The Greek Pantry

Greek cuisine is a delicate combination of culture, taste, and health. Many people have had their first taste of Greek food at a restaurant, food cart, or even in Greece itself. Preparing these foods at home can be fun, and keeping a few items in your pantry can make trying new Greek recipes easier.
One major ingredient used in Greek recipes is olive oil. Mediterranean diets are rich in olive oil, and extra virgin olive oil from Greece is the number one exported olive oil in the world. You can use olive oil in salads or drizzle over meats and cheeses.
Lemons are a great item to have on hand for several different types of recipes. Added to fish or vegetables, they provide a fresh, tart taste. Lemon juice can be used in desserts, drinks, or on your salad. Along with olive oil, lemons should be kept in your kitchen at all times.

Honey is a great item to have, as it can be used to dip fruit in, marinade meats, and most deliciously to make Baklava, a popular dessert in Greece made of phyllo dough, nuts, cinnamon, and honey.

Baklava
Ingredients
1 cup honey
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 sticks butter
1 pound walnuts
1 pound phyllo dough
Directions: Combine sugar, honey, lemon juice and cinnamon in a bowl. Cook in a saucepan on medium heat until melted and sugar is dissolved. Turn heat to low and let sauce thicken.
Chop walnuts finely and set aside. Melt butter in a saucepan and then coat a glass baking dish with some of melted butter. Preheat oven to 350. Place 1 sheet of phyllo dough on bottom of baking dish and brush with butter. Spread walnuts and repeat layers 8 times. Bake in oven for 35 minutes or until golden brown. Take out of oven and pour thickened sauce all over. Stand 5 minutes before serving.







Plain yogurt is a must have. Use this yogurt to make Tzatziki which is a wonderful condiment made of cucumbers, yogurt, and lemon juice that you can put on everything from chicken to pita bread.
The following is a simple recipe for tzatziki that you can easily make at home.

Simple Tzatziki

1 pint plain yogurt
1 finely diced cucumber
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon good Greek olive oil (such as Altis)
1 tablespoon fresh dill
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste


Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl or food processor. Cover and put in refrigerator for at least an hour. Enjoy with pita bread, chicken or on a gyro.

With these few ingredients and starter recipes, you can get started on celebrating the Greek way at home.