Macedonian cuisine (Greek)

For the cuisine of the Republic of Macedonia, see Macedonian cuisine.

Macedonian cuisine is the cuisine of the region of Macedonia in northern Greece. Contemporary Greek Macedonian cooking shares much with general Greek and wider Balkan and Mediterranean cuisine, including dishes from the Ottoman tradition.

Ancient and Byzantine period

The letters of Lynceus of Samos include reference to a Macedonian dish organized by Lamia of Athens for her lover Demetrius I Poliorcetes. A constant factor across the centuries has been seafood and meats. In the wedding feast by Caranus referred in Hippolochus's letter, around 4th or 3rd century BC, we find grilled fish, eggs, oysters, orioles and a host of roasted delicacies. All supplemented with wine and half naked female flutists. The Byzantine era introduced further dishes.

Modern period

A continuation from ancient days are dishes such as lamb cooked with quince or various vegetables and fruits, goat boiled or fried in olive oil: modern recipes from Kavala to Kastoria and Kozani offer lamb with quince, pork with celery or leeks.

The arrival of Greek refugees from Asia Minor and Constantinople in the 20th century brought anatolian and Constantinopolitan elements in the cuisine of the region.

Some current specialties are trahanas with crackling, phyllo-based pies (cheese, leek, spinach) and wild boar. Favourites are tyrokafteri (Macedonian spicy cheese spread), soupies krasates (cuttlefishes in wine), mydia yiachni (mussel stew). Unlike Athens, the traditional pita bread for the popular souvlaki is not grilled but fried. The variety of sweets has been particularly enriched with the arrival of the refugees. (Information included from 'Greek Gastronomy', GNTO, 2004)

Appetizers/local products

Tirokafteri.

Specialties

Two kinds of trahanas.
Tigania with leeks.

Desserts

Sliced bougatsa served on a plate.

Drinks

See also

References

Grigoriadou, Efi (2004). Edesmatologion Makedonias (Recipes from Macedonia). Kohlias publications. ISBN 960-437-007-3. 

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 4/7/2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.