Labneh is a beautiful soft cheese simply made from strained yoghurt that can be eaten with pretty much everything and is a particularly good friend to rich and spicy mezze dishes. The first time I tasted it I was sat at a little linen-covered table on the edge of a vegetable garden in Amirim, an entirely vegetarian organic…
Category: Greece
Greek Skordalia with Slow-roasted Plum Tomatoes, Capers and Organic Thyme
Skordalia is a beautifully simple smooth purée of waxy potatoes, lots of juicy garlic, lashings of vibrant extra-virgin olive oil, a generous splash of white wine vinegar and flat leaf parsley whipped together to create a classic Greek dip which is served at room temperature with a scattering of salty capers. Trust me, this bears…
Batzina, a Greek Courgette, Feta and Mint Pie
Batzina is a traditional ‘pie’ from Thessaly in Greece which was originally made with just four ingredients: flour, cheese, milk and eggs; it’s name is derived from the word batzos which is a hard white goat and sheep’s cheese originating in Western Macedonia. This version, which also features grated courgettes, is inspired by my friend…
Greek Flatbread with Organic Thyme and Olive Oil
No mezze table is complete without copious amounts of freshly baked bread and you will find plenty of recipes on this website but here is one for the simplest of them all, flatbread. It requires no proving so it’s ready to go in a matter of minutes; simply prepare the dough ahead and cover with…
Nephele’s Beetroot and Garlic Salad with Creamy Ricotta and Fresh Dill, Pantzaria Salata
Whilst holidaying in the harbour town of Symi in August, we were invited to lunch by my friend Nephele, the lucky custodian of one of those beautiful pastel-coloured neo-classical villas that slowly wind up the herb-covered hills that rise up from the sea. Hers is buttercup yellow. Inside, the huge middle floor is open plan…
Dakos, a Cretan Summer Bruschetta with Ricotta and Organic Oregano
The beautiful island of Crete with its wild mountainous terrain and a strong traditional culture is justifiably proud of a cuisine that is internationally famed for its unique ingredients and flavours. Based on simple techniques, it’s the variety of local produce that distinguishes their dishes: mountain herbs and greens, wild bulbs, unique cheeses, olives and,…
Greek Tomato, White Bean and Caper Salad with Lemon and Olive Oil with Honey and Thyme-baked Feta
We woke up to the sound of bees and the distant toll of a single church bell. The women in the small white houses that surrounded ours prepared for their day by sweeping their jewel bright bougainvillea lined courtyards quietly talking to their neighbours. Theirs were animated conversations that I wanted to be part of…
Greek Kritharaki with Feta, Tomatoes, Olives and Wild Oregano
‘Each day had a tranquility a timelessness about it so that you wished it would never end. But then the dark skin of the night would peel off and there would be a fresh day waiting for us glossy and colourful as a child’s transfer and with the same tinge of unreality’ – Gerald Durrell. I…
Symi Roasted Pepper, Chickpea and Couscous Salad with Pomegranate and Greek Yoghurt with Preserved Lemon and Mint
This is a beautifully nutritious late summer/autumn salad packed with flavours and textures. At its heart is a pile of fluffy couscous with gently spiced roasted chickpeas, baby sweet peppers, caramelised red onion and juicy cherry tomatoes wrapped in a tangy pomegranate dressing served with Greek yoghurt stirred through with chopped preserved lemon and mint,…
Greek Wild Oregano-roasted Tomatoes and Whipped Feta on Garlicky Sourdough
Thinking ahead for a vibrant working lunch, I drizzled a tray of lusciously ripe plum tomatoes with olive oil, a flourish of organic oregano and plenty of sea salt and placed it in a low oven for a couple of hours. As they slowly caramelised, I was immediately transported to a recent visit to Corfu old…
Cardamom and Dill 