A taste of Greece, these seven ingredients help!

 

Horiatiki / Villager's Salad ... delicious

Horiatiki means villager in Greek, so this dish simply means villager’s salad.

more details here

Couldn't you just sit and enjoy that good looking salad? Perfect ingredients for summer days. Reading an article recently, there are seven ingredients that Greek chefs swear by!

We have family who are off to Greece soon, well it is holiday season! However, if you can’t make it abroad there are easy ways to enjoy a taste of Greece at home, using ingredients you can find in your local supermarket…

From salads to skewers, Greek food is perfect for summer, and if you can’t transport yourself to the country of white sandy beaches and ancient ruins this year, you can still recreate Greece’s cuisine at home with just a few ingredients.

But what are they and how can you use them? Here’s what the chefs say…

1. Olive oil
Olive oil is vitally important to cooking Greek food. It will be the base of most recipes. Olive oil’s versatile and a must-have. You use it in everything from salads to marinades.

2. Olives

Hot on the heels of olive oil, comes the fruit the oil comes from. They are a brilliant way to add flavour and texture. Always have some plump black olives in brine, Kalamata ideally. Briny and rich. Olives are great in salads, tapenade, and baked dishes.

3. Feta
Feta can really bring dishes to life. It’s not always traditional, but crumble some feta over the top of beans or lentils for a bite of freshness and added depth. It adds tang, it’s perfect for salads, spanakopita, and stuffed peppers, (and you can freeze any that isn’t eaten).

4. Halloumi
Keep blocks of halloumi in the fridge as they last forever when unopened. It’s incredibly versatile too. Halloumi is magnificent when it’s treated like a steak; bring it to room temperature; cut into thick slices, sear it on a smoking hot pan for a few seconds to char the outside but still leaving the centre soft and molten. Then all you need to do is add a drizzle of honey, a pinch of dried oregano and you have a side dish ready in minutes.

5. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are important in Greek cooking. Fresh is good but tinned tomatoes are also handy and can be money saving.

6. Pulses

Canned ingredients (lentils, butter beans etc) are cheap, last for ages and are great to stock your pantry with for an impromptu Greek meal. Packed with protein and fibre they are staple of Greek cuisine.

7. Herbs and spices
Oregano is the key herb to focus on for Greek cuisine, along with cinnamon, coriander and cumin.

Words above and more to read, including recipes, on this link here

xxx oooo xxx

Do you like Greek food/recipes? Have you a favourite? Do share your thoughts in the comments below.

The Taverna pictured here is on the Greek Island of Naxos

This blog is presented in a magazine style - we hope something for everyone. You will find a variety of articles, studies, thoughts, photographs, music and recipes! However, not all the recipes ideas featured in this blog may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic (more about this here) and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan