Paul’s Recipe Box Favorites
DID YOU KNOW??
Many mediterranean foods and dishes are named after the way they are cooked, as in kalamarakia tiganita (fried squid). They are called:
Kapama (stovetop meat or poultry casserole in a sweet and spicy tomato sauce), in Greek ??????, pronounced kah-pah-MAH
Kokkinisto (stovetop meat or poultry casserole in a tomato sauce), in Greek ??????????, pronounced koh-kee-nee-STOH
Lathera, ladera (vegetarian – stovetop vegetable, legume (pulses), and/or rice casseroles cooked with olive oil), in Greek ??????, pronounced
lah-theh-RAH
Ogkraten (the Greek version of “au gratin” baked with a bechamel sauce and sprinkled cheese), in Greek ????????, pronounced oh-grah-TEN
Pane (breaded and fried), in Greek ????, pronounced pah-NAY
Plaki (oven casserole), in Greek ?????, pronounced plah-KEE
Pose (poached), in Greek ????, pronounced po-ZAY
Poure (pureed, mashed), in Greek ?????, pronounced poor-RAY
Psito (roasted), in Greek ????, pronounced psee-TOH
Skharas (grilled), in Greek ??????, pronounced SKHAH-rahss or sti skhara (on the grill), in Greek ??? ?????, pronounced stee SKHAH-rah
Sote (sauteed), in Greek ????, pronounced so-TAY
Stifatho, stifado (stewed with lots of pearl onions), in Greek ???????, pronounced stee-FAH-thoh
Sto fourno (baked or oven roasted, literally means “in the oven”), in Greek ??? ??????, pronounced stoh FOOR-no
Tiganita (fried in a skillet, from the Greek word for skillet, tigani), in Greek ????????, pronounced tee-ghah-nee-TAH
Toursi (pickled), in Greek ??????, pronounced toor-SEE
Yahni (stewed, ragout style), in Greek ??????, pronounced yah-HNEE
There are others, and there are many using regional dialects, but those are the basics.
Avgolemeno (Greek Lemon Chicken & Rice Soup)
1 whole chicken or 2-3 lbs. chicken legs or halves
4 quarts water
sea salt
? tsp pepper
? cup orzo (greek rice)
4 eggs (yolks only)
2-3 lemons
Put chicken in pot with 4 quarts water. When it comes to boil, cover and let it cook in low heat for 1/2 hour.
Take out chicken and set aside. Add orzo rice & boil till rice is done. Salt and pepper to taste.
Beat egg yolks in mixer until fluffy. Add lemon juice slowly. Then add little by little a few cups of the chicken soup stock to the lemon egg mixture. Add the egg mixture to the soup.
Clean the cooked chicken by removing bones and skin, and cut into little pieces Add chicken back into the soup. YUMMY!
Tzatziki – Cucumber Yogurt Dip
Cool and creamy, this tangy cucumber dip flavored with garlic is the perfect compliment to grilled meats and vegetables. Served on the side with warm pita bread triangles for dipping; also used as a condiment for souvlaki.
Prep Time: 20 minutes. Total Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
•3 tbsp. olive oil
•1 tbsp. vinegar
•2 cloves garlic, minced finely
•1/2 tsp. salt
•1/4 tsp. white pepper
•1 cup greek yogurt, strained
•1 cup sour cream
•2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded and diced
•1 tsp. chopped fresh dill
Preparation:
Combine olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix until well combined. Using a whisk, blend the yogurt with the sour cream. Add the olive oil mixture to the yogurt mixture and mix well. Finally, add the cucumber and chopped fresh dill. Chill for at least two hours before serving. Garnish with a sprig of fresh dill just before serving