I’ve already spoken about syglino or pasto which is cured pork meat which is smoked. However, after the meat is cured and smoked it has to be cooked and preserved in olive oil. This is an old method which they used when there were no refrigerators but it is still used as it adds flavour to the cured meat.
Preserving
Pantzaria Xydata (pronounced pan-TZAh-rhia Ksee-DAH-tah) are beets preserved in vinegar, which are one of our favourite vegetables to preserve.
Quince (Kydoni in Greek), is known from ancient years and its cultivation is said to have preceded that of the apple culture.
Zalatina, as it is called in Cyprus, or pichti in Greece, is a traditional delicacy, served as an appetizer, originally made from the head and trotters of the pig, which create a gel when it sets.
Making candied or other citrus peels, is a good way to use up the rind and it goes good with any citrus flavoured cake. Try it as it tastes amazing.
Fig preserve called Glyko sykalaki in Greek, (pr. glee-KHO sy-kha-LAH-kee), is one of my favourite fruit preserves. It is perfect to eat alone as a dessert with a few calories or use it in other desserts. In order to make the fig preserve, the figs should not be ripe. Living in Athens it’s not easy …
Glyko Karpouzi is a fruit preserve made with the rind of the watermelon (karpouzi in Greek pronounced Glee-KHO kar-POU-zee), so whenever you get a thick skinned watermelon, you can use the rind to make this sweet fruit preserve.
The method for roasting peppers is the same for any kind of peppers, but I have chosen Piperies Florinis, which are red sweet peppers, named after the prefecture of Florina, where they are cultivated. Before giving my recipe, I wish to explain the easiest method for roasting peppers. There are many ways you can roast …
Gavros Marinatos (marinated anchovies) are like sushi. Actually the fish is not totally raw as by marinating them into an acidic liquid, such as vinegar or lemon juice, it’s like cooking them and serving with with extra virgin olive oil, garlic and oregano makes an amazing appetizer.
Homemade Lemon squash is made with only two ingredients. Lemon juice and sugar. Nothing like homemade lemon squash to beat the summer heat!