Modern Greek [Paperback]

Andy Harris (Author), William Meppem (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2002

Delicious and healthful, redolent of the flavors of the Mediterranean, and perfect for the way we like to eat today-its no wonder that Greek food is so beloved. Modern Greek offers 170 recipes for everything from meze to luscious pastry desserts. This delightful cookbook draws together ingredients from the everyday Greek kitchen-all readily available-such as cheeses and yogurt, vegetables and legumes, rice and pasta, seafoods and meats, and, of course, olives, and transforms them into easy, exciting dishes with a seasonal twist. There are savory pies stuffed with greens and herbs in autumn; slow-cooked one-pot stews for winter warm-ups; braised lamb and baby vegetables to welcome spring; and simple grills for relaxing summer evenings. Many of the recipes are traditional, while others are updated interpretations adapting traditional Greek foods and cooking techniques to contemporary kitchens. Beautifully photographed, Modern Greek reveals this much-favored cuisine in a fresh and contemporary light.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Andy Harris's Modern Greek presents 170 easy, contemporary Greek recipes for this light and delicious food. Ideally suited to readers' health- and time-conscious lifestyles, the book covers Greek cuisine from the traditional appetizers called mezes to pastry desserts, with stops for fresh salads like the tomato, feta, and red onion Horiakai Salad; and pastas, including savory Meat and Pasta Pie, and Pasta with Spinach, Parsley, and Yogurt. Vegetables are at the heart of Greek cooking and dishes including Baked Eggplant, Zucchini, and Potatoes, and a delicious stew of artichokes and peas offer a rich example of the direct Greek approach to cooking. Seafood, also basic to the Greek table, receives its due with the likes of Pan-Fried Squids with Onions and Lemon Juice, and Marinated Sardines with Onion Salad; desserts, including Sweet Cheese Pastries and an easy-to-do baklava, bring the book to a happy close. With a useful glossary, and illustrated with color photos throughout, the book offers tasty, unpretentious food that works for everyday and special-occasion dining alike. --Arthur Boehm

From Publishers Weekly

Harris (A Taste of the Aegean) returns to the Greek cuisine he loves in this beautifully designed and photographed book. Using customary Greek ingredients Feta and Kefalotiri cheeses, zucchini, eggplant, filo pastry he offers both new and traditional dishes, from Tiganopsomo (Fried Cheese Pastries) and Zucchini Moussaka to the classic Horiatiki Salad (Greek Salad) and Spanakopita. The rustic theme so often apparent in Greek food is also given weight, as with the warming Chicken with Zucchini, Green Olives and Green Garlic with its rich juices so ideal for sopping up with a country loaf, and the flavorful and colorful Bourdetto (Spicy Fish Stew). From simple grills and kebabs to the slightly more complicated desserts, Harris provides well-written instructions which put the recipes within most cooks' skill range, from the enthusiastic beginner to those who wish to add the cuisine of a well-loved tourist destination to their repertoire. With this in mind, he ends the volume with a full guide to the Greek cupboard, demystifying the range of cheeses, olives and spices that populate Greek fare. The resulting book is a fresh, inviting look at an increasingly popular cuisine.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; 1 edition (September 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811834808
• ISBN-13: 978-0811834803
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #321,729 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Regional & International > European > Greek

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for this Greek February 28, 2003

By Elena

Format:Paperback

This book has an absolutely beautiful layout with gorgeous pictures on nearly every page. The recipes are very authentic and diverse. Everything I grew up eating is in this book. There are also some very interesting recipes that are not in standard greek cookbooks (e.g. chickpea meatballs).

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Greek Homecooking! January 31, 2007

By GenXMom

Format:Paperback

I picked up this Greek cookbook mostly because of the wonderful photographs. A novice cook like myself feels much more confident if they can see what the dish is supposed to look like when cooked. Now I have to say that on top of making these recipes for the first time, I also can not cook/bake with gluten so I've had to substitute some of the ingredients with gluten-free versions...but all of my recipes from this book turned out amazing! I've made the skordalia, fried zucchini, Cod w/Leek rice, Fried Cheese, Spinach Pie (Used Thai rice paper to replace Filo - not as good as real filo but got a new GF Filo recipe to try next time), Greek country salad, prawns with feta & tomatoes(OUT OF THIS WORLD!), Spinach rice, Chicken rice with lemon egg sauce, Peas, baked chicken with yoghurt on top, and a gluten free version of the semolina pudding (Replaced most of the flour with a mix of hazelnut flour and some rice flour.) Absolutely everything I have made so far has turned out tasty! I adore this cookbook and plan continue cooking meals from it for my family often.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great cookbook! January 7, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I like this cookbook for the clear instructions and lovely pictures. I love Greek and Mediterranean food and this cookbook is the best I have found for Greek food. The desserts in this book are wonderful.