE-see-yoh The key to tender lamb souvlaki is the marinade, so don’t skimp on the timing. The longer they marinate, the better they will taste… and they will disappear as fast as you can make them! Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 8-10 pound leg of lamb, trimmed […]

In Greek: μπουρεκάκια μελιτζάνας, pronounced boo-reh-KAHK-yah meh-leed-ZAH-nahs A mixture of three delicious cheeses marks the filling for thin slices of eggplant that are rolled, dipped in flour, breadcrumbs, and egg, then fried to perfection. Make these in large batches because they will disappear very quickly! Ingredients: FOR THE FILLING 1 egg 1 cup of cold […]

Cool and creamy, this tangy cucumber dip flavored with garlic is the perfect compliment to grilled meats and vegetables. It’s served on the side with warm pita bread triangles for dipping, and is also used as a condiment for souvlaki. Prep Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 3 tbsp. olive oil 1 tbsp. vinegar 2 cloves […]