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Aginares salata is a traditional salad originating from Crete. Although there are variations, the salad is usually made with a combination of young and tender artichokes, lemon, lemon juice, olive oil, mustard, garlic, dill, salt, and pepper. The artichokes are trimmed and boiled in a mixture of water and lemon juice.
The artichokes are quartered and cut in half, rubbed with lemon, and placed on a platter. A dressing consisting of lemon juice, olive oil, mustard, and garlic is then poured over the artichokes, and the salad is sprinkled with chopped dill, seasoned with salt and pepper, tossed, and served immediately.
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This rustic Greek dish is prepared with a variety of mixed beans which are transformed into a hearty soup. The most common ingredients include a combination of lentils, beans, chickpeas, or fava beans, and the soup is usually seasoned with olive oil and lemon juice.
The dish is traditionally associated with Cephalonia, but similar varieties are found throughout the country.
This Cephalonian dish consists of various greens that are stewed alongside tomatoes and various spices and herbs. The dish typically employs onions, celery, leeks, or spinach, and different choice of wild greens such as chard or sorrel. It is occasionally enriched with rice and is best prepared during spring when there is an abundance of wild greens.
Tsigaridia is traditionally enjoyed as the main course and is best paired with bread.
Hortosoupa is the Greek-style vegetable soup that comes in numerous versions and is easily adaptable to taste. The vegetables used in the soup are mainly seasonal, but they typically include potatoes, carrots, leeks, celery, onions, and zucchinis.
Though they can be puréed, finely diced vegetables are usually left whole to give the soup its distinguishable thick consistency. The soup is traditionally served with a splash of lemon juice and bread on the side.
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This fragrant Greek spread employs fresh parsley as its star ingredient. Maidanosalata comes in numerous versions, but next to parsley it usually consists of bread, garlic, onions, lemon juice, vinegar, and spices. Hailing from the island of Syros, the spread is typically paired with pita bread or slices of crispy, country-style bread, but it also makes a great accompaniment to roasted or grilled meat.
MOST ICONIC Maidanosalata
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This simple Kalymnian salad uses a type of local round barley rusks called krithini kouloura as its base. The barley rusks are typically lightly softened in water and torn into smaller pieces before they’re combined with finely chopped tomatoes, onions, cheese (usually cream cheese or feta), and plenty of olive oil.
Other common ingredients contained in the salad include slices of Greek sardeles (sardines in oil), capers, olives, cucumbers, sea squirts, and aromatic herbs that grow on the island such as oregano or throumbi (pink savory). In Kalymnos, mermizeli (also known as mirmizeli) salad is offered at almost every traditional tavern, and each of those has its own unique twist on the salad.
This traditional Greek soup employs beef, lamb, or pork tripe as key ingredients. While there are many different regional varieties of the soup, most use animal’s head or feet and enrich the broth with garlic, onions, lemon juice, and vinegar.
The broth is occasionally thickened with avgolemono, a mixture of whisked eggs and lemon juice. Patsas is commonly regarded as a great hangover remedy and is traditionally enjoyed in the late hours, after a night of indulgence at Greek taverns.
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This simple Greek dish consists of a flavorful combination of rice and cabbage, which is sautéed until tender alongside bell peppers, onions, and fresh herbs. The dish belongs to a wide group of Greek vegetarian dishes, traditionally enjoyed during fasting.
It is mainly consumed as a main course and is best paired with a drizzle of lemon juice, feta cheese, and bread.
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Kounoupidi kapama is a traditional dish that's especially popular in Messinia. The dish is usually made with a combination of cauliflower florets, onions, tomatoes, cinnamon, garlic, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. The onions and garlic are sautéed in olive oil until translucent.
Next, cauliflower florets are added to the pan and sautéed until caramelized. Tomatoes, cinnamon, and seasonings are added to the mixture with some water, and it's then simmered over low heat until the cauliflower is completely tender. Once done, the dish is typically served with fresh bread and feta cheese or Greek yogurt on the side.
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A summer staple in Ikarian households, soufiko is a simple Greek vegetable dish that combines a variety of fresh and seasonal vegetables with local herbs which are then cooked in a generous amount of high-quality local olive oil. It typically consists of potatoes, eggplants, zucchinis, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and garlic, which are chopped, layered, and flavored with fresh or dried aromatic herbs such as oregano and sage.
The dish is often enhanced with red wine and it may include a few hot peppers for added spiciness. Healthy, vibrant, and fragrant, this specialty is usually topped with oregano and an extra drizzle of olive oil just before serving, and it's often accompanied by a glass of yogurt or local kathoura cheese on the side.
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