Happy New Year! The year (2021) is in the past and I am sure many of you are happy that a new year is upon us. The end of the year is a time for reflection and I recently took a look at my posts/recipes of 2021 and here are some of the dishes that stood out.
Best Dishes of 2021
Feta Brined Chicken Breast – The concept is simple, use Feta brine that would otherwise be thrown out to brine chicken. The salt and lactic acid tenderize the meat and add juicyness.
Baklava Cheesecake – I’ve been toying with this concept for a couple of years and I finally posted a version I am happy to share. I’ll probably tinker with this idea again but this recipe is a stunner!
Chicken With Hilopites – I love comfort dishes and chicken and those little square pasta (hilopites) are like a warm hug from Yiayia.
Kontosouvli In Parchment – An oven version of Kontosouvli that yields a juicy pork entree for those cold Sundays where you don’t want to set up your rotisserie on your outdoor grill.
Sfakinano Goat Yiahni – this dish Crete on your plate; a saute of goat pieces that are then covered and simmered until tender. Salt, pepper, lemon, oregano…how Greek er Cretan!
Semolina Halva With Ice Cream Surprise – This takes a rustic Greek dessert and elevates it with a scoop of ice cream in the center. Warm halva and cold ice cream…the sensation and taste is tremendous.
Briam With Halloumi – This vegetarian classic gets amp’d up with Halloumi cheese dotted on top. A winner when summer vegetables are in season.
Chicken Chops (chicken paidakia) – Some tavernas in Greece will cut up chicken across the bone, creating what looks like chicken chops. Great on the grill, best eaten with your hands.
Smashed Bougatsa – inspired by Cookavaya in Athens, this is basically a deconstructed Bougatsa; warm custard on the bottom, puffy phyllo on time. Guests smash the phyllo into the custard and mix it up and…eat it.
Cretan Summer Stifado – this one pot meal can be adapted to what you have in hand. Just be sure you include lots of onions, after all it is a Stifado.
Fried Zucchini Tower – While I’ve been cooking fried zucchini chips for many years, I finally shared a version inspired by the Milos Special…a stack of fried zucchini and Tzatziki.
Baby Arugula and Citrus Salad – A gorgeous and delicious salad you can serve all winter long. Yes, we eat with our eyes then our mouths.
Lemon Brulee – Simplicity reigns here; a basic lemon bar recipe becomes a fancy dessert by brulee-ing the top. A wonderful dessert to serve after a hearty feast.
Revani With Maple Whisky Sauce – Revani syrupy sponge cake gets elevated here when spoonfuls of maple whisky sauce are poured over it. Greece meets Quebec.
What were some your favourite dishes that I shared in 2021?
I would like to thank you, my loyal readers for continuing to follow, read, try my dishes, buy my cookbooks, support/attend my events.
I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. Bring on 2022!