Greek Cooking, Recipes, & Lifestyle from a Greek-American Family

Apple Baklava Bites

It’s safe to say that Baklava is the most well known Greek dessert and apple pie is American staple. We had a few apples and some leftover phyllo sheets to use up so we thought why not combine the two? As we only had a few sheets of phyllo and were feeling a bit lazy, we rolled the phyllo into little apple baklava bites. Much quicker than folding triangles or layering sheets of buttered phyllo in a pan. Plus they’re cute and just the right size to pop in your mouth for a little sweet treat.

Sun-Dried Tomato, Feta, & Kalamata Olive Quick Bread

Mmmm, this quick bread is full of traditional Greek flavors, using Greek staple ingredients, such as feta, olives, extra-virgin olive oil, Greek yogurt and dill. We use dry (not packed in oil) sun-dried tomatoes, as they are inexpensive and full of flavor no matter the season. Use any fresh, or even dried, herbs that you have on hand. If you’re out of feta, you can use cheddar or Parmesan. If you don’t have Greek yogurt, you can use sour cream. We think you get the picture! This recipe is so versatile and easy to make!

Galaktobouriko Cups

Ideal for entertaining or enjoying as an elegant indulgence, these individual cups capture the classic flavors of Galaktoboureko in a perfectly portioned size. The smooth, creamy custard paired with crisp, flaky phyllo delivers a satisfying contrast in texture. Each cup is delicately soaked in aromatic syrup, enriching the flavor with every bite.

Tirokafteri - Spicy Greek Feta Dip

Tirokafteri is a spicy Greek feta dip, and can also be known as Htipiti. This feta cheese spread can complement nearly any dish and is a simple yet flavorful recipe that combines feta cheese, roasted red peppers, and a touch of garlic to create a savory dip that's perfect for any occasion.

Braised Greek Artichokes with Olive Oil & Lemon

Since artichokes appear in early spring in Greece, we wanted to try this delicious recipe at the right moment. As for the leaves of the artichoke, you can break them off and steam them to serve as an appetizer to the bottoms. Enjoy!

Greek Inspired Carrot Cake

Have some carrots and Greek yogurt you want to use up? Why not try this easy, dense, moist, delicious carrot cake? In this recipe, we used some Greek baking staples such as Greek yogurt, olive oil, citrus and almond flour and we did double duty with the ingredients to make a light and citrusy glaze and topped the cake with some yummy candied carrots for fun! You can make this cake without the glaze. It’s delicious on it’s own. Bonus… by using the food processor, there’s no need to grate the carrots!

Halloumi Fries

Delicious Halloumi cheese meets the all American french fry! This crispy, cheesy snack is simple and tasty. Adults and especially kids will love it!

Biftekia Greek Burgers

Biftekia is a traditional dish that’s often described as a cross between burger patties and slightly flattened meatballs. The patties are made with a combination of ground pork, beef, or lamb, and the meat is mixed with onions, breadcrumbs, eggs, and aromatic herbs such as mint and oregano.

Eggplant Tomato & Onion Saute with Lentils

Our neighbor’s garden had a great season and they generously shared with us for this recipe! Since we had the fresh eggplants and tomatoes from their garden, as well as onions, capers, and lentils on hand, we decided to make a delicious and healthy saute! It’s quite an easy (and did we mention healthy) recipe and a good way to use up the last of garden’s summer produce. You’ll love it!

Traditional Moussaka

Moussaka is a layered dish of eggplant, ground meat, tomato sauce, and béchamel sauce. It is a popular dish in Greece and is often served as a main course. The eggplant is thinly sliced and then baked until soft. The ground meat is cooked with onions, garlic, and tomatoes. The béchamel sauce is made with milk, butter, flour, and cheese. The layers of eggplant, meat, and sauce are then baked until golden brown. Moussaka is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for any meal.

Greek Easter Tsoureki

We played around a lot over the years with tsoureki recipes. There are different variations depending on what part of Greece the recipe hails from. I think we found our favorite! Not only is it delicious but it will make the house smell amazing! Here we left out the traditional red dyed Easter egg in the center because we never eat it but feel free to add it. The recipe will make 7 six-inch braids or 3-4 large braids. You can also use leftover tsoureki (if you have any!) as your bread for French toast or a croque monsieur sandwich. Sooo good!

Traditional Souvlaki

Souvlaki, a beloved Greek dish, features skewered and grilled cubes of pork, chicken, lamb, or beef. This popular fast food is commonly enjoyed at souvladzidika, small eateries where you can also find gyros and similar grilled meat offerings.

Ladokouloura (Greek Olive Oil Cookies)

These traditional Greek olive oil cookies have been a Greek staple for generations. They’re loved in Greece as well as around the diaspora and they’re very easy to make. Not only a perfect breakfast treat, but also an on-the-go snack or an afternoon pick-me-up. And since they are vegan, they are perfect during Lent.

Honey Pistachio Baklava Cheesecake

The Honey Pistachio Baklava Cheesecake is a delightful fusion of two classic desserts from different culinary traditions: baklava and cheesecake. This creation merges the crunchy, nut-filled layers of traditional baklava with the smooth, luscious consistency of cheesecake, resulting in a unique combination of flavors that is both refined and irresistibly satisfying.

Paidakia Geek-Style Lamb Chops

Grilled lamb chops, or paidakia, are a cherished Greek dish, enjoyed across the country as a main course. These chops are typically marinated in a flavorful mix of olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh herbs before being grilled over traditional charcoal barbecues.

Zucchini Patties with Feta Tzatziki

For as long as I can remember, zucchini patties have been a summer favorite for our family. They can be prepared as an appetizer as well as a side dish, and everyone agrees that these things taste great. They’re easy to make, low calorie, and a great way to enjoy lots of veggie goodness!

Watermelon Feta Salad

This salad is perfect for a light summer meal or as a refreshing appetizer. The sweetness of the watermelon and the saltiness of the feta cheese are a perfect combination, and the mint adds a touch of freshness.

Bougatsa

One of our favorite desserts! Our bougatsa recipe is a traditional, custard pie, but in researching the history, we found that it had a deeper history than a simple dessert.

Homemade Pork Gyros

It took us a while to feature a gyros recipe because we focused recently on more vegetarian dishes, but the time has come for one of the most iconic Greek street-food dishes ever – homemade pork gyros! We feature pork tenderloin as the main ingredient, and we made sure to achieve extra tenderness by marinating the meat in a blend of herbs, oil, vinegar, and honey. The pork is prepared in a frying pan and served inside a pita bread with tzatziki, onion, and tomato.

Chicken with Balsamic Sauce

We were having our weekly Sunday family dinner, this time at Joanna’s. She wanted to make something quick, easy and healthy. She had some chicken breasts on hand so she started looking around the kitchen trying to find ideas of how to prepare quickly, that didn’t require much effort. Thinking about how much I love balsamic, she decided to make the chicken with some balsamic sauce. Glad she did! Check out how easy this recipe is. Makes for a great quick meal.

Araka (Pea Stew)

The other day my sisters and I were talking about our favorite dishes from childhood and Joanna listed araka as one of her favorites. Our mom used to make it for us all time, partly because she could make a big batch at once, and partly because it was good for us. But mostly because we all would eat it. We loved this dish as kids and really missed it when we realized we haven’t had araka in years so, of course, my sisters had to make it.

Green Bean, Corn and Feta Salad

This is a great recipe for a light and healthy salad. Fresh green beans, fresh corn, feta and a light tangy dressing make this a great dish, especially refreshing as a summer meal.

Baklava Ice Cream

Here is an end of summer treat that is sure to be a hit! We took two of our favorite desserts, baklava and ice cream, and combined them (no ice cream machine needed). What we got is a rich, smooth, delicious and refreshing treat! A little goes a long way with this ice cream, so you don’t need a lot. You can stay health and diet conscious and still indulge a little.

Halva

Halva is a popular dessert in Greece that is traditionally made with semolina. There are a few variations depending on what part of Greece you’re from. Our mother used to make it with olive oil and farina, as semolina was not as easy to find here in the States. There are oven and stove top versions. We did a stove top version here, using butter, farina and a cake mold. You can easily replace the butter with olive or canola oil, or use half and half, and replace the farina with semolina. It’s a quick and easy dessert. Oh… and it’s delicious!