Kathara Deftera, which means Clean Monday marks the beginning of Lent. It is a Public Holiday and it is celebrated all over Greece and Cyprus with picnics at the fields and mountains, where the tradition is to fly kites.
In big cities, it is also celebrated in parks or nearby hills, or anywhere there is space for a picnic.
Events and activities take place in all towns and villages which feature plenty of music, dancing and delicious Lenten food, (mostly vegan food) at the start of this Orthodox festival of fasting and contemplation.
Saracosti, which is the great period of Lent before the Orthodox Easter takes its name from Tessaracoste (Quadragesimal), which comes from the word forty, which is the forty day period until Palm Sunday (actually six weeks) and then one more week until Easter day makes a total of 48 days of “fasting”.
During this period we fast so that our bodies and spirits are “cleansed” to prepare for accepting the Resurrection.
During Saracosti, no meat or dairy food are eaten.
Lenten food, usually consists of vegetables, dried legumes and seafood, such as kalamari, octopus, shrimps, oysters, cuttlefish, mussels, lobsters etc.
Fish is not allowed with the exception on two occasions: on the 25th of March (Annunciation of the Virgin Mary) and on Palm Sunday.
Lagana is a flat bread with sesame seeds and it is made only on Clean Monday.
Macedonian Halvas, is one of the main Lenten sweets, especially the variety made with tahini and sold in block or brick form.
This type of halvas is sold by weight and comes plain, flavoured with chocolate, or studded with nuts and we love eating it for breakfast or sprinkled with lemon juice and cinnamon on top, as a dessert.
Today I baked a Lagana (flatbread), prepared Dolmades Yialantzi, meaning fake dolmades as they are without the ground meat and are therefore vegan, Taramosalata, which is a dip made with fish roe, Htapodi Salata (an Octopus and Potato Salad ), Eliopitakia (small olive pies) and a crunchy bean salad, with the famous beans from Feneos, Corinth, which you will find below.
For dessert, I made Halvas, a semolina dessert cooked in a pot.
Kathara Deftera and Flying the Kite
Another tradition on Kathara Deftera (Clean Monday) is kite-flying. Wherever you look up in the sky you will see thousands of kites.
The kites were know in ancient Greece and we know that Archytas, who was a well known mechanic (4th century B.C.) used a kite in his aerodynamics.
We also know this from ancient pottery and there is a scene on one depicting a young woman holding a kite. Of course paper was not known at the time but instead of paper they used cloth with which they made their sails.
The tradition of flying a kite on Kathara Deftera is not coincidental.
According to Greek Orthodox religion, the flying of the kite is symbolic. It symbolizes the flying of our soul towards God.
Flying kites is a fun but not always easy.
Without wind it is impossible to fly a kite and too much wind is also a problem.
Have some person to hold the kite and walk downwind about 50 to 100 feet away from you. Have them hold the kite up in the air in front of them.
Once the wind picks up, signal your friend to release the kite.
As the kite gains altitude, pull on the line hand over hand until it is stable.
Have fun!
Each part of Greece has its own traditions and some of the most unusual ones are that of Tyrnavos where all the inhabitants of the town of Tyrnavos gather in the region of the small church of Prophitis Elias to make the “bourani” soup.
Bourani is a vegetarian soup with spinach, stinging nettles, and vinegar, which are boiled for lots of hours.
During the preparation of bourani, people tease each other with phallic models and indecent language is used and provocative movements are made.
It is said that this tradition has ancient roots and this custom has been strongly influenced by Bacchic rituals.
In the past women were not allowed to attend but today there is no such problem and in fact many edible things such as ice creams, lollipops or even bread have the shape of a phallus.
Large phallus feature all over the town and they even wear them on their heads as hats, on their nose with funny eye glasses etc.
Another custom of Kathara Deftera is alevromoutzouromata.
At Galaxidi fires are lit almost every night and the local carnival events culminate in the festivities of Clean Monday.
After the end of the float parade, people have lunch together at home or in the countryside.
Then, they go to the marketplace where they carry ashes and flour in bags and throw them not only at each other but also at unsuspecting passers-by.
The coast is transformed into a battlefield very quickly.
Fasolia Feneou (Beans of Feneos)
If you like beans as much as I do, make this Greek bean salad, with lots of vegetables for a great vegan meal.
I used a type of small Greek beans called Fassolia-Vanilies Feneou, but if you cannot find these beans, you can subsitute them with white haricot beans, cannellini, navy beans etc.
What makes these beans special
Feneos is an enchanting region on the mountains of Corinthia. At an altitude of 700m, the especially fertile ground, the abundant water and the perfect climate combine with traditional agriculture to offer us, since the beginning of the 20th century, the tasty beans of Feneos with their rich taste and aroma.
This is a variety of the common bean produced in the municipality of Feneos in the Peloponnese.
They have been grown in the area using traditional methods and experience passed down from one generation to the next since the end of the 19th century, when the waters of Lake Feneos drained away.
They are small, white, shiny beans with a thin skin.
The producers named these beans ‘Vanilies‘ to emphasise their flat white color and sweet flavour, reminiscent of vanilla.
They are highly nutritious, a great source of protein, and have less fat and calories than other beans.
They are very popular on the market due to their distinctive sweet taste and the fact that they can be cooked quickly without disintegrating.
In Greek mythology, pulses were a reward from the goddess Demeter to the inhabitants of Feneos, who had offered her hospitality when she was searching for her abducted daughter Persephone.
Source: Taste Atlas
I named the salad crunchy, as most of the vegetables in this salad such as the carrots, cucumbers, radishes, onion and bell pepper, give a lovely crunch!
Vegan Crunchy Bean Salad
A lovely vegan bean salad with crunchy vegetables! Most of the vegetable in this salad give a lovely crunch, so more time is required for chewing them, making the meal very filling.
Ingredients
- 100 grams (3.5 oz) small white beans or other beans
Salad:
- 1 tomato, peeled and cut into small pieces
- 1 small cucumber, cut into thin slices
- 4 small radishes, partly peeled and cut into slices
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and shredded with a vegetable peeler
- 1/4th green bell pepper, cut into thin slices
- 1 medium red onion, cut into slices
- 1 cup coarsely chopped rocket (arugula)
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
Ginger Ladolemono Sauce:
- 2 ½ cm (1”) ginger peeled and grated
- 2 tbsp agourelaio or other extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Fresh basil bloomed flowers (a pinch) optional
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Soak the beans overnight.
- Next day drain, add fresh water and boil.
- Remove froth with a slotted ladle. Drain, add fresh water to cover the beans and bring to a boil.
- Add salt, reduce heat and simmer for about 1 hour covered or until they become soft.
- When they are cooked put them under running water, drain them and refrigerate until ready to use.
- In a big bowl prepare all the salad ingredients. Add the beans as well as the ladolemono sauce, mix and serve.
Nutrition Information
Yield 2 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 352Total Fat 8gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 0mgSodium 647mgCarbohydrates 63gFiber 15gSugar 21gProtein 15g
“Nistisimes Syntages” are the Lenten recipes the Orthodox can eat during fasting periods.
Lenten Recipes (mostly vegan)
During the Greek Orthodox Fasting period, meat and animal prodÂucts (cheese, milk, butter, eggs, lard), fish (meaning fish with backbones), olive oil and wine (all alcoholic drinks) are not consumed during the weekdays of Great Lent Octopus and shell-fish are allowed, as is vegetable margarine, shortening, and vegetable oils, gelatin, olives, as well as honey are allowed.
Vegan Spinach Risotto
A healthy vegan risotto, which is made the classic way, adding onions, leeks and aromatic herbs, which add an amazing taste to this dish!
Aromatic Black-eyed Peas with Wild Greens and Quinoa
This aromatic black-eyed peas dish cooked with quinoa & wild greens, is a simple, healthy and a complete-meal you definitely should try.
Mpamies me liastes ntomates (braied okra with sun dried tomatoes
Mpamies (okra with sun-dried tomatoes) is a light and healthy low carb dish which is full of nutrients and other healthy properties.
Athoi Gemistoi (Stuffed Zucchini Flowers)
Kolokythoanthoi or Ath(th)oi, as they are called in Cyprus,
pronounced with a thick "th", are the blossoms of the courgettes
(zucchini) which are filled with rice.
Kounoupidi me Patates Kapamas (Stewed Cauliflower with Potatoes)
Kounoupidi me Patates Kapamas (pr. kou-nou-PEE-dee MEH Pah-TAH-tess Kah-pah-MASS) is a simple vegan Greek Stew with potatoes. You can also make the dish without the potatoes and serve it as a side dish.
Ampelofassoula or Louvi (Fresh Black Eyed Peas) with Kolokoui
Ampelofassoula are the fresh green green beans (Vigna unguiculata) also known as cow peas, also called louvi in Cyprus. These beans are eaten before they mature,usually boiled and eaten as a salad with olive oil and lemon juice.
Vegan Chickpea Burgers with Zucchini and Bulgur
These vegan chickpea burgers are packed with spices and herbs, very  healthy and seriously satisfying !
Penne with Chickpeas and Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Whole Wheat Penne with Chickpeas, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes and roasted garlic is a delicious and healthy vegan pasta dish. A delicious summer meal.
Greek Chickpea Salad with Quinoa and Tahini Sauce
This healthy Greek chickpea salad is a filling dish on its own, packed with protein from the chickpeas, quinoa and tuna and full of vitamins from the herbs, vegetables and salad dressing.
Gigantes Plaki sto Fourno (Baked Giant Beans)
Gigantes plaki is a deliciously hearty vegan dish made with giant beans, which are cooked until soft and then baked in a delicious tomato sauce until the beans absorb all the juices and caramelize.
Hoummous with Roasted Butternut Squash and Garlicky Olives
This Hummus Dip is a wonderful recipe which is based on the traditional hummus recipe but combined with roasted butternut squash and garlicky Greek olives.
Louvi - Black eyed Peas
Louvi is a healthy traditional Cypriot dish of black eyed peas, cooked with silverbeet (chard) and served with extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice.
Vegan Coconut Whipped Cream Frosting
Coconut whipped cream is a dairy-free alternative to classic whipped cream, which is made with heavy whipping cream!
Vegan Carrot and Banana Cake with Coconut Frosting
A very moist, delicious and healthy Vegan Carrot Cake with Banana, Spices and topped with Coconut frosting and Bergamot fruit preserve.
Vegan, Lactose Free and Gluten Free Ryzogalo (rice pudding)
This coconut rice pudding is not only vegan but also lactose free and gluten free but equally creamy and delicious as the classic one!
Revithia giahni sti gastra (stewed chickpeas)
Revithia giahni sti gastra is a vegan dish with stewed chickpeas, traditionally cooked in a clay pot and baked in a wood burning oven. However, not all of us have wood burning ovens or clay pots but we can still cook it in a Dutch oven or any casserole dish in our home oven.  If you don't have any of the above, use a baking tin which cover with an aluminium tent.
Vegan Chocolate Ganache with Tahini
One of the easiest and delicious, vegan glazes to add on top of your vegan cakes and other creations!
How to make Aquafaba and Vegan Meringues
Vegan Meringues made with aquafaba are light, airy and crispy, which melt in your mouth, much better than egg meringues.
Vegan Carrot Cake with Chocolate
This vegan carrot cake is so easy to make, it is moist and tastes fantastic. You can eat it as it is or add a glaze on top!
Easy Homemade Apple Turnvers
There's nothing like homemade apple turnovers with homemade apple sauce. They are delicious and yet so easy, that any one can make these homemade turnovers.
Vegan Chocolate Avocado Orange Almond Cake
This vegan chocolate cake uses avocado and extra virgin olive oil instead of any other fat, it is loaded with chocolate flavor and and many other healthy ingredients.
Kollyva (Greek Memorial Food)
Kollyva, is a sweet dish prepared with boiled wheat berries, nuts, raisins, pomegranate and spices, which is taken to church to commemorate our deceased during funerals or memorials. Â
Cypriot pita bread
Cypriot pitta bread are much different to the Greek pitas. They are flatbread like the other pita but are different in shape and in taste.
Lagana Flatbread
Lagana (in Greek λαγάνα, pronounced lah-GHAH-nah) is a traditional Greek flatbread, which is made with flour, yeast, salt and water.
Bourekia me Manitaria (Mushrooms)
If you're looking for a take-along party appetizer recipe that's easy, impressive, and makes A LOT, these crispy mushroom phyllo triangles are it.Â
Glystarkes (Cypriot crusty, sesame rusks)
Glystarkes or glistarkes or gyristarkes, from the Greek verb γυρίζω = turn, is a kind of Cypriot grid-like crusty, sesame rusk. Â
Cypriot Tahinopita (Vegan Tahini Bread)
Cypriot Traditional Tahinopita is a Lenten or vegan sweet bread, which is very flavourful as it is filled with tahini, sugar and cinnamon.
Pantzaria Xydata (pickled beetroots)
Pantzaria Xydata (pronounced pan-TZAh-rhia Ksee-DAH-tah) are beets preserved in vinegar, which are one of our favourite vegetables to preserve.
Hummus Dip
Hummus or hoummous is a Middle Eastern dip made from mashed chickpeas and blended with tahini, garlic, lemon juice, spices and olive oil.
Vegan Chocolate Carrot Cake with Chocolate Tahini Glaze
This vegan Chocolate Carrot cake is moist and delicious with a chocolate - tahini glaze on top, which makes it not only healthy but also irresistible. Â
Vegan Dessert with store bought Halvas
This vegan dessert is made with store bought halvas, chocolate, toasted nuts, candied fruit or spoon sweets (glyka tou koutaliou) and coconut.
Tambouli Salad, Tabouli or Tabbouleh
Tambouli salad, also written as tabouli or tabbouleh, is a refreshing parsley salad, which is made with bulgur wheat tomatoes, onion, cucumber, fresh mint and dressed with extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice.
Tashi (Τahini) Dip
Tashi is a Cypriot vegan dip made with tahini, garlic and lemon juice. It goes well with almost any food and this appetizer is served in all Cypriot restaurants.
Hoummous Soup (Chickpeas soup)
Hoummous soup is made with the same ingredients as for hoummous dip. More hot broth is added until it reaches the consistency of a soup and is served with croutons. The cooked chickpeas can be freezed, so when making this soup, I usually boil more in order to make the dip whenever I like.
Revithokeftedes (Chickpea Patties)
Revithokeftedes (pr. reh-vee-thaw-kae-FTEH-thes) aka chickpea Patties is a delicious, healthy, Greek, vegan meal.
Koukia, Fava Beans, the Greek way
Koukia, Fava beans (Vicia faba), in Greek koukia (plural of word kouki), pr. kou-KHIA, is an easy, vegan Greek dish paired with lemon, dill, fennel and parsley, which adds lots of flavour to this healthy dish.
Vazania (melitzanes) giahni (stewed eggplants)
Vazania, is the name of eggplants in the Cypriot dialect, (in Greece they are called melitzanes), which are fried together with potatoes and stewed, to make them giahni, which is a delicious vegan and frugal dish. Â
Lahanoryzo (Greek Cabbage and Rice Stew)
Lahanoryzo is a frugal, vegan dish, made with cabbage and rice, cooked in a light tomato sauce..
Stewed Okra (Mpamies Giahni)
Fresh okra is often maligned for being slimy, but if they are handled properly, before cooked, these small, green pods will become delicious when cooked!
Fassolia Ηantres Giahni or Barbounofassoula (Stewed Borlotti Beans)
Hantres also called barbounofassoula, is a type of kidney bean with a pink speckled skin that turns brown when cooked.
Fassolia Piaz (Greek White Beans Salad)
Fassolia Piaz are white beans boiled and made into a salad. There are a lot of variations of this salad but we like it with tomatoes, onion, tuna, parsley, served with olive oil and lemon juice.
Brown Lentils with Carrots, Orzo and Caramelized Onions
This Brown Lentils with Carrots, Orzo and caramelized onions dish has been one of my family's favourite Cypriot dishes for years.
The addition of carrots and serving them with caramelized onions on top, add a lovely sweetness to the dish and an intense depth of flavour.
Greek Brown Lentils with Smoked Eggplant and Pasta
Brown Lentils with Smoked Eggplant and Pasta is inspired from my Cypriot dish called Fakhes Moudjentra.  It is a light dish with a lot of flavour from the smoked eggplant as well as sweetness from the onion and carrot. The pasta is cooked in the leftover fluid, which absorbs all the flavour and adds body to the dish, making it a healthy, nutritional and filling dish.
Fakes Moutzentra - Cypriot Lentils with Rice
Fakes moutzentra is a lentil recipe we make in Cyprus and is a high protein, balanced healthy food, especially with the combination of rice.
Healthy Mediterranean Lentil Salad
Add extra flavour and texture to your lentil salad combined with plenty of vegetables and protein for a nutritious lunch or side.
Fakes Soupa (Greek Lentil Soup)
Fakes (pronounced fakhés) is a Greek vegan lentil soup with vegetables.  It is of high nutritional value which makes it perfect for the cold days!
Lentil and Bulgur Spicy Salad
A perfect nutritional, light, summer side dish and why not a main dish. Â The Lentil and Bulgur Spicy Salad is vegan but if you are not vegan, it goes well with some Greek yoghurt.
Patates Lemonates (Lemony Greek roasted Potatoes) my way
Patates Lemonates my way, are Greek Lemony Potatoes, which is a twist to the classic Greek side dish of roasted potatoes, with a sweet and sour taste.
Patates Tiganites (Frιed Potatoes, the Greek way)
In some countries they call them potato chips and in others, French fries, fries or finger chips. Â In Greece, we call them "Patates Tiganites" (pr. pah-TAH-tess Tee-ghah-nee-TESS).
Penne Skordalia with Courgettes and Olives
Penne Skordalia is an easy and healthy pasta dish made with Walnut Skordalia, a Greek diip made with olive oil, garlic, bread and walnuts.
Pastitsio Nistisimo (Vegan)
Pastitsio nistisimo (pr. Pah-STEE-tsio Knee-STEE-see-moh) is a vegan pasta casserole dish made with tubular pasta, vegetable filling and topped with a vegan faux béchamel sauce. The same dish can be made vegetarian using the same filling but adding a real bechamel sauce on top.
Vegan Moussakas
This vegan moussakas is as delicious as the real one. It is layered with eggplant, potatoes and zucchini, with a vegan vegetable filling and a delicious vegan "faux" bechamel sauce.Â
Pilafi Pligouri (pourgouri) - Bulgur wheat pilaf with Leftovers
A very easy, healthy and nutricious main dish made with bulgur wheat and leftover meat.
Festive Rice Pilaf with MushroomsÂ
This Easy Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms is perfect for a festive dinner as it is tender, fluffy, and flavorful. It's the perfect side dish to accompany any meal, anytime.
Gemista (Stuffed Tomatoes) and a Well Balanced 3 Course Meal
Gemista (pronounced as ye-mi-STA), are Greek stuffed tomatoes and peppers filled with rice and herbs, baked in a tomato sauce.  Between the gaps of the vegetables we add potatoes which absorb all the wonderful flavours of the vegetables. As potatoes need more time to bake, we must cut them into thin wedges about twice the size of potato chips.
Seafood
Htapodi (or moschious) me Makaronaki kofto (Octopus in tomato sauce with pasta)
In Greek, htapodi is octopus and makaronaki kofto is a small pasta, like ditali. It is cooked in a tomato sauce and then in the sauce we cook the pasta.   It is a Lenten recipe, so during Lent no cheese is added on top.
Seafood
Octopus (Htapodi) with Mushrooms and Homemade Hilopites
Everyone who's ever eaten Greek food, knows about grilled octopus. However, at home, we prepare it in many ways and here is one where the octopus is cooked in its juices.
Octopus Salad (Htapodi Salata)
One of my favorite dishes in the whole world is Greek style octopus salad, or “htapodi salataâ€, which combined with boiled potatoes, green onion, parsley and extra virgin olive oil is fabulous served as a side or main dish.
Octopus Risotto
Octopus Risotto is a delicious and healthy dish, which is perfect not only for those fasting during Orthodox Lent but for our everyday meal.
Kalamaria or Thrapsala Tiganita or Gemista (Fried or Stuffed Kalamari)
Kalamaria (pr. kah-lah-MAHR-ghia), is a very popular dish in Greece and Cyprus, especially during Lent when seafood is allowed to be eaten.
Three Recipes with Thrapsala (Shortfin Squid)
Thrapsala (Illex coindetti or shortfin squid) are of the same family as calamari but much more cheaper, at least here in Greece, but equally delicious.
PIN FOR LATER
Kopiaste and Kali Orexi,
Jannet
Friday 19th of February 2016
Thanks for another fantastic post with Greek traditions. The beans salad sounds delicious!
Ivy
Saturday 15th of March 2008
Thank everybody for commenting. I'am sorry for not replying to each one of you or visiting your sites but I have some guests at home and do not have a lot of time to sit at the computer.
A scientist in the kitchen
Saturday 15th of March 2008
This reminds me that while Lent is all about fasting and abstinence, there are so many traditional foods to look forward to :)
Gay
Bellini Valli
Tuesday 11th of March 2008
I'll look forward to your recipes during Lent Ivy. Being in Greece during Greek Orthodox Easter is something I would love to do sometime :D
Cakelaw
Tuesday 11th of March 2008
Seafood and veges - now it sounds like I could actually make it through Lent. I'm looking forward to your posts on these dishes.