Details Of Greek Cuisines – A Merger Of Mediterranean Cooking Styles

[youtube:rEtTce0Tbg0?fs=1;Greek Giouvetsi Recipe (Lamb with Pasta Baked in the Oven) ;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEtTce0Tbg0?fs=1&feature=related]Greek cuisine features fresh vegetables and a variety of meats, including lamb, chicken, pork, fish and beef, with influences from Italy and other nearby countries. A mixture of sharp-flavored spices and herbs makes Greek recipes distinctive from other recipes. Herbs and other ingredients such as garlic, olives and lime are a few of the main flavoring agents in Greek recipes. Festivals and celebrations are the integral part of Greece and traditional Greek recipes are specially prepared on these occasions to have a feast with friends and family.

Holiday and Religious Recipes of Greek Food In the Greek culture, Easter begins with the first day of Lent, when people get ready for the resurrection of Christ by cleansing their bodies. Food eaten during this time has the word “nistisima″ after it, indicating that it doesn’t contain any of the restricted foods. The traditional Easter bread, Tsoureki, has subtle sweet flavor. Specially made Easter cookies are shared with friends and guests at the time of Easter in Greek. In Greek culture, Easter Sunday is celebrated with fun and frolic.The favorite Easter soup is mayeritsa, which is made with lamb organs and seasonings.

During the Christmas holidays, the Greek custom includes melomakarona (cookies topped with honey and walnuts) and kourabiethes (almond sugar cookies). Greeks also enjoy a variety of cakes and other desserts.

Filo Dishes Filo recipes have always been the most favorite and integral part of Greek cuisine as this super-thin pastry dough makes some delectable dishes.It is used in spanakopita (spinach pie) and baklava (sweet pastry with nuts). Other favorite Greek recipes with filo include seafood appetizers, “nest” side dishes, appetizers and desserts and tarts.

Meats Lamb is the most favorite kind of meat served in Greek households and commercial eateries.Lamb is used for main dishes and in casseroles with vegetables. Other meats enjoyed in the Greek culture are chicken, pork, beef and fish. ‘Souvlaki’ is the frequently served sandwich in Greek cuisine that is made with any kind of meat mentioned above.

Pita Bread Pita bread is served with most Greek meals. Pita bread is most commonly eaten with specially made yogurt-cucumber dip or lemon dip mixed with olive oil and herb seasonings. Various Greek wrap sandwiches are also made out of pita bread with slices of lamb and tomatoes as a stuffing. ‘Gyro’ is a Greek pita bread sandwich that features yogurt dressing and onion rings along with the lamb stuffing.

Salads Greek salads often include olives, tomatoes and feta cheese. The dressing has an olive oil base and is mixed with vinegar and other seasonings. Nuts typically garnish Greek salads.

Vegetables Vegetables are an integral part of Greek food. One of the most popular Greek vegetable dishes is ‘Moussaka′ that includes eggplant as the main ingredient along with tomatoes, any kind of pepper and onions. Often meat is also added to give richness to this layered baked dish. Nearly all seasonal and fresh vegetables are used in Greek cuisine such as cabbage, carrots and all kind of green vegetables.

Olives and Lemons Many Greek foods, including main dishes and salads, call for olives, olive oil, and lemons. A lot of the Greek main dishes as well as salad recipes include olives and lemons. Even olive oil is extensively used in Greek recipes.Olive oil is one of the most common ingredients in Greek cuisine. It is used in salads, main dishes and as dipping sauce. Lemons provide the zesty flavor Greek dishes are known for.

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