This recipe is the more traditional way to prepare rose water. You can make a quart of excellent-quality rose water in about 40 minutes. However, if you simmer the water too long, you will continue to produce distilled water but the rose essence will become diluted. Your rose water will smell more like plain distilled […]

Dried beans and peas – limas, pinto, red, black-eyed peas, garbanzo (chickpeas), and Great Northern, to name a few – are favorites in Greek cooking, and easy on the family budget as well. Beans are easy to make, but often not especially quick since most need to be soaked for at least 6 hours, and […]

Greek recipes, especially for cookies, are often made in large quantities. Decreasing the quantity is usually a simple matter of dividing ingredients, but what happens when the recipe calls for a number of eggs, egg yolks, or egg whites that doesn’t divide evenly? It’s easy. Measure them and divide by volume. Mix egg (white and yolk […]

Unfortunately, most recipes are geared towards families of four to six. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, leftovers can be good. And when you’re cooking for one or two a freezer can be your best friend. Nevertheless, there are times when you want to reduce a recipe and fortunately, that’s not particularly difficult. Difficulty: Easy Time […]

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 […]

Each year the Orthodox faithful bake a cake in honor of Saint Fanourios’ (fah-NOO-ree-os) day on August 27th. He is believed to be the “finder” of lost items for those who bake this cake and bring it to church as an offering of thanks or “tama.” It’s a delicious spiced cake with raisins and walnuts […]

Soumatha (soo-MAH-tha) is a soft drink made from ground sweet and bitter almonds. Traditionally served at happy occasions, Soumatha is very popular at weddings and engagements because of its distinctive white color. When I asked around town for a traditional recipe, I was directed to Kyria (Mrs.) Anna Simboura who is famed to make the best […]

Moussaka (moo-sah-KAH) is perhaps the most widely recognized Greek dish. This recipe is a result of tinkering with the traditional ingredients to make a lighter, vegetarian moussaka recipe. I wouldn’t recommend trying to whip this up on a busy weeknight as it is still quite time consuming. When you have the time to devote to prepping […]

This recipe is the Greek version of the classic potato salad recipe. This Greek potato and feta salad is an easy dish to make, and is best served as an accompaniment to a main meal, or as a light lunch or supper. The warm potatoes accentuate the flavour of the lemon and herbs. Mixed with […]

Snails with crushed wheat pilaf – Cretan Orzo Pilaf with Snails and Chios Mastiha Oil – Rhodes Snails With Gigantes Beans and Artichokes Snails stew – Saligkaria stifado Popping Fried Snails – Kohli Bourbouristi Potatoes with snails and fennel (Cretan)   How To Eat a Greek Snail How to Clean and Prepare Snails for Cooking […]