An easy time-tested recipe for a perfect Greek main dish for any family dinner. Many variations are possible, and it can be prepared in advance and baked later.
“A quick dinner that will satisfy a crowd…. Grilling can take place outdoors or indoors … [This is] the most popular holiday or big crowd dish I make. And there is little preparation with a big bang of flavors!”
This chicken schnitzel recipe comes from a cook in a Greek taverna. Very popular with Greek children, it is a healthy food when fried in extra virgin olive oil.
As Diane Kochilas writes of the pie in her photo, “This Greek recipe for a luscious meat-filled phyllo pie is one of the most beloved dishes of the Ionian island of Cephalonia. Three different ground meats, Greek cheese, and warm spices turn this phyllo classic into a rich, filling pie that can be served as easily as a Greek meze as it can a main course.”
Diane Kochilas (who also provided the photo) would “say this is probably the top ‘mommy food’ recipe there is in the Greek kitchen. My kids pop these keftedes like candy whenever I make them.” She recommends either ground beef or combination of ground beef, lamb, and/or pork.
As Diane Kochilas (who also provided the photo) explains, “Fish soups abound all over the Mediterranean, and this ‘Blue-Zone Bouilliabaisse’ is my version of the classic Greek fisherman’s soup that we make on Ikaria, a Blue Zone, where fish figures prominently in the local diet. I suggest cod and/or salmon because both are easy to find in supermarkets and fish markets alike.”
For boneless turkey breasts, the marinade with Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, herbs, and olive oil produces a very tasty turkey dish. Try to prepare this early enough to marinate in the fridge overnight if possible; otherwise, an hour or so will do. There is a gravy recipe, if you want one.
A family recipe from dietician Elena Paravantes for “authentic roasted lemon Greek chicken and potatoes … a delicious and flavorful dish that combines tender crispy chicken and melt in your mouth garlicky potatoes, all infused with Mediterranean herbs.”
Another family recipe from dietician Elena Paravantes: “delicious Greek baked cod and potatoes with caramelized onions, tomato and raisins over potatoes.”
A recipe from a famous Greek chef, Akis Petretzikis, for a traditional favorite served in tomato sauce. Of course, I would use olive oil for frying rather than seed oil.
Another traditional Greek favorite from Greek chef Akis Petretzikis, made with herbs and baked with potatoes.
This olive oil and herb rub gives turkey a rich flavor.