Fun & Fabulous Greek dinner party recipes
Along with 3 other couples, Rete and I belong to a dinner party group. For our turn, we chose to prepare a Greek dinner. We traveled to Greece a number of years ago and loved the history, the beauty and also the foods. So this is our menu. Sounds Yummy?? IT WAS!!!!
Menu
Appetizers:
Hummus, Feta, Olives & Pita triangles
Souvlaki & Tzatziki Sauce (grilled chicken skewers)
Entree & Side Dishes:
Greek Salad with Feta
Fasolakia Lathera (green beans & potatoes)
Moussaka (meat & eggplant dish)
Dessert:
Baklava
Ouzo with Blueberries
The Recipes:
Souvlaki
This is Greek Street Food sometimes served in a soft pita
Marinade: 2 or 3 Garlic, juice of 1 lemon , 3 T olive oil, 1 t. dried oregano
Mix together, place in plastic bag with 4 chicken breasts that have been cut into 1″ cubes. Marinate overnite. Place on skewers & grill 12-15 min, turning often. Serve with Tzatziki sauce
Tzatziki Sauce:
1 C. full-fat Greek yogurt, Juice of 1 lemon, 1 t. Kosher salt,
1 peeled cucumber, finely diced or grated, 3 springs fresh dill, chopped, 1clove garlic, minced.
Mix all together & refrigerate until serving
Fasolakia Lathera (Greek green beans & potatoes stewed with tomato & olive oil)
1/3 C Olive Oil
1 onion chopped
1 # green beans
1 med. potato small cubed
1 12 oz. can diced tomatoes
1/2 C. chopped parsley
1 t. sugar, 1/2 t. salt, pepper
Saute onion in olive oil, add potatoes, beans and mix well until well-coverd w/ olive oil. Add remaining ingredients & stir. Add just enough hot water to half- cover green beans. Simmer w/ lid on for about 40 min. do not boil.. Ready when there is no more water left & beans are tender.
Moussaka (Greek meat, eggplant lasagna)
Consists of 3 components: Meat sauce, eggplant & Bechamel sauce
Eggplant & Zucchini (if desired) 2 large & 3 zucchini – sliced1/4″ thick
sprinkle the eggplant with salt and allow to sweat 30 min., then blot with paper towel. Lay on parchment paper on trays, brush veggis with olive oil and bake in preheated
450 oven for 15-20 min. set aside.
Meat Sauce:
2# ground lamb or beef, saute
add: 1 onion chopped & 2 cloves of garlic, minced
Add: 3 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 16 oz. jar pasta sauce
1 t. oregano, 1/2 t. cinnamon, 3/4t. salt, 1/4 t. cloves
Simmer all together until thickened. Set aside
Bechamel Sauce:
Melt 4 T Butter, Add 5 T flour and cook 1 min.
Slowly add 2 1/2 c. Milk, stirring & whisking constantly. Continue cooking for 3-5 minutes until thickened
Remove from stove and whisk in 3/4 c shredded Parmesan, 1/4 t Nutmeg, 1 1/4t. salt, pepper
Allow to cool for 5 min. Whisk in 1egg + 1 egg Yolk. Cover with lid until needed.
Assemble:
Preheat oven to 350
Place 1/2 the eggplant in the bottom of pan, then 1/2 zucchini slices
Cover with 1/2 of the meat mixture
Repeat the vegetable layers
Repeat the meat layer
Top with the Bechamel sauce, Sprinkle with panko crumbs if desired.
Bake 30-40 Min until golden brown.
Allow to sit for 30 minutes to set, before cutting
Dessert
Baklava
Boil together until sugar is dissolved: 1 C. Sugar
1 1/2 c. water
1 T. lemon juice
1 t orange water (optional)
Cool.
Make nut mixture: 2 c. ground walnuts
1/2 c. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. orange water (optional)
Melted butter
If you want to may add 1t. grated orange rind instead of the orange water.
Open Phyllo sheet box and cover with a cloth to keep from drying out. Layer 1/2 the phyllo sheets in a cookie sheet, one at a time, each with melted butter.
Spread the the nut mixture . Layer the other 1/2 of the phyllo sheets, each brushed with melted butter, over the nut mixture.
Bake 30 min. at 350 to brown, then 1/2 hr at 250 . Remove from oven, score and cut into diamond pattern, using a very sharp knife. Spoon the cooled sugar/water mixture over and allow to soak into the baklava.
Ouzo soaked Blueberries
Wash blueberries, drain. Place Ouzo in dish and immerse the blueberries. Allow to steep for 15 min. Serve over Ice Cream
The Party!!
So, set your table with all the Mediterranean Blue you can find, put on the Greek Music and yell OPA! OPA! and have a Great time!
By the way, most of these dishes, with the exception of the Greek Salad, can be made the day before and reheated for the party. That way, any mess and unsightly kitchen clutter will be out of the way and you can really enjoy your guests. Have a glass of Ouzo and have fun!
Ron & Rita