Upsidedown tart with leeks and hazelnuts

The sweetness of the leeks, the spicy flavour of the roquefort cheese with the mayonnaise and the earthy taste of the hazelnuts create an unusual but delicious combination. A special tart which can become the centrepiece of your table and served as a first dish

Chicken "kapamas" - Chicken with raisins and onions

Something different for your Sunday dinner. A delicious traditional recipe which can be found in various Islands around Greece

Tsoureki bread with raisins and lime

Tsoureki, this delicious traditional semi-sweet bread, is not only for the Easter period as most of us have it in mind. It can be prepared anytime and it is so versatile that you can create delicious recipes depending on the ingredients you can add in the classic recipe. Try it out as a nice accompaniment to your coffee or tea or just as a snack instead of the classic cakes or other sweet breads. If any is left then you can use it to make a nice bread pudding

28 OCTOBER 1940 - THE DAY OF THE BIG "NO" - A NATIONAL DAY WHICH WE'LL NEVER STOP REMEMBERING AND HONOURING

The Greek National Anthem was written by
Dionysios Solomos in 1824 and the music composed by Nikolaos Mantzaros in 1828. It was adopted in 1864

It was translated into English by Rudyard Kipling in 1918

"... We knew thee of old,
O, divinely restored,
By the lights of thine eyes,
And the light of thy Sword.

From the graves of our slain,
Shall thy valour prevail,
As we greet thee again,
Hail, Liberty! Hail! " 

Sweet and sour pork with garlic baked in paper

A rich in taste and full of aroma recipe for a hearty Sunday dinner. Baking in paper keeps the meat tender and moist and helps it to blend perfectly with the rest of the ingredients

Homemade orange liqueur flavoured with cinnamon

Another home made liqueur this time with oranges which have started being in season and they are full of aroma and taste. A great treat for all seasons and a great idea for a Xmas gift to friends and family

Baked rabbit with bacon in lemon sauce

Easy, very tasty and fine flavours in this dish with rabbit. You can substitute with chicken if you want but I believe that rabbit is the best match

Green salad with chicken livers, bacon and pomegranate

Another tasty salad with Winter flavours ready to satisfy your appetite anytime. Rich in taste, in aroma and in colour. What more do you need?
 

No yeast cheese bread with onions

Home made bread is something else! This one is quite easy to prepare since we don't use any yeast which delays the whole procedure. Try it out when you have the chance and it will become one of your favourite bread recipes
 



Greek meatballs in rich tomato sauce served with pasta

In the list with our favourite foods, regardless the season or the temperatures, pasta dishes have an honourable place and more or less this goes for the majority of the Greeks. As for the keftedes (meatballs) what can I say? Again, one of the most popular foods around Greece! So versatile since you can find them in so many different shapes, ways of cooking and flavours. I know what some of you might think.... that this is an immitation of the famous (and delicious) italian "meatballs with spaghetti"... and if I was not Greek I would agree with you. But, because I'm Greek and I know, I'm telling you that cooking the meatballs in the way I present you today is a recipe that exists in the Greek cuisine looooong before any Italian or other European famous dishes appeared on our tables becoming a fashion. Fried or baked meatballs left from the day before most often found themselves the next day smothered by a rich tomato sauce in a pot... I remember my mother doing it since I was a kid (and that means over 40 years ago) and I remember her saying that her mother used to do it before her... and I'm sure most mothers and grandmothers were doing the same especially in old days when there was no way any leftovers to be wasted. Enjoy!:-)

Greek lemon pie with pine nuts

A delicious lemon pie which is very different than the American type with the meringue etc. The addition of the pine nuts gives an extra flavour and a nicely crunchy top

Zymaroula - Savoury pumpkin and feta cheese batter pie

This savoury pie, using pumpkin, is a traditional dish and it is very popular around the country. It can be found with small differences regarding it's name or the cheeses used in the recipe but basically it is what you see. It is a very easy pie to make since there is no pastry involved but a nice batter and that saves a lot of time. It can be served as a main meal along with a salad or as a snack or as a first dish and it is perfect to pack for a picnic or for the kids to take with them to school. The specific version comes from the Thessalia region (Central Greece) and because in the old days olive oil was expensive and difficult to find, they used to use pork fat in this and other savoury pies

Winter salad with baked beetroots, rocket and sesame

Easy, refreshing, colourful and very tasty Winter-time salad which you can serve as a main salad or as an accompaniment to various dishes

Greek burgers topped with garlic tomato sauce and fried eggs

This is a delicious recipe which you can enjoy as a main meal or as a brunch dish. My mother used to follow this idea the times that she happened to have some biftekia left from Sunday's dinner and it used to be one of my favourites. Who can resist a luscious hot egg yolk running off the egg and finishing on top of a grilled burger.... not many in my opinion. Enjoy this dish by accompanying it with some nice double-fried potatoes

Tzatziki with a twist

Tzatziki (and not "tSatSiki" as I often see and hear people pronouncing it abroad...) is a well known dip around the globe and with many big fans as far as I know:-)! Here the classic recipe gets an alternative form thanks to the addition of the carrot and the parsley. With these two ingredients the recipe gets a slightly sweeter flavour but without losing its authenticity

Meze with lamb liver in the skillet

This is a great dish to serve as a meze. Simple ingredients and no fuss to prepare it. The "apaki" ingredient in this recipe is nothing other than lean smoked pork which originated in Crete where it is considered as a great local delicacy. If you can not find "Apaki" in the delicatessen shops then feel free to use smoked bacon or pancetta. The taste will not be exactly the same but quite similar

Beef in tomato sauce with ouzo and peppers

A classic Sunday dish with a great taste and full of aroma thanks to the ouzo. Serve it with anything you fancy because it goes perfectly well with mashed potatoes, fried potatoes, rice pilaf or pasta. Definitely don't forget to bring to the table some fresh crusty bread to dip in the delicious chunky sauce...

Greek meatballs with ouzo and cumin

Meatballs..... "Keftedes" in Greek... A delicious meaty treat which you can find all over the country and in many different versions. Today our keftedes have the aroma of ouzo and cumin and they come from Mytilini (producer of one of the most famous ouzos in Greece), the capital city of Lesbos island in Aegean sea

Perch fillets with garlic sauce

Perch is a very tasty fish and this recipe combines beautiful and aromatic ingredients and it is very easy to put together. You can cook the same recipe using cod fillets. The recipe comes from Mrs Lambraki, a well known cook/cooking TV shows presenter and cooking author in newspapers and magazines in Greece

Baked quinces in sweet red wine

Different and delicious dessert for a fruit that although it is not possible to eat raw it can be used in so many different sweet or savoury recipes. You can use any type of sweet red wine but if you can find the Greek "Mavrodaphne" you should try it out. It dates back in the 1800s when this wine first was produced from a variety of red grapes in Achaia region in Peloponnese and we use it in various recipes

Fried Anthotyro cheese

Α delicious meze for all seasons with the minimum of work to put together. Anthotyro cheese is so tasty and elegant and it will satisfy you completely. Because of its delicate taste it is better to be served alone without any other contiments next to it. Enjoy this dish even more along with a chilled glass of ouzo

Octopus stifado with capers

A delicious dish which you can enjoy anytime of the year since you can use frozen octopus. Be careful with the salt because the octopus is rather salty by nature and also the capers will keep some of their saltiness

Snow-white truffles "mandarinato"

A cute and delicious little sweet with the fresh aroma of the mandarines which will be a great treat to your guests or a very nice gift for Christmas or any other occasion. Mandarines are very popular in Greece and one of the most bought Winter time fruit. Try to get unwaxed mandarines so to get most of the flavour and the aroma

Classic rice pilaf flavoured with zafora

"Zafora" is the greek word for the "saffron" and the best quality comes from the area of Kozani in Northern Greece. I have said before a few things about Greek saffron and how important has become again in the Greek cuisine. Here today we have a nice and simple rice pilaf but full of taste and aroma thanks to this precious spice. You can serve the dish accompanying roast or braised meat, poultry and even fish. This version of the dish is an idea of Mrs V. Alexiadou, one of the most popular Greek chefs