Spetsofai

As with all good meals - photographs questionably but tastes fantastic

A firm Greek favourite to finish off 2020.

I go to the same Greek restaurant all the time – but obviously not recently. One thing I was really missing was this amazing chorizo and pepper stew which tastes rich and delicious. I think cooking time is the key, this could be a great slow cooker meal. But I have nothing if not time on my hands at present, so I had time to cook it low and slow on the stove.

The boyfriend required chips with his.

I had mine with flat bread, but this would also be amazing with a fresh slice of thick bread, or even a nice crisp side salad. Rice and chips also work!

Greek Feta and Red Pepper Dip

In need of a little mid week treat?

You all know I have a complete love affair with Greek food. It is everything Irish food would be if we had a better climate, I think.

Dips from the shop never stand up to the ones you make yourself, and I always prefer to make my own. So when a dip is as easy to whip up as this one, you’ll never look back. Really, there’s no way to make this more complicated than throwing ingredients into a food processor.

Served with warm pita bread it’s a meal all of its own, but it is also delicious as a little side to a Greek feast.

And here's one I prepared earlier! Spanakopita, feta dip, and aoili.

Yemista - Stuffed Greek Peppers

Countdown to the weekend is on! Well, not for me, because I'm working this weekend. Feel for me.

But don't feel too bad, because I made these for dinner and they're amazing. You gotta try these. I have been trying to branch out on my side dishes, and I often get inspiration from food I try in restaurants.

After I had eaten them, I just knew I had to recreate these amazing stuffed peppers that I had in my favourite Greek restaurant. I have made some changes to the traditional recipe as I am wont to do.. Traditionally, as far as I can tell, you tend to include sultanas and mint, but I don’t like sultanas and I think mint can be overwhelming in savoury dishes. I also pre-cooked the rice a little because I only had brown rice and my boyfriend is very fussy with the way his rice is cooked.

Delicious filling!

These are great as a side, or on as part of a  little snack-y tapas feast!

Lamb and Beef Koftes with Roasted Veggies

Okay, shall we do something savoury? I think this is a perfect meal for the start of autumn, with lovely rich flavours and a lighter side.

I know that I tend to skew a lot towards the Mexican food angle, and this recipe actually came about because I was wanting to cook something with mince and wasn't really feeling the idea of chilli con carne. Then all of a sudden, a little lightbulb lit above my head: koftes! Of course!

This is an incredibly simple recipe and completely different from the flavours that I normally cook with. This will be going on my standard rotation of meals, because it was a taste sensation! Feel free to serve it however you like – in flatbread with veggies, or with rice, or like I have, with some roasted veg and couscous.