Greece -The Cookbook by Vefa Alexiadou

Greece: The Cookbook by Vefa Alexiadou is a reissue of the popular author’s Vefa’s Kitchen. Vefa is one of the leading authorities when it comes to Greek cuisine. A bestselling author of thirteen cookbooks she also had her own television series, regularly wrote articles for magazines and gave lectures and demonstrations on recipes. She is the Julia Child of Greek cookery.

Over 650 recipes are shared in this epic collection with beautiful color photographs scattered throughout. Examples of the wealth of recipes that can be found in Greece include versions of Sweet Pastries (forget chocolate for me – anything with phyllo dough has me surrending to its cripsy buttery deliciousness), Moussaka, Pork Stew with Leeks from Macedonia, and a Stuffed Pasta Dish from Asia Minor that I cannot wait to serve and impress everyone that gathers around my table – truly a work of art. 

If you wish to order this title, please remember Eat Your Book members receive 30% off Phaidon titles when using the link provided. Surprise, surprise – I chose a wonderful sweet pastry to share with members today. Thanks to Phaidon for allowing us to publish this recipe. Be sure to head over to our contest page to enter our giveaway open to members in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. 

ALMOND PASTRY TRIANGLES FROM CHIOS

Preparation time: 30 minutes 
Cooking Time: 15-20 Minutes
Makes: 25-30 triangles
INGREDIENTS
 
• 5 tablespoons melted clarified butter
• 3 cups (375 g / 13 oz) finely ground almonds
• generous 1 cup (225 g / 8 oz) superfine (caster) sugar
• ¼ teaspoon ground mastic
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons orange flower water
• 1 egg plus 1 yolk, lightly beaten
• 9 oz (250 g) ready-made phyllo (filo)
• confectioners’ (icing) sugar, for dusting
 
INSTRUCTIONS
 
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C / Gas Mark 4) and brush a baking pan with melted butter. Combine the ground almonds, sugar, and mastic in a bowl. Add the lemon juice, orange flower water, and beaten eggs and fold in to make a loose but not runny batter, adding more orange flower water, if necessary. Spread out the phyllo sheets and cut into 2-inch (5-cm) wide strips. Brush each strip with melted butter. Put 1 tablespoon of the filling at 1 end of each strip, lift the bottom corner over to the side and continue to fold into small triangles. Put the triangles side by side into the prepared pan, brushing each with melted butter. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden. Dust with confectioners’ sugar and let cool.
 
Adapted from Greece – The Cookbook by Vefa Alexiadou  (Phaidon, $49.95 US/$59.95 CAN, March 2017)

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35 Comments

  • Kristjudy  on  May 4, 2017

    Opa!!!! Shrimp saganaki

  • sabrina7  on  May 4, 2017

    Baklava

  • Titch  on  May 4, 2017

    I don't cook Greek food but would love to learn some recipes 🙂 x

  • RNJessicaK  on  May 4, 2017

    Tangerine Bon Bons

  • lgroom  on  May 4, 2017

    Hard to say — baklava, I guess.

  • Mivas  on  May 4, 2017

    Baked giant beans (Gigantes plaki) (page 69)

  • j_h  on  May 4, 2017

    Keen to take a look at this – I've got a few Phaidon bibles, and not a lot of greek food in my collection.

  • thecharlah  on  May 4, 2017

    It's a cliche I know, but I can't eat enough gyros.

  • jezpurr  on  May 4, 2017

    I love gyros and lots of stuff!!!^_^

  • FireRunner2379  on  May 5, 2017

    I'm a big fan of lamb gyros and love Tzatziki sauce! Also, can't go wrong with Baklava!

  • Lem9579  on  May 5, 2017

    I'd make the Vegetable Moussaka first.

  • Lem9579  on  May 5, 2017

    My favorite Greek dish is moussaka. With or without meat.

  • jifar  on  May 5, 2017

    The recipe I would like to try is Saint Fanourios cake (Fanouropita)

  • Siegal  on  May 5, 2017

    I love stuffed peppers

  • lebarron2001  on  May 5, 2017

    Lamb Gyros w/ tzatziki and baklava

  • RSW  on  May 5, 2017

    Baklava

  • sgump  on  May 5, 2017

    So, it's not really a "recipe" (although there's a version in this book), but I simply adore a good Greek salad in the summertime, with the freshest of garden vegetables (and, of course, lovely olives, cheese, and olive oil).

  • kitchenclimbers  on  May 5, 2017

    my fav is spanakopita

  • tinaellen  on  May 5, 2017

    I'm so crazy about desserts with almonds!

  • trudys_person  on  May 7, 2017

    I love avegolemono (SP?) soup, simply prepared seafood, wedding shortbreads with clove, pastitsio, sticky desserts, and just about every Greek dish I've ever tried!

  • bstewart  on  May 8, 2017

    Yum, the almond triangles look super!

  • t.t  on  May 13, 2017

    Tzatziki

  • JenJoLa  on  May 13, 2017

    My favorite Greek recipe is usually spanakopita.

  • hpadvantag  on  May 13, 2017

    The almond triangles look divine! Can not wait to try them…..

  • Purplepeepers  on  May 14, 2017

    moussaka

  • tarae1204  on  May 15, 2017

    So many favorites — moussaka, skordalia, anything with fish.

  • AnnaZed  on  May 17, 2017

    I adore spanakopita (I would like to know how to make it).

  • Maefleur  on  May 19, 2017

    Yes! The almond triangles look lovely!

  • lindaeatsherbooks  on  May 25, 2017

    My favourite Greek recipe is for baklava that I got from a coworker.

  • zorra  on  May 25, 2017

    While the size of this tome is intimidating, the photos are so enticing

  • PennyG  on  May 26, 2017

    Avgolemono!

  • RSW  on  May 30, 2017

    Mousakka

  • TrishaCP  on  June 6, 2017

    Saganaki with a bit of honey on top.

  • CosmicKaye  on  June 7, 2017

    I love Moussaka.

  • FrenchCreekBaker  on  June 7, 2017

    I have to say that out-door, pit roasted, Greek lamb is a favorite recipe. Moussaka, kadaffi, rice pudding, I love so many Greek recipes. This book is a treasure trove of my favorites.

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