Pasteli, sesame candies, the energy bar of the Gods

pasteli

Do you like sesame? Normally we get discreet tastes of it on bread or burger buns. You might be using its oil on salads or scooping up dollops of houmous on pita bread for its distinct flavour. In Greece we are very well acquainted with the humble sesame seed and we have a very soft spot for golden sweet honey. We use them both to make pasteli and this preparation is so old, it is only fair to call them the energy bars of the Gods. Continue reading

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Leek pie and kourkoubinia

Smart ways to make your ingredients go a long way

Still on food blogging competition mode and all I think about is re-using. Last week I re-used my chickpea soup into chickpea burger, I had a few onions cooked into a sharp chutney and made my materials go a little further. This week, it is all about the pie and a bit of dessert, well, from leftovers fillo pastry. Making your ingredients go a long way, have something savoury and something sweet. 

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Rice pudding

rice pudding @eatyourselfgreek  

 There is hardly a nation in the world without rice pudding. From Far East to Far west, this little pudding has gained everybody’s attention and affection. As old as rice and as simple as milk, rice pudding has been a staple of Greek home cooking too, joining the Middle-Eastern league for flavourfull filling snacks. Either as breakfast or actually dessert, I love it cold and with lots of cinnamon. Continue reading Facebooktwitterpinterestinstagramby feather

Kataifi, divine pleasures

    Kataifi

As far as traditional desserts go, we have a soft spot for syrupy ones over here. In general we have a sweet tooth in the family and we are very fussy on what comes through the door. Dessert has to be perfect! Greek patisseries will never seize to surprise me with their selection of classics and also very innovative desserts. Be it chocolate gateaux, tiramisu, profiteroles or oriental delights, there is always temptation around. Of course every place has its speciality too, but I should come back to this on another post. Home-made, of course, always wins hands down. Continue reading

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Semolina halva

Another taste us Greeks have adopted from the orient, halva is known throughout the Balkans, North Africa, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and of course the Levant where it originated. Halva is a dessert rich in history, rooted in the medieval Arab world and tinged with a Persian influence. Perfect with tea or coffee, halva has seen many a glorious day. It used to be served to high-ranking Ottomans during their ostentatious banquets, usually with tea, pickles and other delicacies; what a delicious tea service that must have been!

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