Braised Octopus with Olives

12 September 2017

We all know grilled octopus, one of the cliché images of Greek summer, albeit delicious, and a classic on Greek menus all over the world. But the braised octopus dishes of Greece are equally enthralling and this is one of my absolute favorites, sweeted with a little grape molasses and studded with tangy olives. To find some of the ...

14. Octopus Juice Risotto, Braised Octopus, Broiled Leeks

2 December 2014

The liquid let off from cooking octopus is intensely flavored and contains lots of natural gelatin, so makes this risotto extra creamy. This is a restaurant-inspired recipe for the home cook in all of us. For a lovingly curated array of Greek ingredients to pair with this recipe, check out my online store here .

15. Octopus Risotto

26 June 2013

16. Octopus Baked in Paper / Htapodi Yioulbasi

23 October 2011

I first encountered this delicious, succulent octopus recipe inland in the Peloponnese, near Mantineia, one of the great wine-producing regions of Greece. Baking octopus in paper helps retain all its juices and also makes for a dramatic presentation. Try it with an aromatic Moschofilero wine from the same region.

17. From Sea to Table: Exploring Traditional Greek Seafood Recipes

18 July 2024

The Rich Seafood Heritage of Greek Cuisine Greece’s rich nautical heritage and the fact that the country has one of the longest coastlines in the world, thanks to its thousands of islands, have profoundly shaped its culinary landscape and given the cuisine a wealth of seafood recipes that are uniquely Greek. This deep-rooted connection to the sea dates back millennia, ...

18. Great Greek Grilling Recipes for Father’s Day

13 June 2023

Greeks just might be born to grill – so, of course, it makes sense to go Greek for Father’s Day! Grilling is everywhere in Greece, no matter where you go, and historically this cooking method has long been a part of the Mediterranean cooking repertoire: evidence of grilling can be found in Greece’s Mycenaean civilization during 1600-1100 B.C. Archaeologists have ...

19. Tomatoes Stuffed with Seafood

10 April 2023

This recipe for Yemista me Thalassina, or peppers and tomatoes stuffed with seafood, turns the ordinary into the extraordinary! You can use any combination of seafood you like. Yemista, or stuffed peppers and tomatoes, are, of course, a Greek diet and Mediterranean diet classic, especially during periods of fasting and in the summer when tomatoes and peppers are at ...

20. The Best Greek-Mediterranean Diet Recipes for Lent

4 April 2023

Here in Greece, we’re still deep in the Lenten season, a 49-day period before Easter and a time of spiritual and physical cleansing. It’s a great time to reset, cleanse, and clarify intentions for the year. It also happens to be a great time to get back to the roots of the Mediterranean diet. Interestingly, some of the most delicious Greek foods are cooked during this time.

21. 7 Greek Seafood Recipes to Cook During Lent

20 February 2023

Here in Greece, we’re just about to enter into the Lenten season. Greek Orthodox Lent starts with Clean Monday, on February 27th this year, and will last right up until Easter, on Sunday, April 16. For the entire 40 days, those who follow the fast abstain from all animal products and fish but not seafood, which is what I am focusing on today! The strictest practitioners abstain even from olive oil on specific days each week and from alcohol.

22. Braised Mixed Mushrooms with Wrinkled Olives and Orange

6 February 2023

These braised mushrooms with wrinkled olives and orange take their cue from other traditional Greek recipes that call either for seafood, such as squid or octopus, or pork, cooked with oranges and olives. But there is a huge difference. Mushrooms are a kind of delicious functional food – a super food -- and they are gaining in reputation as ...