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. When they ripen the seeds are dried become the well known black eyed peas.
Desserts
Poached fruit, especially grapes, become delicately ambrosial when poached in a sweet, Cypriot wine called Commandaria. They are perfect on puddings, with Greek yogurt or even in salads.
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.
Kariokes is a Greek dessert made with sponge cake, chocolate and lots of walnuts (karydia in Greek) from which it takes its name.
Kokoras Bardouniotikos is a stewed rooster recipe from Lakonia. In the classic recipe there are no potatoes in it but is served with pasta, such as hilopites. The meat and onions are browned in olive oil before stewing and then it is simmered until cooked. In the end a lot of sphella cheese (a spicy, hard feta) and some kalamata olives are added and the combination of cloves and cinnamon is what gives this dish its unique Greek flavor.
Ntomatokeftedes are tomato patties or fritters, served mostly in most of the Greek islands, especially in the Aegean. These are served as appetizers but they can also be served as a main dish with a salad.
This Twix Banoffee Cheesecake is made from fresh and caramelized bananas, cream and toffee (made from boiled condensed milk, or dulce de leche), combined on a buttery biscuit base and decorated with Twix Chocolates and dulce de leche sauce.
These Chicken Souvlakia are so tender and juicy due to the marinade which features the fresh-tasting combination of lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil combined with Greek yoghurt that are so prevalent in Greek cuisine.
These Feta-Stuffed Mpiftekia are delicious Greek Burgers, which are flavourful and juicy. While hot, the feta melts inside, making them very creamy.
I made these Marinated Pork Chops with ingredients I had at home. The marinade tenderized the pork chops, while making them extra juicy, infusing them with a sweet and sour flavour.