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.
Easy Recipes
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.
Insalata Caprese, which means Salad made in Capri, the region of Campania, in Italy, is a simple salad using plum tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, olive oil and season
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.
Mint Pesto is a twist to the classic Italian sauce which is made with basil, olive oil, garlic, pine nuts and parmesan. There are many kinds of pestos using different herbs, cheeses and nuts but my favourite is the one I have made with mint and of course almonds and halloumi which are used in Cyprus to suit the tastes and flavours of my country.
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.
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.
Gemista (pronounced as yeh-mee-STAH), are Greek stuffed tomatoes and peppers filled with rice and herbs, baked with potatoes, in a tomato sauce.
Tiganopsomo, which means fried bread is very easy to make. All you need is any kind of yeasted bread dough, which is fried in olive oil. Some times it is filled with cheese, such as feta or any other hard Greek cheese but when it is not filled, it can turn into a dessert by sprinkling some honey or icing sugar and cinnamon on top.
In the summer I love making these sauces/spreads which are thinner than jams and less sweet and use them on top of desserts but they are also perfect for breakfast.