Ingredient Preparation Tips & Techniques for Cooking Greek Food
From seeding cucumbers to cleaning squid (calamari), here are easy instructions and how-to directions to help you get the best results when cooking Greek food.
How to Blanch Almonds
Many Greek recipes call for blanched almonds, raw shelled almonds with the skin removed. Blanching almonds is easy and just takes a few minutes..
Many Greek recipes call for blanched almonds, raw shelled almonds with the skin removed. Blanching almonds is easy and just takes a few minutes..
How to Boil Water
Is all boiled water the same? No! Learn about boiling water for pasta, boiled eggs, and more.
Is all boiled water the same? No! Learn about boiling water for pasta, boiled eggs, and more.
How to Clean and Prepare Snails for Cooking
Garden snails are a specialty on the Greek island of Crete, where they are traditionally enjoyed in huge quantities in August. Before cooking, the snails need to be cleaned and washed. Here's how to do it.
Garden snails are a specialty on the Greek island of Crete, where they are traditionally enjoyed in huge quantities in August. Before cooking, the snails need to be cleaned and washed. Here's how to do it.
How to Clean Squid (Photos)
The squid shown in these photos is called a thrapsalo, a type of large squid. The cleaning process is the similar to that for smaller (calamari) squid, but because it's bigger, it's easier to see the steps in photos. This particular squid held an additional surprise.
The squid shown in these photos is called a thrapsalo, a type of large squid. The cleaning process is the similar to that for smaller (calamari) squid, but because it's bigger, it's easier to see the steps in photos. This particular squid held an additional surprise.
How to Clean Squid
Squid (calamari) is sometimes, but not always, sold cleaned. If you find yourself with uncleaned squid, follow these easy steps to clean and prepare it for cooking.
Squid (calamari) is sometimes, but not always, sold cleaned. If you find yourself with uncleaned squid, follow these easy steps to clean and prepare it for cooking.
How to Crumble Feta Cheese
If your local grocer doesn't carry crumbled feta and you have a block or slice, here's how to crumble it for salads and toppings without mashing it.
If your local grocer doesn't carry crumbled feta and you have a block or slice, here's how to crumble it for salads and toppings without mashing it.
How to Defrost and Prepare Frozen Squid (Calamari)
Frozen squid is much more readily available than fresh in many markets. Here's what you need to know about defrosting and preparing frozen squid for cooking.
Frozen squid is much more readily available than fresh in many markets. Here's what you need to know about defrosting and preparing frozen squid for cooking.
How to Divide an Egg
Greek recipes are often made in large quantities. Decreasing the quantity is often a simple matter of dividing ingredients, but what happens when the recipe calls for 1 or 3 or 5 or another odd number of eggs? Here's how to divide.
Greek recipes are often made in large quantities. Decreasing the quantity is often a simple matter of dividing ingredients, but what happens when the recipe calls for 1 or 3 or 5 or another odd number of eggs? Here's how to divide.
How to Grate Tomatoes
Tomato-based sauces are a favorite in Greek cooking, and many recipes call for grated tomatoes (tomato pulp). Grating tomatoes is easy and less expensive than buying canned pulp, and can be frozen to use when ripe tomatoes are not in season.
Tomato-based sauces are a favorite in Greek cooking, and many recipes call for grated tomatoes (tomato pulp). Grating tomatoes is easy and less expensive than buying canned pulp, and can be frozen to use when ripe tomatoes are not in season.
How to Peel Garlic the Easy Way
Don't want to smash the garlic in order to peel it? Here's an easy way that's especially good for recipes calling for whole cloves. A tip from Glykeria Mperikou.
Don't want to smash the garlic in order to peel it? Here's an easy way that's especially good for recipes calling for whole cloves. A tip from Glykeria Mperikou.
How to Prepare Chestnuts for Cooking
Chestnuts are a favorite ingredient in many rice, stuffing, and sweets recipes, but they do need to come out of their shells and be soft enough to use. Learn how in a few easy and simple steps.
Chestnuts are a favorite ingredient in many rice, stuffing, and sweets recipes, but they do need to come out of their shells and be soft enough to use. Learn how in a few easy and simple steps.
How to Remove the Skin from Sole
Sole is a delightful and versatile fish. Sole is often sold in prepared filets or already cleaned, but if using fresh sole, the skin needs to be removed before cooking. Here's how to do it.
Sole is a delightful and versatile fish. Sole is often sold in prepared filets or already cleaned, but if using fresh sole, the skin needs to be removed before cooking. Here's how to do it.
How to Seed a Cucumber
Learn how to remove the seeds from a cucumber in step-by-step photos.
Learn how to remove the seeds from a cucumber in step-by-step photos.
Peel & Prepare Small Boiler or Pearl Onions for Greek Stifado Dishes
The most time-consuming part of preparation for fabulous Greek "stifado" dishes (stews made with a lot of boiler or pearl onions in a tomato base) is peeling the onions. This tip will help!
The most time-consuming part of preparation for fabulous Greek "stifado" dishes (stews made with a lot of boiler or pearl onions in a tomato base) is peeling the onions. This tip will help!
Pouring Coffee Powder
Greek coffee is very finely ground, which can make it awkward to handle. One site visitor offers a quick tip to manage the powder.
Greek coffee is very finely ground, which can make it awkward to handle. One site visitor offers a quick tip to manage the powder.
Start with Fresh Grape Leaves
If you have access to grapevines – in a vineyard, on a grape arbor, or growing wild – you have a treasure trove of taste at hand! Learn how to use them fresh from the vine or store them for future use.
If you have access to grapevines – in a vineyard, on a grape arbor, or growing wild – you have a treasure trove of taste at hand! Learn how to use them fresh from the vine or store them for future use.
Using Canned (Dried) Beans in Greek Recipes
Chickpeas, Great Northerns, pinto, red, black-eyed peas - these and more are Greek favorites and the basis for many dishes. Some advice before using canned beans.
Chickpeas, Great Northerns, pinto, red, black-eyed peas - these and more are Greek favorites and the basis for many dishes. Some advice before using canned beans.