Gamopilafo aka Cretan Wedding Rice
The first time I had Cretan Wedding Rice (Gamopilafo) was 10 years ago, my first trip to Crete. Traditionally, this rice is served at Cretan weddings usually made with a combo of goat or lamb and rooster to make the stock. This dish is an center piece offering exemplifying the host family’s wealth and well […]
Pavlova With Lemon Curd and Fruit
Named after Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, this New Zealand-created dessert is easy and the combinations are endless! On your plate, a pavlova consists of a meringue nest (the base of the dessert) followed by a pastry cream, lemon curd and topped with fruit. This dish takes little time and you’ll impress your guests this summer […]
Zucchini Rice With Shrimp
In the northern hemisphere, our gardens are teeming with the bounty of summer and Greeks like to grow zucchini. It’s an easy vegetable to grow and it can be stuffed, fried, grated and use in phyllo pies, raw salads, cakes, fritters and today, rice! The flavours of this dish are inspired by Zucchini Fritters and […]
Kourkoubinia
I know it’s cliched but the simple things in life are often the most satisfying. In this instance, Kourkoubinia hit the spot. Kourkoubinia are little logs of rolled phyllo that get fried until golden then dunked in syrup. They are crunchy, they are sweet and my oh my…addictive! Think of these as sweet phyllo bites. […]
King Crab Pasta With Tomato and Ouzo Sauce
I love fish and seafood and it the summer months, I crave lighter dishes – foods that aren’t meat. Crab and lobster are rivals when it comes to gaining the attention of seafood lovers but if we’re talking about King Crab, they win “claws down”! This dish makes use of frozen crab legs, which is […]
Cretan Dakos
Recipe Update from June 20, 2008 One of Crete’s most popular gifts to Greek cuisine is the Cretan Dakos. Dakos are a twice baked rusk made of whole wheat or barley flour. Dakos or Paximadi have been known in Crete since the Middle Ages. These rusk-like rolls are shaped into rings and baked once before […]
Fried Zucchini Chips
Recipe update from April 23, 2010 With the warm weather here, I’m am eating outdoors and my mind wanders to Greece: eating outdoors at a taverna with family & friends. Ordering two of everything off the menu is how we roll. I always make sure that some fried zucchini chips are included in the parade […]
Frigania From Zakynthos
Three years ago, I visited the island of Zakynthos, located among the Ionian Islands, off the coast of Patras. My hotel was located in the island’s main town and specifically near Solomos (Dionysios) Square, named after the poet who wrote the Greek National Anthem’s lyrics. I ordered one of the island’s specialties, the “Frigania” from […]
Fava Santorini
Fava in the Greek food sense has nothing to do with fava beans. Rather, it’s a dip made from yellow split peas. Making fava is easy -a ll one has to do is simmer the fava until the liquid has been absorbed and then give it whiz in the processor with your favourite flavourings. […]
Sheet Pan Gnocchi With Shrimp and Feta
One of the better “convenience products” now available in supermarkets are these packages of vacuum packed gnocchi. In other words, they are shelf-stable until you open the package. A great new pantry item to add to your list. Of course, making these potato dumplings yourself would be better but this sheet pan gnocchi recipe is […]