Flippin’ Greek!, our brand new cooking series on YouTube, is the next exciting chapter in our kouzina. It’s four episodes a week, Monday through Thursday, featuring familiar non-Greek recipes we flipped to Greek-island style using ingredients and cooking techniques found in Karpathos. Each episode runs 2 to 15 minutes, the perfect length for viewers to quickly learn how to recreate foods and beverages/cocktails right alongside us.

The ingredients used in Greek-island cuisine is what sets this style of cooking apart from standard Greek fare, giving meals a fresh take that keeps them interesting. Karpathos, the home of Kukla’s Kouzina, has its own unique style, and we’ll show you how to take common dishes and reinvent them into Karpathian versions with our simple substitutions.
 
Many think that everyday Greek cooking is made up of dishes like spanakopita (spinach pie), moussaka, and pastitsio. These are classics for sure, but too time-consuming to make on a regular basis. During our time in Karpathos, we learned that the locals’ quick meals made from the island’s staples like fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs, spices, and protein, prepared using certain methods, came out tasting Greek-island delicious. So we thought this would be a great way to bring our hometown flavor into YOUR kouzina, adding some spicy variety to your life while keeping it simple and fast. Recipes for each week will be posted right here on our blog with links to the episodes.
 
This week is all about sweet endings with Greek yogurt-based dessert makeovers—think healthier versions that no one will guess but everyone will devour. The link from each recipe to its YouTube episode will be active on the day of the week noted. Come create with us!

​A basic dessert is usually high in sugar, fat, and carbs but with a few swaps, you can put a healthier spin on it without sacrificing flavor. We’ve taken four standard desserts and deliciously Greek-ified them to spoil you forever. The recipes below partner with our YouTube episodes to show you how we do it in our kouzina. Join us!
​

Monday
KARPATHIAN FRUIT (episode 113)
Take a step above naked fruit with Greek ingredients that add protein, fiber, and nutrients to freshen up dessert, breakfast, or snack time!
 
TOTAL PREP TIME 15 minutes
MAKES 4 servings
 
4 cups cubed melon or a variety of fruit (such as blueberries, sliced strawberries, kiwi, raspberries)
5 ounces 5% Greek yogurt
4 teaspoons Cretan thyme honey
1/4 cup toasted nuts or sesame
 
Arrange the fruit in 4 serving bowls and top with yogurt, drizzle with honey, then sprinkle with nuts or sesame.​

Tuesday
GREEK ROSE (episode 114)
Get creative and make a rose out of an apple! We’re using an organic one because the skin stays on (it’s the color of the petals) and you don’t want to eat those nasty chemicals. Add a yogurt dip and everyone will enjoy eating healthy. Serve the apples raw for a crisp dipper.
 
PREP TIME 10 minutes
BAKING TIME 10 minutes (optional)
MAKES 1 to 2 servings
 
1 firm sweet organic red apple (such as honeycrisp), skin on, cut into 1/16 or 1/8-inch half moon slices
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil (for baked apple slices)
1/4 cup 5% Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon Cretan thyme honey
2 tablespoons toasted nuts or sesame
 
1. You can use the apple raw or baked. If baking, heat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Brush the apple slices with olive oil, place on prepared sheet, and bake until just starting to soften and turning brown around the edges, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool completely.
 
2. In a small serving bowl, mix together the yogurt and honey until combined well, stir in the nuts or sesame. Begin layering and slightly overlapping the apple slices in the center of the yogurt, creating the rose bud, and continue layering to form petals.

Wednesday
GREEK-ISLAND PARFAIT (episode 115)
Did you ever buy a lot of baklava at a Greek festival (your eyes were bigger than your stomach!) thinking that everyone would quickly eat it up but by day 4 it’s still sitting on your counter? Here’s a way to give it a delicious new life. Dessert on!
 
TOTAL PREP TIME 10 minutes
MAKES 4 servings
 
1/2 cup 5% or 2% Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons Cretan thyme honey, divided
2 large pieces baklava, separated into 8 layers
8 fresh (or frozen, mashed) figs (or 4 jarred/dried), quartered
2 tablespoons toasted sesame or crushed toasted walnuts
 
1. In a small bowl, combine the yogurt and 1 tablespoon honey.
 
2. In each of 4 parfait or custard cups, place a layer of baklava on the bottom, top with a tablespoon of the sweetened yogurt, a drizzle of honey, a fig, a layer of baklava, a tablespoon of yogurt, a drizzle of honey, a fig, and finish with some sesame or walnuts.

Thursday
FROZEN MINT-WICH (episode 116)
We’ve reimagined the ice cream sandwich into a frozen Greek-yogurt Sammy! The sandwiches are then dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds. Other toppings you can use include finely chopped candied orange peel, gold sanding sugar, or white chocolate.
 
PREP TIME 10 minutes
FREEZING TIME 2 hours or overnight
MAKES 4 servings
 
1/2 cup 5% Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon grated orange rind
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon Cretan thyme honey
8 thin (but not fragile) cookie wafers
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, melted
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
 
1. In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, orange rind, mint, and honey. Divide among 4 cookies, spreading evenly to the edges. Top with the remaining 4 cookies, pressing down gently. Transfer to a small cookie sheet and freeze until the yogurt is firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.
 
2. Dip half of each sandwich in chocolate, then sprinkle with sesame. Transfer to a small cookie sheet and freeze until firm, about 5 minutes. (Can be made ahead. Once firm, place in an airtight container and freeze up to 1 month.)
 
Recipes copyright © Kukla's Kouzina

I hope you enjoyed our week of dessert makeovers. Join us next week for Greek Pizza—two different flips, lots of options!
 
Sign up for our e-newsletter (if you haven’t already) and stay connected on social media for cooking tips and recipes, as well as for all Kukla's Kouzina updates and news.
 
Thanks for following us and we’ll see you next Monday!
 
Until then~
Kali orexi! Good appetite!
 
Kelly

Copyright © 2020 Kukla's Kouzina: A Gourmet Journey~Greek Island Style / Flippin' Greek! / The Naked Truth About...Greek Cooking!    
 
Web design by Kelly Salonica Staikopoulos

Flippin’ Greek!, our cooking series on YouTube, is the next exciting chapter in our kouzina. It’s four episodes a week featuring familiar non-Greek recipes we flipped to Greek-island style using ingredients and cooking techniques found in Karpathos. Each episode runs 2 to 15 minutes, the perfect length for viewers to quickly learn how to recreate foods and beverages/cocktails right alongside us.

The ingredients used in Greek-island cuisine is what sets this style of cooking apart from standard Greek fare, giving meals a fresh take that keeps them interesting. Karpathos, the home of Kukla’s Kouzina, has its own unique style, and we’ll show you how to take common dishes and reinvent them into Karpathian versions with our simple substitutions.
 
Many think that everyday Greek cooking is made up of dishes like spanakopita (spinach pie), moussaka, and pastitsio. These are classics for sure, but too time-consuming to make on a regular basis. During our time in Karpathos, we learned that the locals’ quick meals made from the island’s staples like fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs, spices, and protein, prepared using certain methods, came out tasting Greek-island delicious. So we thought this would be a great way to bring our hometown flavor into YOUR kouzina, adding some spicy variety to your life while keeping it simple and fast. Recipes for each week will be posted right here on our blog with links to the episodes.
 
This week is packed with fun slider flips that will bring the whole family to the table. The link from each recipe to its YouTube episode will be active on the day of the week noted. Get your spatula and come cook with us!
​

We’ve taken four different sliders and turned them into mini biftekia by flavoring them Greek to spoil you forever. From the traditional lamb, to stuffed with Greek feta cheese, to vegetarian, to seafood, there’s one for every appetite! The recipes below partner with our YouTube episodes to show you how we do it in our kouzina. Join us!
 
KOUZINA TIP: Pita scraps can be lightly toasted and ground in a food processor to make breadcrumbs.
​

BIFTEKIA SLIDERS – THE BASICS (episode 109)
If you’d like to reduce the calories and fat, use ground chicken or turkey instead of the meats listed. Don’t overhandle the meat as it could become tough.
 
PREP TIME 10 minutes
COOKING TIME about 8 minutes (for unfilled)
MAKES 4 sliders
 
1/2 pound ground lamb (or equal amounts of lamb and beef, lamb and pork, or all three)
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder (or 1 small clove, minced)
 
In a bowl, stir together the meat and 1/4 cup olive oil until combined well and the oil is absorbed. Stir in the lemon juice until absorbed. Stir in the parsley, salt, pepper, oregano, and garlic just until combined. Shape into 4 oval patties, flattening slightly. Follow next recipe to fill.
 
To cook unfilled: In a skillet, heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add biftekia and cook until browned, turning once, 3 to 4 minutes per side, for medium. You can also make these on a grill!

FILLED BIFTEKIA SLIDERS(episode 110)
We love to fill these sliders with our zesty feta dip, Tyrokafteri (from our Spreads & Dips cookbook), but you can also make them with plain feta.
 
PREP TIME 15 minutes (includes making Biftekia Sliders)
COOKING TIME about 6 minutes
MAKES 4 filled sliders
 
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 recipe Biftekia Sliders (above)
1/4 cup Tyrokafteri (from our Spreads & Dips cookbook) or 1/4 cup crumbled Greek feta
2 gyro pitas, warmed
Lettuce
Tomato slices
Tzatziki (yogurt sauce, from our Meze and Spreads & Dips cookbooks), for serving
Fresh dill sprigs, for garnish
 
1. In a cast-iron skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Make a dent in the center of the biftekia and fill each with 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of Tyrokafteri or feta. Shape meat around the filling to seal it in and flatten slightly. Cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. You can also make these on a grill!
 
2. Meanwhile, using a 3-inch biscuit cutter, cut the pitas into 8 mini rounds. Build each slider starting with a pita round for the base, then layer with lettuce, tomato, a filled bifteki, and a dollop of Tzatziki. Garnish with dill sprigs, if desired. Top each with a pita round and serve hot.

VEGGIE BIFTEKIA SLIDERS(episode 111)
These delicious sliders are perfect for fasting Fridays, Lent, or anytime you want to take a break from meat. They take a little time to prepare but you can make these ahead and freeze them to enjoy anytime (double the recipe so you have plenty)!
 
GO VEGAN: To turn this recipe into a vegan version, omit the cheese and increase the rice to 1 cup (the cheese and rice bind the burgers together, so doubling the rice is needed to keep them from falling apart). Use vegetable broth to make the rice. Prepare as directed.
 
PREP TIME 40 minutes
COOKING TIME 25 minutes
MAKES 4 sliders
 
SLIDERS
4 ounces white mushrooms
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons diced onion
1 ounce cremini mushrooms, diced (2 mushrooms)
2 tablespoons finely diced red bell pepper
2 tablespoons finely diced zucchini
1/8 teaspoon allspice (mbahari)
1/4 teaspoon cumin
2 tablespoons grated carrots
1/2 cup cooked arborio rice (cook with chicken broth, do not add salt or butter)
1/4 cup shredded graviera cheese
1 medium egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh julienned basil
1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Pinch freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons plain breadcrumbs
*
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 gyro pitas, warmed
Lettuce
4 cucumber slices (optional)
Hummus or Eggplant Dip (both from our Meze and Spreads & Dips cookbooks), for serving
Fresh flat-leaf parsley sprigs, for garnish
 
1. In food processor, pulse the white mushrooms until finely chopped. Set aside.
 
2. In large saucepot, heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the white mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Add the cremini mushrooms, bell pepper, zucchini, allspice, and cumin; cook 5 minutes, until most of the liquid has evaporated. Add the carrots and cook 2 minutes more. Remove from heat and cool to warm.
 
3. Meanwhile, in food processor, pulse the rice until finely chopped. Transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in the mushroom-vegetable mixture, cheese, egg, basil, parsley, salt, and pepper until combined well.
 
4. Place the breadcrumbs in a shallow dish. Shape mixture into four 1/2-inch-thick oval patties. Coat patties with breadcrumbs. (Can be made ahead. Wrap each patty in plastic wrap, place in a resealable heavy-duty plastic bag, and freeze up to 3 months. Defrost in refrigerator before cooking.) In the same skillet, heat remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Cook patties until golden brown and crisp, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
 
5. Meanwhile, using a 3-inch biscuit cutter, cut the pitas into 8 mini rounds. Build each slider starting with a pita round for the base, then layer with lettuce, cucumber (if using), a veggie bifteki, and a dollop of hummus or eggplant dip. Garnish with parsley sprigs, if desired. Top each with a pita round and serve hot.

SALMON BIFTEKIA SLIDERS(episode 112)
Salmon is flavorful and makes a juicy slider. Other tasty seafood options are finely chopped shrimp or crab. You can turn leftover cooked seafood into a slider too—see the instruction following the directions for the ingredients you’ll need. Our lemon-olive oil aioli is the perfect topper!
 
PREP TIME 15 minutes
COOKING TIME 5 minutes
MAKES 4 sliders
 
LADOLEMONO AIOLI
1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
Pinch freshly ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon minced garlic or a pinch garlic powder
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
*
SLIDERS
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1/2 pound salmon (or leftover cooked salmon), minced
3 tablespoons breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon minced garlic or a pinch garlic powder
*
2 gyro pitas, warmed or lightly toasted
Lettuce
4 cucumber slices (optional)
*
Fresh dill sprigs, for garnish
 
1. Make Ladolemono Aioli: Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and garlic until emulsified. Whisk in the mustard until combined and creamy.
 
2. Preheat grill (brush grates with oil) to high heat (or heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a grill pan over medium-high heat).
 
3. Make sliders: In a bowl, combine the salmon, 2 tablespoons olive oil, the breadcrumbs, lemon juice, shallot, dill, egg, salt, pepper, and garlic*. Shape mixture into four 1/2-inch-thick oval patties. Cook 3 minutes, then turn and cook 2 minutes more for medium-well (3 minutes more for well doneness).
 
4. Meanwhile, using a 3-inch biscuit cutter, cut the pitas into 8 mini rounds. Build each slider starting with a pita round for the base, then layer with lettuce, cucumber (if using), a salmon bifteki, and a dollop of Ladolemono Aioli. Garnish with dill sprigs, if desired. Top each with a pita round and serve hot.
 
*If using leftover cooked salmon or other seafood: In a bowl, combine 1/2 pound cooked minced salmon, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon chopped dill. Prepare pita rounds with lettuce and cucumber (if using); divide salmon among them, topping each with aioli, dill sprig, and another pita round.
 
Recipes copyright © Kukla's Kouzina

Thanks to Kontos Foods for their fresh and delicious pita products!

I hope you enjoyed our week of slider makeovers. Join us next week for flipped Desserts with Yogurt.
 
Sign up for our e-newsletter (if you haven’t already) and stay connected on social media for cooking tips and recipes, as well as for all Kukla's Kouzina updates and news.
 
Thanks for following us and we’ll see you next Monday!
 
Until then~
Kali orexi! Good appetite!
 
Kelly

​Copyright © Kukla's Kouzina: A Gourmet Journey~Greek Island Style / Flippin’ Greek! / The Naked Truth About...Greek Cooking!    
 
Web design by Kelly Salonica Staikopoulos

Flippin’ Greek!, our brand new cooking series on YouTube, is the next exciting chapter in our kouzina. It’s four episodes a week, Monday through Thursday, featuring familiar non-Greek recipes we flipped to Greek-island style using ingredients and cooking techniques found in Karpathos. Each episode runs 2 to 15 minutes, the perfect length for viewers to quickly learn how to recreate foods and beverages/cocktails right alongside us.

The ingredients used in Greek-island cuisine is what sets this style of cooking apart from standard Greek fare, giving meals a fresh take that keeps them interesting. Karpathos, the home of Kukla’s Kouzina, has its own unique style, and we’ll show you how to take common dishes and reinvent them into Karpathian versions with our simple substitutions.
 
Many think that everyday Greek cooking is made up of dishes like spanakopita (spinach pie), moussaka, and pastitsio. These are classics for sure, but too time-consuming to make on a regular basis. During our time in Karpathos, we learned that the locals’ quick meals made from the island’s staples like fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs, spices, and protein, prepared using certain methods, came out tasting Greek-island delicious. So we thought this would be a great way to bring our hometown flavor into YOUR kouzina, adding some spicy variety to your life while keeping it simple and fast. Recipes for each week will be posted right here on our blog with links to the episodes.
 
This week is packed with creative lunch makeovers that will energize you for a productive afternoon. The link from each recipe to its YouTube episode will be active on the day of the week noted. Get your apron on and come cook with us!

Need a rescue from the usual midday meal? We’ve taken four standard lunches and deliciously Greek-ified them to spoil you forever. The recipes below partner with our YouTube episodes to show you how we do it in our kouzina. Join us!
​

​Monday
GRILLED [BÉCHAMEL] CHEESE (episode 105)
Here we’re revamping the French grilled-cheese classic Croque Monsieur (crunch sir) or Madame (if adding the fried egg) into a kouzina indulgence using pita bread and béchamel made with Greek cheese.
 
PREP TIME 15 minutes
BAKING TIME 12 minutes
MAKES 1 sandwich, serving 1 to 2
 
1 pita (Kontos Panini Bread or Pocket-Less Pita)
1/4 cup béchamel sauce (from our Meze cookbook)
2 slices ham
Pickled fennel or 2 slices dill pickles, patted very dry
1/2 cup grated graviera cheese, divided
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 fried egg (optional)
1 sprig fresh thyme, for garnish
 
1. Heat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
 
2. Cut the pita in half and place on the prepared sheet. Spread both pita halves with the béchamel, covering completely. Top one pita half with ham, pickled fennel or pickles, and 1/4 cup cheese. Top with remaining pita, béchamel side up, then top with remaining 1/4 cup cheese and sprinkle with thyme. (Can be made ahead. Do not bake. Cover and refrigerate up to 1 day.) Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until cheese is brown and bubbling. Top with a fried egg (if using) and garnish with a thyme sprig, if desired. Serve immediately.

Tuesday
EGG ROLL MBOUREKIA (episode 106)
Mbourekia are basically phyllo packets made with a variety of stuffings from cheese to meat to vegetables. Here we wrapped the phyllo around veggies and lamb biftekia (Greek burgers) that are filled with feta. The mbourekia are then baked to golden perfection. Serve with tzatziki for the perfect dip.
 
PREP TIME 15 minutes
COOKING TIME 15 minutes
BAKING TIME 25 minutes
MAKES 4 mbourekia rolls
 
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 small zucchini, cut into matchsticks or julienned
1 carrot, cut into matchsticks or julienned
*
BIFTEKIA
1/2 pound ground lamb (or equal amounts of lamb and beef)
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 cup crumbled Greek feta
*
4 sheets #5 or #4 (14-by-18-inch) Kontos phyllo, thawed, at room temperature
2 tablespoons butter, melted, or olive oil
 
1. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-low heat, add the onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until softened and completely caramelized (browned), about 10 minutes.
 
2. In another skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat, add the zucchini and carrot and sauté, stirring occasionally, until softened and browned, about 8 minutes.
 
3. Meanwhile, make biftekia: In a bowl, combine the ground meat, garlic, dill, oregano, salt, and pepper. Divide into 4 ovals with a dent in the center of each. Fill each with 1/4 cup feta and shape meat around feta to enclose. In a large skillet, heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Cook patties until browned, searing in the juices, about 2 minutes per side.
 
4. Heat oven to 350°F. Place 1 sheet of phyllo on work surface, wide end facing you. Brush with butter or olive oil and fold over to one side, forming a 14-by-9-inch rectangle. Brush with butter or olive oil. Place some onion, zucchini, and carrot in the center. Top with a bifteki. Fold sides of phyllo over the bifteki, brush phyllo with butter or olive oil, then fold over the top and bottom. Brush all over with butter or olive oil and place seam-side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Repeat, making a total of 4 rolls. Bake until completely golden brown, about 25 minutes.

​Wednesday
SOUVLAKI QUESA-PITA (episode 107)
We’ve taken the quesadilla and reinvented it into a grilled souvlaki pita. Use a cast-iron grill pan or cook on the grill for the best results.
 
PREP TIME 15 minutes plus marinating
COOKING TIME 10 minutes
MAKES 1 serving
 
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 pound chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
1 Kontos panini pita
1 roasted red pepper (from a jar), patted dry, seeds removed, and sliced
1 plum tomato, sliced
1/4 cup shredded kasseri cheese
Tzatziki (yogurt sauce, from our Meze and Spreads & Dips cookbooks), for serving
 
1. In a shallow bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons olive oil, the lemon juice, oregano, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until combined well. Add the chicken, coating all sides. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator 30 minutes to 1 hour.
 
2. In a grill pan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken slices and sauté, turning once, until cooked through and browned, about 3 minutes per side.
 
3. Place 1 pita on work surface and cut in half. On one half, layer with chicken, red pepper, some tomato slices, and cheese. Top with remaining pita half. In the same grill pan over medium heat, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and cook the souvlaki pita, pressing down (using a weight if you have it), turning once, until heated through and browned, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a serving plate and top with dollop of tzatziki.

Thursday
CHICKEN KASSERI (episode 108)
This is our Greek-island adaptation of a chicken-parmesan hero using kasseri cheese and a panini pita. Serve with a garden salad to round out the meal.
 
PREP TIME 10 minutes plus marinating
COOKING TIME about 20 minutes
BAKING TIME 3 minutes
MAKES 1 to 2 servings
 
CHICKEN MARINADE
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 chicken cutlet, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
*
1 Kontos panini pita
1/2 cup shredded kasseri cheese, divided
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 plum tomato, sliced or 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, divided
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
Pinch freshly ground pepper
Pinch garlic powder
 
1. Make chicken marinade: In a shallow bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons olive oil, the lemon juice, oregano, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until combined well. Add the chicken, coating all sides. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator 30 minutes to 1 hour.
 
2. Heat oven to 350°F. Top pita with 1/4 cup cheese, place on a baking sheet, and bake about 30 seconds, just until cheese is melted. Set aside.
 
3. In a skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the tomato to skillet and season with 1/4 teaspoon oregano, the salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until softened and liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes; set aside.
 
4. Meanwhile, in a grill pan, heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken slices and sauté, turning once, until cooked through and browned, about 3 minutes per side.
 
5. Heat oven to 350°F. On one half of the prepared pita, layer with the chicken, remaining 1/4 cup cheese, and the tomatoes. Fold over the other side of the pita, covering the filling, and bake on the sheet about 2 minutes, until cheese is melted. Serve hot.
 
Recipes copyright © Kukla's Kouzina, LLC 

Thanks to Kontos Foods for their fresh and delicious phyllo and pita products!

I hope you enjoyed our week of midday makeovers. Join us next week for flipped Sliders.
 
Sign up for our e-newsletter (if you haven’t already) and stay connected on social media for cooking tips and recipes, as well as for all Kukla's Kouzina updates and news.
 
Thanks for following us and we’ll see you next Monday!
 
Until then~
Kali orexi! Good appetite!
 
Kelly

​Copyright © 2020 Kukla's Kouzina: A Gourmet Journey~Greek Island Style / The Naked Truth About...Greek Cooking!    
 
Web design by Kelly Salonica Staikopoulos

Today marks the next exciting chapter in our kouzina with our brand new Flippin’ Greek! cooking series on our YouTube channel. It’s four episodes a week, Monday through Thursday, featuring familiar non-Greek recipes we flipped to Greek-island style using ingredients and cooking techniques found in Karpathos. Each episode runs 2 to 15 minutes, the perfect length for viewers to quickly learn how to recreate foods and beverages/cocktails right alongside us.

The ingredients used in Greek-island cuisine is what sets this style of cooking apart from standard Greek fare, giving meals a fresh take that keeps them interesting. Karpathos, the home of Kukla’s Kouzina, has its own unique style, and we’ll show you how to take common dishes and reinvent them into Karpathian versions with our simple substitutions.
 
Many think that everyday Greek cooking is made up of dishes like spanakopita (spinach pie), moussaka, and pastitsio. These are classics for sure, but too time-consuming to make on a regular basis. During our time in Karpathos, we learned that the locals’ quick meals made from the island’s staples like fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs, spices, and protein, prepared using certain methods, came out tasting Greek-island delicious. So we thought this would be a great way to bring our hometown flavor into YOUR kouzina, adding some spicy variety to your life while keeping it simple and fast. Recipes for each week will be posted right here on our blog with links to the episodes.
 
First up, a week of egg-breakfast makeovers. The link from each recipe to its YouTube episode will be active on the day of the week noted. Get your apron on for this fun adventure and cook up some distinctive foods with us!

The incredible egg knows no boundaries, as is evidenced in the limitless number of meals it can help create. We’ve taken four standard egg-breakfasts and deliciously Greek-ified them to spoil you forever. The recipes below partner with our YouTube episodes to show you how we do it in our kouzina. Join us!
​

Monday​
GREEK OMELET (episode 101)
An omelet is nice but fill it with rich Greek feta and dill and you’ve got a breakfast for the gods! Toss in some of the optional veggies and you’ll be in heaven with them.
 
PREP TIME 5 minutes
COOKING TIME 3 minutes
MAKES 1 omelet
 
2 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
Pinch sea salt
Pinch freshly ground black or Aleppo pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup crumbled Greek feta (or a combination of kasseri and graviera cheeses)
1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill, plus a sprig for garnish
*
Optional veggies:
1/4 cup chopped zucchini, sautéed
1/2 cup chopped fresh spinach leaves
1/4 cup chopped plum tomatoes (juices drained) or halved grape tomatoes
1 small onion, sliced and caramelized
 
In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil. Pour in the egg mixture and cook until just starting to set, about 1 1/2 minutes, then top with feta, dill, and your choice of veggies (if using). Using a spatula, fold over one side of the omelet to the middle, then fold over the other side, overlapping the first. Cook until the eggs are set but not dry, about 1 minute more. Remove from heat and let the omelet rest in the skillet just until the cheese melts, about 30 seconds. Serve immediately garnished with a dill sprig, if desired.

Tuesday
EGGS KUKLA (episode 102)
A Greek nod to eggs Benedict using Kukla’s béchamel sauce (from our Meze cookbook). We love Kontos Foods pita for its freshness and flavor!
 
PREP TIME 5 minutes
COOKING TIME about 10 minutes (includes cooking the béchamel)
MAKES 2 servings
 
2 large eggs
1 gyro pita, cut into two 3-inch rounds, heated
2 thick slices ham (zambon), cut into two 3-inch rounds
1/4 cup Greek béchamel sauce
Fresh thyme or dill sprigs, for garnish
*
Options (replacing ham):
Fish/shellfish, like smoked salmon, crab, or lobster
 
1. Poach the eggs to desired doneness, about 2 minutes for medium.
 
2. On two serving plates, begin layering as follows: pita, ham, poached egg, and béchamel sauce. Garnish with thyme or dill sprigs, if desired, and serve immediately.

Wednesday
GREEK TOAST (episode 103)
French Toast is scrumptiously reimagined using tsoureki, cinnamon, yogurt, and honey!
 
PREP TIME 5 minutes
COOKING TIME 4 minutes
MAKES 2 servings
 
2 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (to taste)
4 slices tsoureki bread, pierced all over with a fork
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon Cretan thyme honey
Toasted walnuts, almonds, or cashews (optional)
 
1. In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and cinnamon.
 
2. Lightly soak the tsoureki slices in the egg mixture. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil and butter until melted. Add the tsoureki and cook until golden brown, turning once, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to two serving plates, top with yogurt, and drizzle with honey. Sprinkle with nuts, if desired.

Thursday
OPA! WRAP (episode 104)
This Greek wrap-and-go breakfast is basically an omelet made with gyro meat, bell pepper, and kasseri cheese all wrapped in a thin pita.
 
KOUZINA TIP: To lower carbs even more or to reduce gluten, using a larger skillet, cook the eggs to make a thin omelet (like a crepe) and use it as the wrap. Transfer to a serving plate, fill with gyro meat, roasted red pepper, and kasseri cheese, then fold/wrap egg-roll style.
 
PREP TIME 5 minutes
COOKING TIME about 6 minutes
MAKES 1 serving
 
2 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
Pinch sea salt
Pinch freshly ground black or Aleppo pepper
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 cup thinly sliced cooked gyro meat
1 roasted red pepper (from a jar), patted dry, seeds removed, and sliced
1/4 cup shredded kasseri cheese
1 thin pita (Kontos Greek Lifestyle Flatbread), heated
 
1. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper; set aside. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat and add the gyro meat. Cook, turning once halfway through, until browned around the edges, about 3 minutes. Add the egg mixture to the gyro in the skillet and scramble, adding the red pepper and cheese as it cooks. Cook until the cheese is just melted, about 2 minutes.
 
2. Scoop the eggs into the pita, fold over the sides, securing with a toothpick. Serve hot.
 
Recipes copyright © Kukla's Kouzina 

Thanks to Kontos Foods for their fresh and delicious pita products!

I hope you enjoyed our week of flippin’ eggs. Join us next week for flippin' Lunch Makeovers.
 
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Until then~
Kali orexi! Good appetite!
 
Kelly

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