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Greek Food with recipes and photos
Greek food is a wonderful mix of oriental and European dishes, cooked using different methods, from frying to broiling to boiling. Food in Greece is both easy to make, as the following recipes show, and delightful.

Much of Greek food is seasonal and alot of it is prepared during different times of the year, mainly around dates of religious events, such as Easter, Christmas or New Year.

Greek food, uses much tomato paste in a liquid form. If you get a can of peeled tomatoes and mix them well, it will produce an appropriate paste.

In recent years, medical evidence has shown that eating a high quantity of tomatoes, results in lower cancer rates. Perhaps this is the reason why Greece as a country has low cancer rates. On the other hand, the incident rate of heart and stroke diseases increases every year.

In the recipes given below, some of the ingredients may not be available in your area, thus arternates are given, trying to keep the original taste intact. However, this may not be possible, and no matter what a Greek restaurant in your area says, Greek food is only Greek food when prepared in Greece. I suppose this is true for Texas T-Bone steaks as for Greek food, right? Just one more reason why you should go there and experience it yourself!

The following are some of the easiest recipes that anyone can make and turn a dinner into a Greek treat. Kalí óreksi (Bon Apetit)!

Starters, salads, side dishes
TZAZIKI
Ingredients:
  • 500 grams (1/2 quart) of Greek yoghurt (or natural full, dairy yoghurt)
  • Three garlic cloves
  • 1/2 cup of olive oil
  • 1/2 sliced cucumber
Put the yoghurt in a bowl. Put the garlic through a garlic press and using the edge of a knife, spread the garlic coming our of the press on the yoghurt. Take the cucumber and peal the skin. Slice it thinly, either with a knife or using a salad slicer. Mix the ingredients with a mixer (or a fork) and slowly add the oil. The oil will be absorbed, and when it is done, the tzazki is ready. Serve with a spoon and a few olives spread on the top. Tzaziki is eaten with plenty of french bread.

KAKAVIA SOUP (FISH SOUP)
Ingredients:
  • About 1 kilo or two pounds of fish, half small, half large, any fish will do must be gutted and scaled(get the cheap ones!)
  • 1 cup of olive oil
  • Three sliced onions
  • Three sliced tomatoes
  • Salt and pepper
Put the smaller fish with enough water to cover them to boil. Add the olive oil, the sliced onions and the sliced tomatoes. After boiling them for about 1 hour, strain them through a strainer, making sure the meat of fish is well pressed. This is then returned to the heat and now you put the larger pieces of fish in it. Add water to cover. After about 1/2 hour, remove it from the fire, and slowly take out each large fish and remove the bones, head and fins. Return to the soup and serve hot.
CHICKEN SOUP
Ingredients:
  • One whole chicken, about 1 kilo (2 pounds), must be cleaned first or purchase at a supermarket
  • Three onions, sliced
  • 1 cup of olive oil
  • One cup of rice
  • Salt and pepper
Put the chicken to boil, and after starting to boil, add the olive oil and the onions. Leave to boil for about an hour, by which time the chicken should be coming apart. Remove the froth periodically with a spoon. Remove the chicken and add the rice. While the soup is boiling, remove all the chicken bones and re-add to the soup. Add salt and pepper. Serve when rice is ready, about 10 minutes.

HORIATIKI / GREEK SALAD
Ingredients:
  • Four tomatoes, sliced in segments (must be hard, salad tomatoes
  • One sliced onion
  • 1/2 sliced cucumber
  • Some olive oil
  • Sliced féta cheese (a white, salty cheese made with goats milk)
  • Salt, pepper and oregano seasoning
Mix the ingredients together and spread the oil over them. Sprinkle some salt, pepper and oregano.
MAIN COURSES
FRIKASSEE OF LAMB
Ingredients:
  • Two large KOS LETTUCE or HARD lettuces
  • Six lamb chops
  • Some olive oil
  • Fresh dill
  • Four eggs
  • Juice from two lemons
  • Two sliced onions
Put the oil in a pot and cook the onion slices until soft. Put the salted lamb chops in the hot oil, and brown both sides. Clean the lettuce leafs with water and without removing all the water from them, place them over the lamb chops. Add the fresh dill, cover, and let cook turning the lamb chops over (medium/high setting). When the lettuce is cooked (should be very soft and look wilted) and the lamb chops feel very soft (about 30-40 minutes), remove from the fire and let cool for about 5 minutes. In the meantime, mix the eggs using a mixer and slowly add the lemon juice. Using a ladle, pick up some of the juice from the pot and add to the eggs/lemon mixture while the mixer is continually beating them. Keep on adding the juice until most of it is in the egg mixture (which by this time should be the same temperature as the pot). Empty the egg mixture into the pot and using a big wooden spoon, mix them vigorously to avoid curdling.
OKRA

Ingredients:
  • 1 kilo (2 pounds) okra - also called ladies fingers - in a can form is OK
  • 1/2 cup vinegar
  • 1 cup of olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons chopped parsley
  • 2 chopped onions
  • 1 can of pulped tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • Salt and pepper
Remove the stems from Okra (if fresh). Wash, drain them and place on a dish. Sprinkle salt, vinegar and pepper. Put this to the side while you prepare the rest. Fry the onions in the olive oil till broan, add the tomatoes, sugar, parsley, salt and pepper. Simmer until the tomatoes are dissolved fully. Add the okra to the mixture, add some more water, and boil ror about 30 minutes, adding water.
SPINACH PIE/SPANAKOPITA
Ingredients:
  • One pack of very thin 'fílo' pastry (obtained from a specialist deli)
  • 1 Kg / 2 lb of spinach, either frozen or fresh
  • 1 kg / 2 lb of féta cheese
  • 250g / 1/2lb of butter or margarine
  • 2 cloves of garlic or garlic power
If the spinach is raw, cook and slice thinly. If frozen, defrost. In either case, mix the féta cheese with the spinach to make a mixture, adding the chopped garlic. Spread some butter on an oven tray. Open the fílo package and place each thin pastry (it is as thin as paper) on the tray, buttering each one using a brush. After you have done 8 fílo slices, place the spinach/féta mixture and spread over the entire oven tray, covering the 8 pastry slices. On top of this, place the remaining pastry slices, buttering each one of them as well. Notch the last one creating 2 inch (5 cm) on a side, squares. Place in a medium heat oven and cook till brown.
KEFTEDES / MEATBALLS
Ingredients:
  • 1lb / 1/2kg of ground beef
  • One choped onion
  • 1 egg
  • Some olive oil
  • Some chopped mint leaves
  • Some flour
  • Salt, pepper and oregano seasoning
Mix the meat with the mint, the egg and the onion. Season with oregano, salt and pepper. Form into egg size balls. Heat the oil. Roll the meatballs in flour and place in the hot oil. When turning brown, turn, cook other side and serve hot.
MOUSAKA
Ingredients:
  • 1 kilo / 2 pounds potatoes
  • 1/2 kilo ground beef
  • 1/2 chopped onion
  • 1 cup tomatoes from a can
  • 1/2 glass white or red wine
  • 1 cup of olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped parsley
  • Salt, pepper and nutmeg
For the topping:
  • 1 liter milk/2 pints
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup of butter
  • 2 eggs
  • Grated cheese (Emmenthal OK)
For just plain old Mousaka, remove the potatoes, however it is normally served with them.
Boil the potatoes and stop half way. Peel them and let aside. Fry the onion in the oil till brown, add the ground beef, wait 10 minutes while stirring, and add the wine, tomatoe, parsley, salt, pepper and about a tablespoon of sugar, and then add 1/2 cup of water. When the water is absorbed, remove from heat, and add the grated cheese and the egg yolks (keeping the egg whites for the topping. In a saucepan bring three cups of milk to boil, mix the flour with the remaining cup and pour stirring constantly, making a thick paste - if too thick, add milk, if too thin, add some more flour. Remove from heat, and add the egg yolks, egg whites and the nutmeg. Butter a baking pan, and put the sliced potatoes in it. Cover with the meat mixture and then cover with the contents of the saucepan. When the topping turns brown, serve cool.
GIOUVETSI / LAMB STEW IN CLAY POTS
Ingredients:
  • 1 kg of lamb(chops/neck, whatever)
  • Three sliced onions
  • 1 litre/1 quart of tomato pureé or tomato paste for cooking
  • Some olive oil
  • 1kg/2lb of 'rice' pasta available in Italian or Greek delicatessens (called Kritharáki)
  • Salt, pepper and oregano seasoning
In a clay pot (or heavy cast iron pot), put the oil and let heat in an oven at high setting. Add the sliced onions and brown. Sprinkle the lamb with salt and pepper and place in the pot to brown the sides. When the lamb starts cooking, place the tomato over it and add the same amount of water. Let it heat for about 1 hour until the lamb feels soft and much of the water has evaporated (add water if needed). Remove from the oven, and put the 1 kg of 'rice' pasta. When the pasta is cooked (another 10 minutes), remove and serve hot.
CHICKEN WITH TOMATO AND FRIES
Ingredients:
  • One medium size chicken (1kg/2lb)
  • One sliced onion
  • 1 litre/1 quart liquid tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup of olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • Two spoons of sugar
  • One can of cooked okra beans
Heat the oil in a big pot (medium-high setting). Place the cleaned chicken in the pot and turn, to brown all the sides evenly. Add the tomato juice and add the same amount of water, plus the sugar. Let it boil for an hour, until the chicken is starting to come apart. The water would have evaporated by now, leaving a thick red sauce. Add ókra if desired. Serve with fries/chips.
FRIED AUBERGINES/EGGPLANTS
Ingredients:
  • Four eggplants/aubergines
  • Two eggs, beaten
  • Some cooking oil
Clean the eggplants and slice them, in 1/16 inch (3mm) slices. Put the oil in a skilet and heat. Take an eggplant slice at a time and cover it with the egg mixture. Place onto the skillet and cook for a minute or so. Turn and cook other side. Repeat until all of the slices are done. Serve with Tzaziki.
TASKEBAP / STEWED MEAT
Ingredients:
  • 1 kg / 2 lb meat in squares
  • One sliced onion
  • 1 litre/1 quart of liquid tomato paste for cooking
  • Two spoons of sugar
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • Salt, pepper and oregano seasoning
Chop the onion and brown in a pot with the oil. Add the meat and brown the sides. Sprinkle salt and pepper. Add the sugar, cover with the tomato juice and add the same amount of water. Let cook for an hour or more until the meat is soft (in a pressure cooker it takes 20 minutes). Serve with rice or fries/chips.
SOUTZOUKAKIA
Ingredients:
  • 1 kg/2 lb ground beef
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 sliced onion
  • 1 litre/1 quart of liquid tomato paste
  • Some olive oil
  • Salt, pepper and oregano seasoning
  • Cumin seasoning
  • Some flour
  • 2 spoons of sugar
Mix the meat with the eggs, and add the chopped onion, the cumin, salt and pepper. Form into elongated balls and turn inside a bowl with the flour. Fry the floured meatballs in the oil at high heat. When cooked add the tomato paste and sugar, and let cook for another 10-15 minutes at medium heat. Serve with either rice or fries/chips.
SOUVLAKI
Ingredients:
  • 1 kg/2 lb of pork meat, cut in cubes with 1 inch (2.5cm) sides
  • 6 Pita breads
  • Juice of 4 lemons
  • Salt, pepper and oregano seasoning
  • 6 wooden skewers
  • Tzaziki (see above)
Put the pork meat in the wooden skewers, salt and pepper them. Cook over a barbecue fire, on a skilet or under an oven grill. In the meantime, spread some oil on the pitas and place under the oven grill, browing slightly each side, but not drying them. When the meat is done, dip them in a long glass containing the lemon juice and then holding a pita bread in one hand empty the skewer contents in it removing the skewer. Sprinkle with oregano and salt, add tzaziki and the souvlaki is ready.
MEATBALLS AVGOLEMONO (with egg and lemon sauce)
Ingredients:
  • 500grams / 1 lb of ground beef
  • 250grams / 1/2 lb butter or margarine
  • 125grams / 1/4 lb rice
  • 1 egg
  • 1 onion, finely chopped, parsley, salt, pepperFor the sauce
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 lemons
Mix all the ingedients together, and mould into round 1 inch / 2.5cm balls. Put some water in a pot, place the butter and balls in it carefully. Let them cook for about 20 minutes and then let cool. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with a mixer and slowly, while beating, add the lemon juice ensuring that the sauce doesn't curdle. With a ladle, take some of the juice from the meatball pot, add to the sauce, all the time mixing. Keep doing this until all the juice has been mixed in the sauce. Empty all the sauce on top of the meatballs and serve with some sprinkled parsley.
Deserts
GALAKTOBOUREKO (MILK SWEET) (ALSO BAKLAVA)- low cal - low cholesterol
Ingredients:
  • 500 grams (1 lb) semolina (a type of yellow flour)
  • 1 litre / 1 quart milk
  • 1 package of 'filo' paper-thin pastry
  • 250 grams melted butter
  • 2 packages of vanilla essenceFor the surup:
  • 500 grams / 1 lb of sugar
  • Peel of one orange, grated
  • 1 litre / 1 quart of water
FOR Baklava replace the milk-semolina mixture below with a mixture of walnuts, honey and cinnamon.

Using a brush coat an oven tray with melted butter. Add each one of the filo pastry sheets, one on top of another, until you have coated 8 of them, and put them on the tray. In the meantime, empty the milk in a big pot, add the semolina and vanilla, and bring to boil, all the time vigorously stirring with a wooden spoon. The mix should be like a thick surup (like a fruit jam - must not be too thick). Remove from the fire and leave aside to cool for 5 minutes. Empty the semolina mix onto the oven tray and spread it around so that the entire tray is filled. Continue adding the remaining of the pastry sheets, buttering each one of them until you have added them all. Using a sharp knife, notch squares, about 5 cm per side (2 inches). Put in the oven and cook until brown. Remove and let cool. In the meantime, place the sugar in a pot, add the water, the second vanilla essence and the grated orange peel. Bring to boil and let cool. Pour the surup over the semolina mix and place in fridge. This is a delicious desert and well worth the effort. Must be kept in the fridge as it contains milk.

RIZOGALO (RICE MILK SWEET)
Ingredients:
  • 3/4cup of rice
  • 1 litre / 1 quart milk
  • 1 rind of a lemon
  • 10 tablespoons of sugar
  • Cinnamon powder
Put the rice in a large pot, add water and boil till very soft (should be fluffy and thick). The water should have almost evaporated. Add the milk, the lemon rind and the sugar. Let boil at a setting which would not let the milk overflow. When it thickens, remove from stove. Pour in individual bowls and let cool. Sprinkle cinnamon and serve.












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