TNH’s Curated Holiday Recipes & Wine Pairings

This holiday season, let food and wine become your vehicle to connect with your family, your ancestral village, or your favorite memory of Greece or Cyprus that allows you to escape to that place - even if it’s more mental than physical this year.

1. “Greek comfort foods are like a warm hug from a beloved family member, they not only bring back memories, but they connect us in a powerful way to our roots and the relationships that sustain us even during the most difficult times.” See what else The National Herald’s own Eleni Sakellis has to say about TNH’s favorite Greek comfort foods. She includes recipes for:

   • Cretan Stewed Mushrooms

   • Rabbit Stifado

   • Roasted Chicken with Lemon, Oregano and Potatoes

2. Fotios Stamos was kind enough to share three delicious and simple recipes for us to prepare along with three wine pairings that will enhance the holiday food experience.

   • Appetizer: Araka (Pea Stew) Paired with Mylonas Rose.

   • Main Dish: Roasted Peppers Stuffed with Feta Paired with Kir Yianni Sparking Rose.

   • Dessert: Olive Oil Cake with Orange Zest Paired with Kleos Mastiha.

3. In an event presented by Yia Mas, find out how Dimitrios Manousakis and Aris Soultanos pair Greek wines with food here. Who knew that Retsina went well with spicy Pad Thai?

4. A special cookie recipe by Kathy Boulukos is perfect for winter and can be made ahead of time. Passed down from her mother, this recipe is the enhanced butter cookie we all crave. It’s also easy enough for the kids to help along the way!

5. There is nothing like the comfort of Koulourakia. However, with hundreds of inhabited islands in Greece (plus the mainland of course), Eleni shares three variations of the classic cookie recipe from different parts of the homeland for us to try at home:

   • Koulourakia with Chios Mastic

   • Smyrneica Koulouria

   • Koulourakia Methismena (drunk cookies)

6. Zenon Taverna shared their modern recipe of butternut squash turnovers. They are the perfect savory ‘to go’ dish to supplement children’s lunchboxes or your own when you’re on the go!

7. Kukla’s Kouzina’s recipes are all inspired by the original ‘Kukla’ (doll), Mary Halkias Staikopoulos. Below are a couple of our favorite recipes from their website:

   • Gemista Manitaria - Stuffed Mushrooms

   • Ahladakia Amigdalota - Almond Pears

8. Another recipe from Eleni, Takakia - a traditional dessert from Rhodes, is also a perfect alternative to the classic baklava.

9. We all know the classic spanakopita recipe… But why not impress your guests with a bundt cake shaped one this year? Check this recipe by George & Kathy Boulukos out.

10. The Greek Wine School founder, Dimitris Manousakis shares his Greek wine recommendations with us. One from Santorini and one from the mainland.

11. What’s more comforting than warm, homemade(!), pita bread? Check out up and coming self-taught chef, Evan Karas’ recipe (and mouthwatering videos!). Carbs are everyone’s best friend.