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 […]

Question: What Did the Ancient Greeks Eat? Answer:The foods of ancient Greece were similar to foods we eat today, but did not include many that have become important parts of modern Greek cooking. For example, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and bananas didn’t arrive in Greece until after the discovery of the Americas in the 15th century, because […]

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 […]

Greek name and pronunciation: Colianthro, κολίανδρο, pronounced koh-LEE-ahn-throh (hard th, rhymes with “dough”) At the market: Coriander seeds are available in sealed packs. Pour-and-shake containers of ground coriander are sometimes available, but it is recommended to buy the seeds and grind them yourself. Physical characteristics: When these rounded seeds are crushed with a mortar and […]

Soutsoukakia ‘The Mediterranean diet is currently considered by Nutritionists as a modus vivende that endows people with longevity and sound health, with Crete at its epicentre, as supported by research conducted on an international scale.’ These cumin-flavoured meatballs may be casseroled or oven-baked with potatoes – here is the oven version. Ingredients: 500g minced meat (lamb […]

In Greek: χορτόσουπα, say: hor-TOH-soo-pah This is a very easy soup to make, and a great way to use up small quantities of vegetables that may be hanging around the fridge and pantry. Quantities and specific ingredients depend on the season and what you may have on hand, so feel free to add to or […]

Greek name and pronunciation: maïdanos, μαϊντανός, pronounced my-ee-dah-NOHSS At the market: Bundles of freshly cut parsley or disposable containers of dried parsley leaves and dried parsley seeds are available at the market. Fresh is always preferable since dried parsley quickly loses taste and aroma. Physical characteristics: Parsley has a light, fresh scent and flavor. It […]

Another difference that distinguishes the ancient Greek diet from that of Northern Europeans was the consumption of vegetables and fruit in vast quantities. In fact, certain ancient Greeks, such as Plato, Callimachus and the Pythagoreans, strongly advocated vegetarianism. Certainly, the fruit and vegetables consumed by the ancient Greeks were not the same as those avialable […]

Due to fasting, the Byzantines incorporated fresh vegetables and wild greens in their meals much more often than the ancient Greeks, although the varieties consumed in both historic periods did not vary considerably. Compared with the modern age, fresh vegetables and wild greens were given different names and varied in their cooking method; for these […]

Byzantine food refers to the food of Byzantine, a part of Roman Empire. The food is the result of the fusion of Roman and Greek cooking styles. With the development of Byzantine trade and empire, various kinds of new vegetables and spices, along with sugar, were brought in the region, which eventually led to the […]