MEAT WEEK 1: Baked pork shin flavoured with cumin and cooked in beer sauce

We really love pork meat in our family and I always try to discover new recipes and experiment with this, rather "misunderstood" in my opinion, kind of meat. In today's recipe we have the classic pork shin (or shank?) slowly cooked in beer sauce and mildly spiced. As you will see just a few ingredients are enough for this recipe! The result is really delicious and I think that this is one of our best Winter-time recipes with pork. The best company for it is a potato salad, a fluffy potato mash or for those who don't worry so much about calories a good portion of fried potatoes

MEAT WEEK 1: Mildly spiced caramelised baked lamb leg with potatoes

One of the most classic recipes for lamb in the Greek cuisine and one dish that it is perfect for all seasons! In this version we have a bit of a twist thanks to the presence of paprika and ginger. It is a very family and kids-friendly recipe and surely one of those which is also ideal to entertain guests at home. Slowly cooked in the oven, the meat is so tender and moist inside and caramelised on the outside with the potatoes absorbing all the luscious flavours

MEAT WEEK 1: Potted Veal in red wine and tomato sauce

Tender veal slowly cooked in tomato sauce along with small onions brings to mind the traditional "stifado" recipe. Only in a rather lighter version I would say, regardless the presence of the bacon. The good quality of the red wine used is rather essential in this recipe because it will come so nicely together with the sweet onions and the bacon. There are so many Greek good reds in the market but also a Syrah will do the job perfectly in this case. You can serve the food as it is but also you could accompany it with steamed white rice or tagliatelle

MEAT WEEK 1: Yiouvarlakia meatballs "à la Polita"

This is another version of the classic "yiouvarlakia" dish and from its name we can figure that this recipe is a legacy of the Greeks of Asia Minor. I didn't used to be a big fan of this dish when I was younger and from what I've heard not many kids of that age were anyway! Since then, though, my taste for various foods have changed and now I can really appreciate them for what they really are, just delicious! This version of "yiouvarlakia" is rather heavier than the classic one because of the frying of the meatballs but definitely they are tastier! Beside the obvious, the feta cheese and some fresh bread that is, they can also be accompanied by thick Greek yoghurt. Add a few dollops of it on your plate and you'll see how even more interesting the flavour can be

MEAT WEEK 1: Baked pork fillet with smoked cheese and white wine sauce

Such a delicious recipe this one! Pork tenderloin cut into thin fillets and baked with smoked cheese which melts and gives such a wonderful taste! The wine sauce poured over adds extra flavour to the dish and you can enjoy it along with a salad, or rice pilaf or fried potatoes and enjoy with the family a really luscious meal! The original recipe includes the very tasty Greek smoked Metsovone cheese coming from Metsovo (hence its name) in Epirus region. I don't expect you to find this cheese easily abroad, but you can use another smoked, yellow, semi-hard cheese instead. A good substitute for this recipe is, for example, the over-a-flame smoked Gouda

MEAT WEEK 1: Lamb "yiahni" with capers and Kefalotyri cheese

A very hearty recipe to enjoy with the family! Based on traditional recipes this one will cause you no trouble to prepare! The slow cooking makes the meat so tender and juicy at the same time. You'll probably notice that, unlike with other similar Greek recipes, no wine or spices are involved and that's because the capers and the cheese are more than enough to give that special extra flavour to the whole dish. A fluffy white rice pilaf is probably the best company for this recipe but mashed potatoes also suit it nicely