Easy and fast homemade basic mustard recipe + 2 tasty simple ideas

I know..... what's the point to make mustard at home since, nowadays, there are so many companies around the world with some really tasty and well made mustards which make our lives easier... What if I'd tell you that "why not? Just for the sake of it!" or "Why not to have the satisfaction that you did try it at home and probably your mustard would taste much better than the store-bought one?" Would these reasons be enough to convince you? Probably not, as I was not for a long time:-)) But, believe me, once you do it for a first time following this basic recipe, then you'll do it again and again because it's so easy and fast! So, here is the basic recipe which you can easily adapt regarding the quantity of the ingredients but better to start off with a small jar so to see how it goes

Sweet and spicy tomato chutney scented with saffron

Now that the tomatoes are in their season and there are so many in the market, take advantage and prepare your own jams and chutneys to enjoy during the coming months. There are many different versions of tomato chutney around and all of them they have their own special flavour. This one here is quite simple but very tasty thanks to the various spices and it will become a good company to various other dishes

Easy homemade tomato paste

Take advantage of the season that now is full of fragrant fresh tomatoes and prepare your own tomato paste at home! I still remember my mother doing this every Summer (and she continues...) so to have her homemade tomato paste in hand for later on... So useful for all those Winter-time recipes and knowing that it is made by yourself out of just a few ingredients

Greek-style pesto with spearmint and almonds

Spearmint is very popular in Greece and it is used in many dishes as a herb. In some cases spearmint is the ingredient which makes all the difference in the dish. The aroma and the taste are so refreshing, always giving an extra flavour to the recipe. Here we have a nice alternative for pesto which you can use in various dishes

Florina red peppers chutney

A nice recipe to accompany any cold or grilled meat or to enrich other sauces with. Florina peppers are Greece's finest and famous for their sweetness and their distinctive aroma and we use them in Greece in many recipes. They also peel very easily. You can always substitute with pimento peppers or red bell peppers

Mussels in brine

Another delicious dish to enjoy as a meze all year round! Easy to prepare and with just a few ingredients but the result it is very tasty and delicate in flavour. A special appetizer that the seafood fans will appreciate greatly!

Easy olives and capers paste

Easy and fast to make this paste, it can be used in many different ways and it is for all seasons! Useful as a dip or a spread for sandwiches, canapés etc, as a nice addition to various salads or even mixed in pasta dishes

Greek-style pickled boiled eggs

A nice recipe and very versatile since you can serve the pickled eggs as a meze for your ouzo or to add in various salads or in sandwiches. Not complicated at all and with simple ingredients this is a great delicacy to serve in any occasion of family and friends gatherings and in any season

Pickled giant beans - Great meze dish!

Easy recipe to follow and a delicious idea to enjoy the giant beans in a much different way than the classic recipes. Giant beans can also get into a jar to enjoy them as a meze along with some Retsina wine and along with other appetizer dishes

Almonds, parsley and rocket pesto

Different than the classic flavours in this easy to make pesto which though, work very well together. It is not only to coat your pasta with but it can be used in various vegetable and salad recipes as well or to accompany some grilled fish or poultry with it

Spicy pickled beetroots at home

A great idea with a tasty recipe to preserve fresh beetroots and use them any time you need! They can be served next to a platter with various cheeses, in sandwiches, on various salads or to accompany grilled meat and fish dishes



Greek pesto with spinach, feta cheese and dill

Based, of course, on the famous Italian sauce here we have a variation with more Greek flavours. Easy to put together, this pesto can be used not only on your pasta dishes but adding 1-2 tbsp in a vinaigrette will give to your usual lettuce salad an extra flavour! Also, works perfectly on a potato or fresh beans salad and next to roast chicken or pork fillet

Herbed and spiced yoghurt/cheese balls in the jar!

An easy and delicious way to prepare this appetizer and enjoy it any time you want through the year! They can be served as they are or added in various salads

Coarse aubergine sauce

This is a delicious sauce which can be used in many different ways. As a sauce on top of pasta but also as a dip or spread to accompany some toast bread or bread sticks. It works perfectly as a side dish to various roast poultry and fish

Pickled aubergines

Aubergines are one of my favourite Summer vegetables (which actually is a fruit) and so popular in Greek cuisine. In Greece aubergines come in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes - round, oblong, purple or almost black.

There is the variety with an ivory colour, coming from Santorini island in Aegean Sea which are harder to find in vegetable markets of other areas. This variety is very tasty with a smooth, mild taste and less seeds than the others. Often it is planted along with basil so to become sweeter in taste. One of its advantages is the fact that it absorbs much less oil so it is a better choice for frying, if of course you can find any in big cities

In the past it was "a must" to soak the aubergines in salted water before cooking so to remove bitterness. Nowadays this is not so much the problem, it seems that aubergines have evolved... For sure the other popular Greek variety, the one with the thin oblong shape and the beautiful purple colour known as "Tsakonikes" were always as sweet as honey and it was never necessary to soak in water first. This variety, coming from around the Peloponnesian town of Leonidio (also as "Argeitikes" because they can also be found in Argos area), ripens earlier in this area and the fruit is used in many combinations in cooking and even in confectionery with the main product being the traditional "dessert spoon" sweet. Since 1966, "Tsakonikes" aubergines are included among 317 European products with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), guaranteeing the producers of Leonidio the exclusivity of cultivation of the specific variety under strict production standards

One great, traditional recipe in Greek cuisine are the pickled aubergines. Baby aubergines are used which in the end they give an excellent meze which can be served all year round

Homemade mayonnaise dressed in green!

Fresh, green herbs can be used to boost up the taste of various dishes but also to give a twist to the classic (and boring according to some) mayonnaise making it more interesting. Better to have all the ingredients at room temperature

Pickled tuna fillets - A great meze for your ouzo

This is really one of those delicacies that one should try out at least once! If you like your wine or ouzo and you would like to taste something different this is a great idea of what we call "meze dish". Its purpose though is not only this, it can also be served as a side dish next to recipes like the classic haricot bean soup or other recipes with dried pulses

Tasty and useful marinades

I assume that you often wonder, as I do, "which marinade is more suitable in this case?"... Well, all you have to do is to choose one of the tasty marinades below and be sure that they will give a special aroma and taste to any meat, fish or vegetable dish you are about to cook

Roast garlic relish

Garlic (“skordo” in Greek) is one of the main and very popular ingredients in Greek cuisine. Garlic fits almost everywhere, it goes with nearly all savoury dishes. In some of them two or three cloves are more than enough. For a lighter flavour it is better to peel them. In Thrace (Northeastern Greece) where many dishes are "heavier" than those in other areas whole garlic heads are used in various meat and poultry stews after removing the outer skin and the fronds. This garlic relish is quite versatile since it can be used in salad dressings (about 1 tsp is enough) for a bit of extra flavour, in pasta sauces, in soups to give a bit of a kick, to rub on a chicken for roasting, to various seafoods and even as an addition to any dish with innards! Just a few simple ingredients for such an aromatic and delicious relish!

 

Octopus in vinegar sauce

"Sarakosti" (the 40 day Lent before Easter) is not so difficult to follow after all. As long as you know what the family likes regarding vegetables and seafood, then it is easy to organize things accordingly. One popular and versatile ingredient is the octopus. There are so many different ways to cook it and enjoy it as a main meal or as a meze. There is only a rule regarding octopus, regardless the recipe. Don't add any water in the pot while boiling, leave it to cook in its own juices otherwise it can become rather hard. Great also as a meze dish to accompany your ouzo in the Summer time