Greek Vegetarian

For those not in the know, my title is from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," in which John Corbett plays Ian Miller, a vegetarian high school teacher. His fiancee Toula's Greek family doesn't understand the meat-free concept. Thankfully, Diane Kochilas, author of several definitive cookbooks on Greek cuisine, does. Although your first impression of Greek food might be the flaming cheese appetizer saganaki or greasy lamb or chicken gyros, many Greek recipes were meatless, particularly those that coincided with the fasting required by the Greek Orthodox calendar (48 days before Easter, 40 days before Christmas, and lesser fasting periods throughout the year in which meat and animal products were not allowed). The Lenten dishes in particular, called Lathera ("oiled"), consist of hearty bean stews, stewed eggplants, and other braised dishes with loads of olive oil as flavoring agent. In addition to a brief cultural and culinary history of the Greek Islands, Kochilas also provides primers on various varieties of Greek olives (kalamata, conservolia, halkidiki, megaritiki, thrubolea), cheeses (feta, teleme, sfela, batsos, touloumotiri, galotiri, kopanisti, kasseri, graviera, kefalotiri, etc.), and a section devoted to bread (after such luscious descriptions of Greek bread, the book is noticeably lacking in bread recipes; a sore oversight). Greek flavor combinations of lemon, dill, olive oil, eggs, oregano and garlic, tomatoes and cinnamon, and others are also discussed in the introduction. The book is dominated by vegetable and grain dishes, including a simple variation on the ubiquitous Greek salad. The recipes open with meze, or Greek appetizers similar to tapas. Some of the more unusual offerings include eggplant puree with walnuts, potato-garlic dip with walnuts, harvest pumpkin-chestnut puree, and spicy lentil and wild rice salad. Main dishes are usually a grain-veggie combo, including numerous recipes for orzo (a rice-shaped pasta), bulgur, rice pilafs, and polenta. Soups include potatoes stewed with kalamata olives, tomato and rice, and artichokes stewed with potatoes, tomatoes, and mint. There is an entire chapter devoted to stuffed vegetables, and another to savory pies and homemade phyllo dough, including spanakopita, savory pumpkin pie in a phyllo coil, and onion pie with raisins, dill, and nutmeg. The final chapter covers egg dishes perfect for a light brunch, including a baked omelet with chestnuts and feta, asparagus frittata, and scrambled eggs with fresh tomato and parsley. This is a wonderful addition to any kitchen, particularly vegetarian / vegan ones, as many recipes are meat-and-cheese free. A classic variant of the much-touted Mediterranean diet, it places great emphasis on seasonal produce, whole grains (bulgur, wild rice) and dried beans, and olive oil (if you're watching your fat intake, you'll want to drastically decrease the oil called for in recipes, which many times can be 1/2 cup or more). The recipes are clearly wri

This book is the most used vegetarian cookbook in my collection. I cook from it at least twice a week, and the recipes are terrific. Clear instructions make Greek cooking a breeze. Thank you Diane Kochilas!

I'm quite pleased with this cookbook. It has a really wide assortment of recipes with the book broken down into 3 main sections: the greek pantry (here they talk about olives, olive oil, cheeses, breads, yogurts, spices - giving definitions and stories), Meze (here they have recipes for dips, spreads and other appetizers), and finally main dishes (pastas, grains, soups, stews, casseroles, pies, breads, egg dishes). We've tried a number of the recipes and enjoyed them all. None were overly complicated either.

I recently read that people make an average of only 4-5 recipes from most cookbooks. To date, I've made 17 from this wonderful collection and look forward to trying many more. The directions are clear, the ingredient lists accurate, and the photos are as delightful to the eye as the dishes are to the palate. In addition to the many meze (little dishes), main courses, and soups, the author shares her wide-ranging knowledge of local Greek cuisines and the characteristic flavors of the Greek kitchen. A true classic!

For those who think vegetarian equals deprivation, they need only pick up this book to find that meat is not always necessary for rich, delicious meals. Many of the recipes require only a few ingredients, and none are difficult to prepare, so this is excellent for those just beginning to cook or interested in trying out a meatless diet. Most definitely worth adding to any cookbook collection