FOGATSA Makes 2 large round loaves In Corfu the Venetian influence is echoed in the island’s Easter bread, which is called fogatsa. Unlike the braided tsoureki eaten everywhere else in Greece, here the Eastern spices mahlepi and mastic are nowhere to be found. Instead, fogatsa is a dense, high, round loaf, with a cross slashed into its center and flavored with […]

PANADA Kitchen economy in Greece, indeed in the whole Mediterranean, once required that home cooks make use of every last bit of food. There are lots of old dishes made with leftover bread. Most call for simmering small bits of stale bread in some kind of broth or milk or sometimes just in plain water with a little olive oil and […]

RIGANATHA APO TIN LEFKADA This is another simple bread snack that was the traditional afternoon meal among field hands and farmers in Lefkada. Islanders will tell you proudly that riganatha isn’t made anywhere else in Greece, and they are right. Unique to this dish is its dressing—rose water vinegar. For the rose water vinegar: The traditional way of making this was […]

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 […]

KOURAMBIETHES ME ELAIOLATHO APO TO LEVITHI Makes about 72 shortbread cookies Ingredients: 2 cups extra-virgin olive oil 2/3 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup ouzo 1/2 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 cup finely chopped walnuts Grated zest of 1 lemon 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 4 to 5 cups all-purpose flour, […]

Kourabiethes me Karythia In Greek: κουραμπιέδες με καρύδια, say: koo-rahb-YEH-thes meh kah-REETH-yah Kourabiethes (also kourambiedes) are sugared shortbread cookies made with nuts. In Greece,kourabiethes are served at special occasions and given as host/hostess gifts. This version calls for walnuts (or hazelnuts). Prep Time: 45 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups of shortening 1 cup of confectioner’s […]

Kourabiethes Nistisimoi In Greek: κουραμπιέδες νηστίσιμες, pronounced koo-rahm-bee-YEH-thes nee-STEE-see-mes Adapting recipes to meet Greek dietary restrictions during Lent and other periods of “fasting” (as they are called in Greek) doesn’t mean giving up taste and texture. And it doesn’t mean not eating delicious foods. Kourabiethes, sugared shortbread cookies, are favorites at the holidays made with butter and […]

Tsoureki (tsoo-REH-kee)is the traditional bread of Greek Easter. Tsoureki is a rich yeast bread flavored with orange and a delightful spice called Mahlab (also called Mahlepi) that is ground from the pits of wild cherries. You can find Mahlab online or at ethnic grocery stores specializing in Greek or Middle Eastern products. Every family has their own […]

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 […]

Bobota (bo-BOH-tah) is a rustic country cornbread that can be served on the sweet or savory side. The sweet version often has a honey-orange syrup. This version incorporates delicious Kasseri, Kefalotyri, and Feta cheese and can be served alone as a quick breakfast or as a savory side dish to dinner. Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 40 minutes […]