
THE BEST GREEK TRADITIONAL RECIPES FOR HOLIDAY SEASON
The Christmas bread
Chistopsomo or “Christ’s Bread”, is a leavened bread made of flour, sesame seeds, and spices, such as anise, orange, cloves, and cinnamon accompanied by dried figs, accompanies every Christmas Eve table.
Traditional Crispiest Greek Lemon Potatoes
The perfect, traditional Greek lemon potatoes, ideal for the Sunday family roast. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside with a delicious lemon flavour. Greek lemon potatoes are perfect on their own served with some crusted bread to dig into all the delicious juices or accompanying roast lamb, chicken, pork, a juicy burger or steak, and the list goes on.
Pork Fricassee recipe with Egg-lemon Sauce and Celery
Besides the usual turkey and lemon roast potatoes it is customary to serve a side dish of fricassee garnished with an egg-lemon sauce. Pork Fricassee is a very nutritious dish full of proteins, vitamins and calcium and is considered to be the best meal after the fasting period leading up to Christmas. To get the most out of this dish, make sure you visit your local butcher and ask for some really good quality pork fillets from the neck, diced into nice chunky cubes or larger slices.
Festive Roast Turkey with Rosemary, Garlic and Lemon Sauce
Celebrate this festive season with nothing other than a well prepared, moist and tender turkey! The aromas of rosemary and lemon will keep the meat nice and soft while roasting and give it an amazing infused scent.
Moving on to the desserts, sweets and delicacies, you will have to try them all as they are delicious.
Karidopita/Greek walnut cake with syrup
A mouthwatering Greek walnut cake, scented with the aromas and blends of cinnamon and grounded clove! This truly smells like Christmas spirit! Secret tip; try it with a ball of kaimaki or vanilla ice cream.
Traditional Kourampiedes/Greek Christmas Butter Cookies
Traditionally made to celebrate Christmas, these sweet little butter cookies will definitely set you on a festive mood! Infused with rose water and the aromas of melted butter and topped with luscious layers of icing sugar, who can resist eating a few more than they should.
Cretan Sweet Cheese Pastries/Kaltsounia
Extremely soft and highly addictive! These delicious little cheese pastries are a holiday tradition from the island of Crete, but nowadays they are eaten almost everywhere throughout the year at times of celebration. Kaltsounia are traditionally made with the fresh soft variety of myzithra cheese (not the salty type), but if you can’t find it, try them with some Italian mascarpone or ricotta. Serve as a delicious dessert with a drizzle of warm honey and a sprinkle of powder cinnamon.
Melomakarona
Melomakarona, the Greek honey cookies, are one of the most popular treats throughout Greece during the Christmas Holidays and their intense homely smell makes every house smell like Christmas. They are even used as present to the kids singing the Christmas chores. Serve them with a cup of hot coffee, chocolate or tea and you have a match made in heaven.
Greek Diples with honey
Christmas on a platter, drizzled with honey syrup and topped with chopped walnuts! Diples get their name from the Greek word for “fold” and are a traditional festive dessert that is very popular around Christmas time throughout Greece. They are not really easy peasy to make but for sure they deserve a try from the local pastry shop.
Vasilopita Cake Recipe /Greek New Year’s cake
A delicious vasilopita recipe, infused with the aromas and blends of oranges and garnished with a thick and glossy vanilla scented sugar glaze! Vasilopita is a traditional Greek cake or bread served at midnight on New Year’s Eve to celebrate the life of Saint Basil. After baking the vasilopita cake, a coin is inserted through the base and when cut the person who finds the coin is said to be granted luck for the rest of the year! Vasilopita is made of a variety of doughs, depending on the region and almost every family has its own recipe. The most popular vasilopita recipes are either made with tsoureki dough or like a cake. Learn how to recreate yours at https://uniquedestination.mitsishotels.com/articles/greek-new-year-cake-vasilopita/.