Top 20 Greek Recipes of the Week - March 17 - 23, 2008

This braided or twisted sweet bread is made throughout the year and at other holidays, but it is an Easter tradition decorated with red eggs, symbols of the holiday. Also delicious for breakfast or with coffee or tea.

The creamy combination of yogurt, cucumber, and garlic makes tzatziki a refreshing appetizer that can be eaten alone, with bread, or as an accompaniment to vegetables, meat dishes, and pita wraps. It is one of the dips for which Greece is most well-known. Making it for a large group? Try adding grated carrots to increase the quantity (1 carrot for each cup of yogurt used). They add a nice crunch and don't affect the taste.

This is the Greek recipe for moussaka with eggplant, probably the most well-known of all versions, and a favorite of Greeks and non-Greeks alike. A casserole dish, moussaka is made with layers of ground meat and vegetables, and topped with a rich cream sauce.

This dip is a delicious appetizer and a favorite with regional differences in this part of the world. The key to great hummus is to let the flavor of the chickpeas come through, rather than be overwhelmed by the lemon (it's easy to get too much lemon taste). It's quick to make, no cooking involved, and it's vegan- and vegetarian-friendly.

This version of baklava, made with olive oil (the recipe can also be made with butter), is a modernized version of Gastrin (say: GHAH-streen) - an ancient Cretan sweet known from Roman times. Use butter if you must, but this version made with olive oil is absolutely delicious.

This is a family favorite because it's quick, and easier to make than some other versions, with simplified phyllo handling. The spinach needs to be cooked the day before, but once the pita (pie) gets started, it takes a few minutes to get it ready, and about 45 minutes to bake.

Oven-roasted potatoes are a favorite side dish in Greek homes, and this recipe adds a bit of a surprise and a lot of taste with orange juice.

This recipe is an adaptation of a dish fixed in the mountains by guerillas (bandits) who needed to cook without being seen. They placed the meat on coals in a hole, covered it up, and let it cook for up to 24 hours. No trace of any stolen animal, and no smell of cooking meat to give them away. If you don't like garlic, this might not be the dish for you.

This thick version of bechamel comes from my neighbor, Yiorgia, and it turns out thick and rich every time. It's made with evaporated milk and contains cheese, and is just one variation of this popular sauce used with meats and vegetables. It isn't hard to make, and doesn't take long, but it has to be stirred the entire time.

A favorite to serve with dips and spreads, and pita wraps (sandwiches) of all descriptions, pita bread is not difficult to make, and freezes well.