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Traditional, authentic νηστισιμα Greek vegan recipes.

Traditional Greek Fava

October 21, 2012 12
creamy, velvety traditional Greek fava

creamy, velvety traditional Greek fava

 Breaking news for all you Greek vegans – hummus is not Greek! No matter how many Greek restaurants in the US  feature hummus on their menus, I am here to tell you it is almost NEVER served in restaurants or homes in Greece. Instead, authentic Greek restaurants and families enjoy a traditional, so delicious spread made from yellow split peas called fava (not to be confused with fava the bean).

Think of fava as hummus on steroids, both in taste and nutrition. Fava can be served smooth or chunky depending on your taste. It has a bit of a peppery bite from Continue Reading →

Baked Figs

September 15, 2012 1

 

baked figs with pistachios

A fresh, ripe fig warm from the sun is one of the most delicious things you will ever taste – seriously, put this one on your bucket list! As I live in the Northeast US, the local fig season is short and figs shipped in from other states are good but not the same.This traditional, simple, quick recipe takes good figs and makes them great.

A hot oven, a little orange juice, lemon peel and a bit of honey (or agave) and you’re good to go. I will concede this isn’t the most challenging bake you’ll ever make. But I have looked into the BakeryClasses.in recommended professional baking courses in order to allow me to attempt even more complicated bakes I often make these for breakfast on a lazy Saturday with sliced almonds on top. They also make a beautiful, light dessert at fancy dinners. However, whenever you choose to indulge, these sticky sweet gems of pink velvety goodness will not disappoint!

Continue Reading →

Quick Kritsinia (Sesame Bread Sticks)

August 17, 2012 3

kritsinia sesame bread sticks

You’ll find these crunchy sesame bread sticks wherever you go in Greece. With dozens of varieties to suit every taste, some are sweet, some savory and made with everything from honey and cinnamon to zucchini. Kritsinia are delicious with coffee for breakfast or snack and are a perfect side to any lunch or dinner.

This recipe makes about 2 1/2 dozen and uses store made bread dough. Sea salt, olive oil and sesame seeds dress up the basic dough and give you a positively addictive Continue Reading →

Wheat Berry Pudding / Varvara

August 11, 2012 2

wheat berry pudding

I’ve always eaten this dish for breakfast. We jokingly called it Greek oatmeal and it’s still one of my favorites today! Then one day a few years back, I came across it served as dessert in a little village on the island of Chios. The clouds parted, the sun shone, angels sang – I could enjoy this sweet, creamy, nutty pudding any time of day, hooray!

Served warm from the stove with golden raisins mixed in, wheat berry pudding is a fantastic way to start the day. Served at room temp as dessert, appetizer or even lunch with your favorite fruits and nuts Continue Reading →

Fried Sweet Green Peppers

August 6, 2012 2

fried sweet green peppers

You’ll find this super simple, incredibly tasty meze (or appetizer) everywhere in Greece. These sweet green peppers fried up to a tender, mouth watering state of delicious will fill your kitchen with the most amazing aromas. Honestly, that’s something I look forward to every time I make these!

Pair them with a glass of dry white wine and a big piece of crusty bread for lunch or light dinner. You’ll find that, out of the pan or room temperature, fried sweet green peppers Continue Reading →

Barley Salad

August 2, 2012 0

Barley Salad

Light, lemony and so satisfying with layers of textures and flavors, this will be your favorite way to enjoy barley!

I’ve always loved this dish but never as much as when I found it on the chalkboard menu outside a little restaurant in the town of Edipsos on the island of Evvia. A heaping scoop of barley salad sitting in a big piece of sweet red watermelon – brilliant! The combination of tastes is just so perfect together. Ever since, when Continue Reading →

Greek Salad Dressing

July 25, 2012 6

authentic, delicious Greek vegan salad dressing

This is my favorite Greek vegan dressing, hands down. There is a secret ingredient and I’m going to share it with you. It gives a zest and zing to the flavors that will have you licking your fingers with joy.

The secret ingredient is mustard powder! You don’t taste mustard, it just amps up all the other ingredients giving you Continue Reading →

Eggplant Tiganites (Fried Eggplant)

July 19, 2012 5

eggplnt pltes 1This recipe is one of the earliest memories I have of cooking. Sprinkling salt on the eggplant slices and watching them ‘sweat’ out their bitterness fascinated me to no end. It was a simple but important job and one I took very seriously – isn’t it funny the things you remember? Eggplant tiganites are a staple menu item and often served as appetizers, or meze, in Greece. My favorite is to layer them between two pieces of bread for lunch. They’re wonderful anytime really!

The secret to this recipe – the simple batter coating that turns to a delicious golden crisp and protects the tender eggplant from becoming greasy. The result is melt-in-your mouth amazing. Probably not something often said about the unassuming Continue Reading →

Greek Green Beans / Fasolakia

July 10, 2012 44
Greek green beans

Greek green beans / fasolakia

I visited a friends house after school once and her mom asked if I liked green beans, she was serving them with dinner. I said, yes I loved them! Well, that was before I sat down to eat a side of soggy, grey-green canned beans. Yuk! Green beans to me were soft and tender and swimming in tomato, garlic and olive oil.

You’ll be surprised how simple these are to prepare and how melt in your mouth delicious they are. This recipe is based on 2 lbs of green beans and can easily be doubled or tripled with perfect results. Make sure to have Continue Reading →

Toasted Chickpeas (Stragalia/Στραγάλια)

June 12, 2012 6

stragalia / traditional toasted chickpeas

Stragalia were one of my favorite snacks growing up and a particular favorite of my great grandmother Stella. All toasted and crunchy, salty and savory with sweet golden raisins and boukovo chili flakes – I still eat these traditional toasted chickpeas by the handful!

Stragalia (στραγάλια)  are a delicious, very healthy, totally addictive snack that are so simple to make and a fantastic on-the-go option for work or school too!  With coriander and fennel seeds, fresh ground black pepper, salt and garlic, this recipe is the perfect combination of traditional Greek spices. The secret to getting crunchy, nutty good bites every time? A very hot Continue Reading →

Horiatiko Greek Salad

April 30, 2012 0

Greek chopped salad in kouloura

This is a traditional, horiatiko or village, chopped Greek salad. A fail-proof recipe, the fresher your veggies are here, the more delicious your salad will be. I think of it as a very farmers market friendly dish!

So quick and easy, you’ll find yourself making this salad all the time. I’ve listed out the ingredients by number of each vegetable with corresponding cup measurements so you can easily scale this recipe to Continue Reading →

Spanakorizo (Spinach and Rice)

February 20, 2012 35

spanakorizo / spinach and rice

Such a healthy, hearty, tasty dish – this meal can be on your table in less than 40 minutes. Spanakorizo (Σπανακόριζο) is traditionally served as both a main and side dish. Pair it with a wedge of lemon and a piece of bread, this dish is delicious right off the stove or served at room temperature.

Guaranteed to become one of your go-to Greek vegan and Meatless Monday recipes, spanakorizo is another great option for take-to-work/school lunch.  I use fresh spinach probably 90% of the time but in a pinch, Continue Reading →

Skordalia with Roasted Garlic

November 26, 2011 4

Skordalia with Roasted Peppers and Olives

How delicious does this look? Skordalia is found in almost every Greek household, made with just a few common ingredients and so good. It’s such a versatile dish you’ll find yourself spreading it on sandwiches, veggies or just tucking into a big bowlful with crusty bread.

Many years ago, because skordalia is traditionally made with raw garlic (recipe for traditional version here), my father had to make some adjustments to this dish before our young and Americanized palates would tolerate it. By simply substituting roasted garlic for raw, he retained much of the healthy goodness and original ingredients but with a much more subtle garlic flavor. Continue Reading →

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