Greek Rice with Feta
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, sliced
1 cup brown rice
3 cups vegetable stock
Salt
Juice and grated zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
1 scallion, sliced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
In a deep saute pan or saucepan, keep the oil over medium heat and saute onion and garlic for two to three minutes. Add the rice and continue cooking, stirring, for two minutes, until coated with oil. Add the stock, stirring and scraping the sides of the pan, until the rice is cooked. Season to taste with salt. Cover and simmer over low heat for 25 to 30 minutes. Set aside, covered, to steam for five to six minutes. Uncover and test for doneness. If the liquid is not absorbed in the rice is not tender, return to the stove for a few minutes. Then add the feta, scallions and cilantro. Stir gently just to mix.
Serve immediately.
Greek Croustade
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 small clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
3 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon crushed tarragon (optional)
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1 cup milk
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup creamed cottage cheese
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
10 (17 x 12-inch) single phyllo dough sheets, thawed
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted
Cook spinach according to directions; drain well, pressing out excess liquid. In saucepan, cook onion and garlic in 3 tablespoons butter or margarine until tender. Stir in flour, tarragon and pepper. Add milk all at once. Cook and stir until mixture is thickened. Stir half of mixture into eggs; return egg mixture into remaining sauce. Add cheeses and spinach; set aside.
Unroll phyllo dough; cover with dampened towel. Remove 1 sheet of dough; brush lightly with some of the 1/2 cup melted butter. Fold the sheet in thirds lengthwise; brush top with butter. Place one end of the folded sheet in center of a 12- or 14-inch pizza pan, extending it over the side of the pan. Repeat buttering of remaining phyllo dough, arranging strips spoke fashion evenly around pan. (The ends of sheets will overlap in center and be approximately 3 inches apart at outer ends.) Spread spinach mixture in an 8-inch circle in center of pastry. Starting with the last sheet of dough placed in pan, lift end of leaf up and bring toward center of filling. Holding end with both hands, twist ends several times; coil and tuck end under to from a rosette. Lay rosette over filling, leaving a 3-inch circle in center (center should be visible). Repeat with remaining in reverse order they were placed. Drizzle remaining butter over all.
Bake at 375 degrees F for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden.
Serve warm or cool. Cut into wedges to serve.
Apple Baklava
Apples give a distinctive twist to this traditional Greek dessert. Sauteing them first to let the water evaporate ensures a crisp crust.
6 Golden Delicious apples
6 Granny Smith apples
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Nut Mixture
2 1/2 cups walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
24 sheets phyllo dough
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons plain dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons honey
Apple Layer: Peel and slice apples. Melt butter in Dutch oven over high heat. Add apples, sugar and cinnamon; cook, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender and juices are evaporated, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool.
Nut Mixture: Combine all ingredients in small bowl.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Trim phyllo sheets to 13 x 9-inch rectangles; cover with plastic wrap. Brush a 13 x 9-inch metal baking pan with butter. Place 1 phyllo sheet in pan and brush with some of the melted butter (keep remaining phyllo covered). Layer 5 more phyllo sheets on top, brushing each with butter. Spread 2 cups nut mixture on top and repeat layering with 6 more phyllo sheets and butter. Spread apple mixture on top; repeat layering with 6 more phyllo sheets and butter. Sprinkle remaining nut mixture on top; sprinkle with bread crumbs and layer with the 6 remaining phyllo sheets and butter. With sharp knife, cut lengthwise through pastry and filling into 1 1/2 inch-wide strips, then cut diagonally at 2-inch intervals to make diamonds.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until golden. Drizzle honey on top and bake 5 minutes more. Cool in pan on wire rack.
Serve warm or at room temperature with whipped or ice cream.
Chandler Greek Festival Spanakopeta (Greek Spinach Squares)
Source: Chef Effie Karantinos - Chandler Greek Festival, Chandler, Arizona
2 pounds fresh spinach
1 onion, finely chopped
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup cream sauce
6 eggs, beaten
1 cup feta cheese, finely crumbled
Salt and pepper
Dash of nutmeg
1/2 pound phyllo pastry sheets
Butter, melted
Wash spinach and discard stems. Dry thoroughly on absorbent paper and cut into pieces.
Saute onion in butter until soft. Add spinach and saute a few minutes longer. Cool.
Add cream sauce, eggs, cheese and seasonings. Mix well.
Place 7 layers of phyllo pastry sheets in an 11 x 14 x 2-inch pan, brushing each sheet well with melted butter. Add spinach mixture, then place 8 phyllo pastry sheets on filling. Again, butter each sheet well.
Bake at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Cut into small squares before serving.
Makes 16 squares.
Beef with Thyme and Oregano Butter
From the kitchen of Martin James, Copenhagen, Denmark
1kg (2 pound) piece rump steak
1 tablespoon olive oil
Freshly cracked black peppercorns
Salt
Thyme and Oregano Butter
100g (4 ounces) soft butter
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1 small clove garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Cut steak into 6 pieces. Brush each steak with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Barbecue, pan-fry or grill steaks until cooked as desired. Serve with slices of thyme and oregano butter.
Thyme and Oregano Butter: Beat all ingredients in small bowl with electric mixer or wooden spoon until well combined. Spoon mixture onto a sheet of grease-proof paper in a rough log shape. Fold one side of the paper over roll, then, with a ruler, push against the butter so that the mixture forms a smooth log. Roll the butter in the grease-proof paper, refrigerate.
Serves 6.
Thyme and Oregano Butter can be made a day ahead.
Storage: Covered in refrigerator; Microwave: Not suitable; Freeze: Butter suitable.
Cinnamon Chicken (Kota Kapama)
8 pieces chicken
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onions
1 teaspoon finely chopped or minced garlic
6 fresh garden tomatoes or 1 cup chopped,
drained, canned plum tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 (4-inch long) cinnamon stick
Freshly-grated Parmesan cheese
Grind some sea salt and black pepper over the chicken pieces.
Heat the butter and olive oil over moderate heat in a saute pan, and brown the chicken pieces. Transfer them to a plate.
Pour off all but a thin film of fat add the onions and garlic. Cook and stir for a few minutes until the onions are light brown. Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken stock, cinnamon stick, 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt and a few grindings of black pepper. Bring to a boil, and then return the chicken to the pan and baste it thoroughly with the sauce. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer, basting occasionally, for about 30 minutes.
Serve with white or brown rice or pasta. Spoon the tomato sauce over the chicken and rice or pasta. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired.
Spinach with Rice (Spanakouzo)
1 (10 ounce) package chopped spinach, thawed
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup long grain rice
Saute onion in olive oil in saucepan until tender. Add tomato sauce, lemon juice and water. Bring to boil. Add spinach, rice and season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer 20 minutes or until rice is absorbed.
Makes 4 servings.
This recipe can easily be doubled.
Rice with Garbanzos and Currants
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
1 cup long-grain rice
1/4 cup white wine (optional)
2 cups fresh or canned chicken stock, or water
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans (chick-peas, ceci),
drained or 1 cup dried garbanzo beans, soaked
overnight and boiled for 45 minutes, until tender
1/2 cup dried currants or raisins
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and freshly-ground pepper, to taste
Chopped parsley (for garnish)
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over moderate heat. Saute the onions until translucent, about 5 minutes.
Add the rice and stir to thoroughly coat the rice with the oil. Add the optional wine and cook for 2 minutes.
Add the chicken stock or water and the remaining ingredients and simmer covered over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, until the rice is done.
Sprinkle with the chopped parsley.
Serves 4 to 6.