Original Recipe: al-Baghdadi p. 212/14 Take fine white flour, and with every ratl mix three uqiya of sesame-oil (one part oil to four of flour), kneading into a firm paste. Leave to rise; then make into long loaves. Put into the middle of each loaf a suitable quantity of ground almonds and scented sugar mixed with rose water, […]

Ingredients: 400 or 500g packet Kateifi pastry 150 – 200g coarsely ground almonds 4 tablespoons of sugar 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon and cloves mixed together 1 glass vegetable oil or cup melted spry or butter. Butter was traditionally used but people with high cholesterol are better to have spry or oil Method: Divide Kateifi into two […]

In Greek: ρύζι με ξηρούς καρπούς, pronounced REE-zee meh ksee-ROOS kar-POOS This recipe for rice with almonds and chestnuts is easy to make, and a seasonal favorite in autumn and winter. For best results, use converted (parboiled) long grain rice with this recipe. Cook Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 1 tablespoon of margarine or butter 4-5 […]

Ingredients: 1 pound ground almonds 3/4 cup granulated sugar 2 tablespoons toasted bread crumbs 4 egg whites 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice Pinch of salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Rose water Confectioners’ sugar Method Beat egg whites with salt until stiff, then add lemon juice. Add almonds, sugar and crumbs to egg whites, folding them in gradually. […]

In Greek: αμυγδαλωτά, pronounced ah-meegh-thah-loh-TAH These are favorite cookies all over Greece. The recipe calls for blanched almonds, sugar, egg whites, lemon juice, bread crumbs, and self-rising flour. The key to working with the dough (which is very granular) is to coat hands with seed oil (sunflower or other) while forming the cookies so the dough doesn’t […]

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 […]

AYIATHA TIS KERKYRAS Another take on the pan-Mediterranean garlic sauce that accompanies fried fish and boiled vegetables. But Corfu’s version of ayiatha, as it is pronounced in the local dialect, calls for bread and almonds, as opposed to potatoes, as the base. Vinegar makes this garlic sauce slightly harsher in flavor than those that call for lemon juice. Locals tend to […]

It’s great in pastries to add a touch of fragrance Rose water is used in the refreshing Μαχαλλεπί (mahallepi), a popular dish enjoyed during hot summer days Add a few drops to a glass of water for a simple, subtle, refreshing drink Glyko tou koutaliou, the traditional Cypriot preserved sweets, can be made with rose […]

Question: What Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs Are in Season Now? Traditional Greek cooking is based on what’s in season at the moment. Meals are often planned at the last minute, depending on what looks irresistible at the market! So what’s in season now? Answer:In today’s world of refrigeration and hothouse-grown produce, the distinction among seasonal produce […]

Like other ancient civilizations, the basic ancient Greek foods were cereals, legumes, oil, and wine. Many ancient Greeks lived in Magna Graecia (Megale Hellas), so the food of the Romans overlaps that of the Greeks. There were, of course, other influences on ancient Greek foods, especially from Asia. We know the Greeks had a wide variety of […]