Moussaka

Moussaka is one of the best known Greek dishes – a baked casserole consisting of ground lamb meat and layers of sliced eggplant, covered with a thick layer of bechamel sauce that gets golden and crusty as it bakes. The lamb is sometimes replaced with beef, while the eggplants might be replaced with zucchini or …

Roast salmon with preserved lemon

Ingredients 40g preserved lemon flesh and pith removed 100ml gin 1kg side organic farmed or wild salmon (tail end) 50g sea salt 50g golden caster sugar 1 tsp thyme leaves 1 tsp chilli flakes ½ small bunch dill washed For the preserved lemon roasting oil 30g preserved lemons seeds removed 4 tbsp olive oil Method …

Pimm’s scones

Ingredients 300g self-raising flour ½ tsp baking powder 70g cold butter cut into small cubes 30g golden caster sugar zest 2 lemons 150ml buttermilk 2 tbsp full-fat milk For the fruit 3 tbsp Pimm’s 1 tbsp golden caster sugar 300g pack strawberries hulled and sliced 1 large orange cut into cubes handful mint leaves picked …

Herbed Jersey Royal crab cakes

Ingredients 400g Jersey Royal potatoes scrubbed not peeled 2 tbsp olive oil pinch of fennel seeds ¼ bulb of fennel finely chopped 1 red chilli deseeded and finely chopped 1 garlic clove crushed 4 spring onions sliced handful of samphire (optional) 200g cooked crabmeat a mix of white and brown finely chopped soft herbs (a …

Easy iced tea

Ingredients 6 tea bags 2 tbsp golden caster sugar 1 tbsp runny honey plus extra to serve 2 lemons 1 juiced, 1 sliced 1 orange sliced small bunch mint leaves picked ice Method step 1 Put the tea bags, sugar, honey and 1.5 litres water in a large jug. Leave to infuse for 10 mins, …

Blackcurrant cordial

Ingredients 300g golden caster sugar zest and juice 2 lemons 450g blackcurrants Method step 1 Put the sugar in a large saucepan with 300ml water. Bring to a simmer then add the lemon zest and juice followed by the blackcurrants. Cook the mixture over a medium heat until the blackcurrants start to soften and burst. …

Strawberry & cinnamon streusel bars

Ingredients 300g hulled strawberries juice and zest ½ lemon 300g plain flour 175g golden caster sugar plus 3 tbsp for the topping 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon 1 vanilla pod halved lengthways 250g pack butter 200g at room temperature, 50g cold and diced 4 tbsp rolled porridge oats 3 tbsp chopped hazelnuts 2 tbsp strawberry …

Blackcurrant jam

Ingredients 600g blackcurrants stripped off the stalks about 400g white caster sugar or granulated sugar juice of ½ a lemon Method step 1 If you don’t have a cooking thermometer, put a saucer in the freezer. Sterilise the jars you want to use. Tip the blackcurrants into a heavy-based saucepan with about 100ml of water. …

Open rye sandwich with halloumi & avocado

Ingredients 2 tbsp guacamole (from Cajun grilled halloumi, see ‘goes well with’) 2 slices rye bread 2 tomatoes each sliced into 4 4 slices (125g) Cajun-coated halloumi cheese (from Cajun gilled halloumi, see ‘goes well with’) squeeze of lime Method step 1 Heat the grill. Line a grill pan with foil and place the halloumi …

Mozzarella & salami picnic baguette

Ingredients 1 white or brown baguette 3 tbsp fresh green pesto 1 beef tomato 1 ball mozzarella (about 200g) 2 handfuls baby spinach leaves handful basil leaves 6 slices salami Method step 1 Slice the baguette in half lengthways and hollow out (make crumbs from the bread centre and save for another recipe). Spread the …

Arnaki Elassonas

These lambs are born of ewes of indigenous Greek breeds, and are fed exclusively on their mother’s milk. The antioxidants in the aromatic plants the sheep graze on give the ewe’s milk and, consequently, the lamb’s meat a distinctive flavor that makes it very popular among gourmets.   The meat comes from lambs that are …

Aktinidio Pierias

The delicious Pierias kiwi was first grown in 1973 on the Pierian plains, and it showed an amazing adaptability to the microclimate of this region nestled between Mt. Pierus and Mt. Olympus. The soil composition and cultivation techniques are the two most important factors contributing to the high quality of this fruit and its ability …

Firiki Piliou

These apples come from trees of the Malus domestica Borkh species that grow within the borders of Portaria, Makrinitsa, Zagora, Agria, Artemida, Mouresi, Milies, and Afetes. It is a famous small- to medium-sized apple with an elongated shape.   Due to its small size, Firiki is not easily damaged by the sun. It can be recognized by …

Avgotaracho Messolongiou

This exceptional Greek delicacy, which was first referenced in writing in 1668, is made from whole roe of the gray mullet. The fish are caught in the shallow waters of the lagoons of Messolongi-Etolikos, Kleisova and Bouka between the estuaries of the Aheloos and Evinos rivers in western Greece. The production of this so-called ‘Greek caviar’ takes …

Katsikaki Elassonas

This meat is taken from goat kids raised in Larissa prefecture that are 30 to 55 days old and weigh between 5.5 and 9.0kg. The name katsikaki Elassonas can only be used if both parents come from the indigenous Capra prisca breed (or cross-breeds of this breed with males of the skopelos breed) that have lived in the aforementioned area for at least …

Stafida Soultanina Kritis

These dried grapes (sultanas) are produced exclusively from Sultanina grapes. This variety replaced the local Cretan varieties of grapes in the early 20th century, when refugees from Asia Minor arrived and began cultivating Sultanina grapes using their traditional skills and knowledge.   Due to the island’s low level of precipitation and long hours of sunshine in July and …

Tonos Alonnisou

The Greek island of Alonnisos is renowned for its excellent tuna known as tonos Alonnisou. The fish is sourced from the waters of the Aegean Sea surrounding the island by local fishermen, and it mainly consists of white albacore (alalunga) and yellowfin tuna.   Immediately after it’s been caught, the tuna goes through a process of …

Mila Zagoras Piliou

Mila Zagoras Piliou are apples obtained from the Starking Delicious variety in Zagora, Makrirahi and Pouriou on the eastern side of Pilios. The systematic cultivation of these apples started in the 1960s under the supervision of the Zagora Agricultural Cooperative.   They owe their distinctive characteristics to high altitudes where they are grown, special weather conditions and the use …

Hummingbird cake

Ingredients 225ml vegetable oil plus extra for the tins 300g self-raising flour ½ tsp baking powder 300g golden caster sugar 1 tsp ground cinnamon 2 cardamom pods cracked open and seeds finely crushed whole nutmeg for grating 2 very ripe bananas mashed 3 medium eggs beaten 150g pineapple chunks from a can, drained and chopped …

Lighter breakfast Knickerbocker Glory

Ingredients 4 tbsp granola handful blueberries 2 tbsp clear honey or maple syrup 2-4 scoops raspberry sorbet 1 small ripe mango peeled and sliced 2 scoops frozen natural yogurt Method step 1 Divide the granola between 2 sundae glasses (save a little for the top). Layer the berries, honey, sorbet, mango and frozen yogurt on …

Watermelon salsa

Ingredients 200g watermelon 2 small shallots small bunch coriander juice 1/2 lime 2 tbsp olive oil Method step 1 Finely chop 200g watermelon, 2 small shallots and a small bunch coriander. Mix together with juice ½ lime and 2 tbsp olive oil. Season and serve as a dip or pile on top of cheesy nachos.

Elderflower & lemon cordial

Ingredients 1.8kg granulated sugar 1.2l water 20 clean and insect-free heads of elderflower 2 lemons 75g citric acid (available from the chemist) Method step 1 Dissolve sugar in water over a gentle heat, then bring to a simmer. Pour over the elderflower heads with the zest from the lemons – use a potato peeler to …