A Moussaka Walked Into a Bar… A Traditional Greek Meal To Make For Your Family Tonight!

A traditional Greek dinner often includes a variety of dishes, such as appetizers, a main course, and a dessert.

Here are the recipes for a traditional Greek dinner that includes a classic Greek salad (Horiatiki), Moussaka, and Baklava:

Greek Salad (Horiatiki)

Ingredients

• 2-3 tomatoes, diced

• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

• 1/2 seedless cucumber, diced

• 1/2 green bell pepper, diced

• 1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted

• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

• 2 tablespoons ELIA Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

• 1 teaspoon ELIA Greek Village Herbs

• Salt and pepper to taste

Greek Salad (Horiatiki) Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, green bell pepper, and olives.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, salt, and pepper.

3. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.

4. Add the crumbled feta cheese on top and give it a gentle toss.

5. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Moussaka

Ingredients:

• 1 pound eggplant, sliced

• 2 pounds potatos, sliced

• Salt

• 1/2 cup ELIA Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• 1 onion, chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 pound ground lamb or beef

• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste

• 1 teaspoon ELIA Greek Village Herbs

• 1 teaspoon ELIA Greek Village Spices

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1 cup beef or chicken broth

• 2 eggs, beaten

• 1 cup Greek-style yogurt

• 1 cup grated kefalotyri or Parmesan cheese

Moussaka Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

2. Sprinkle eggplant slices with salt and let sit for 30 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.

3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Add the eggplant slices and cook until golden brown on both sides. Remove from skillet and set aside.

4. In the same skillet, over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Add the potato slices and cook until golden brown on both sides. Remove from skillet and set aside.

5. In the same skillet, sauté onion and garlic until softened. Add ground lamb or beef, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and broth. Bring to a simmer, and let cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.

6. In a separate bowl, mix together eggs, Greek yogurt, and cheese.

7. Spread a layer of meat sauce in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Add a layer of eggplant slices, then potato slices, then a layer of cheese mixture, repeating layers until all ingredients are used up.

8. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes.

9. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbly.

10. Remove from the oven and let cool for 15-20 minutes before slicing and serving.

Baklava

Ingredients:

• 1 pound phyllo dough

• 1 pound chopped nuts (such as pistachios, almonds, or walnuts)

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 cup water

• 1/2 cup ELIA Greek Orange Blossom Honey

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Baklava Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

2. In a medium bowl, combine the chopped nuts, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.

3. Layer the phyllo dough in the prepared pan, brushing each sheet with melted butter before adding the next. Spread about 1/3 of the nut mixture over the top.

4. Continue layering the phyllo dough and nut mixture, brushing each sheet of dough with butter, until all the ingredients have been used.

5. Cut the baklava into diamond-shaped or square pieces with a sharp knife.

6. In a small saucepan, combine the water, honey, and vanilla. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Pour the mixture over the baklava.

7. Bake the baklava in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the phyllo is crispy.

8. Remove the baklava from the oven and let it cool completely before serving. Enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea.

2 Tips To Make Your Meal Even More Spectacular!

1. Share it with great friends!

2. Ouzo, Lots of Ouzo!

a few notes.

Note: Phyllo dough is brittle, it's important to work quickly and keep the dough covered to prevent it from drying out. Also, you may adjust the sweetness according to your taste. You can use different kinds of nuts and syrups to your liking

Note: Moussaka is a traditional greek dish that may have variations, the above is a base recipe that you can adjust to your liking.

If you're looking to purchase authentic Greek products for your Recipes, look no further than ELIA Greek Market!

Yeia Mas!