As temperatures heat up, eating lighter meals can help us keep cool as well. Try the following Greek-inspired dishes for light options that are big on flavor.
Pasta salads are a favorite side dish for summer barbecues or any time of year. The following pasta salad incorporates classic Greek flavors to create a memorable accompaniment your meal. Serve with your favorite grilled meats and enjoy.
Greek Pasta Salad
1 package pasta, corkscrews or your favorite shape
2-3 medium tomatoes, chopped
2-3 small cucumbers, chopped
1 medium to large red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup crumbled feta, Dodonis
1/2 cup Greek olives of your choice
1/2 cup Greek extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon Greek sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
Cook the pasta according to package directions, careful not to overcook. Drain the pasta and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add the tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, feta, and olives. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano, and minced garlic. Add to the pasta mixture and toss to combine all the ingredients and evenly distribute the dressing. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Cucumber Salad
4 small to medium cucumbers
1 ripe tomatoes, cut into 3/4-inch wedges
2/3 cup pitted Greek olives of you choice
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1 1/2 ounces feta, crumbled (about 1/3 cup)
1 tablespoon Greek dried oregano
3 tablespoons Greek extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon Greek sea salt
Slice cucumbers into long strips using a vegetable peeler. Arrange cucumber strips, tomatoes, and olives in a salad bowl. Add the green onions, feta, and oregano. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar. Sprinkle with pepper and salt and toss to distribute the ingredients evenly.
Chicken and Veggie Bowl with Tahini Dressing
Chicken salad. Photo by Travis Yewell, via Unsplash
1/4 cup tahini
1/4 cup cold water plus 2 tablespoons, divided
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic, plus 2 sliced garlic cloves, divided
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon Greek sea salt, divided
1 cup green beans
1 small broccoli crown
4 (4 ounce) chicken cutlets, trimmed
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons Greek extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 small to medium red onion, sliced
4 cups thinly sliced kale
2 cups cooked brown rice
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Whisk the tahini and the 1/4 cup water in a small bowl until smooth. Add the lemon juice, minced garlic, cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and whisk to combine. Set aside.
Trim green beans and cut in half. Break broccoli into florets. Season the chicken with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until an instant-read thermometer registers 160 degrees F, about 3 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm. Wipe the pan and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Add the sliced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, and then add the broccoli and green beans. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Stir in the kale and add the remaining 2 tablespoons water. Cover and steam until the vegetables are tender-crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Slice the chicken. To serve, divide rice and the vegetables among 4 bowls and top with the chicken. Drizzle with the reserved dressing and sprinkle with parsley.
FALMOUTH, MA – The police in Falmouth have identified the victim in an accident involving a car plunging into the ocean on February 20, NBC10 Boston reported.
PHILADELPHIA – The Federation of Hellenic Societies of Philadelphia and Greater Delaware Valley announced that the Evzones, the Presidential Guard of Greece will be participating in the Philadelphia Greek Independence Day Parade on March 20.
O oceanic you sing and sail
White on your body and yellow on your chimeneas
For you're tired of the filthy waters of the harbors
You who loved the distant Sporades
You who lifted the tallest flags
You who sail clear through the most dangerous caves
Hail to you who let yourself be charmed by the sirens
Hail to you for never having been afraid of the Symplegades
(Andreas Empeirikos)
What traveler has not been fascinated by the Greek islands, drawn by the Sirens’ song of a traveler’s dreams?
TNH and our video show ‘Mission’ marked the change of the season by transporting viewers into the heart of summer.
Sign up for a subscription
Want to save this article? Get a subscription to access this feature and more!
To purchase a gift subscription, please log out of your account, and purchase the subscription with a new email ID.
On April 2, 2021, we celebrated The National Herald’s 106th Anniversary. Help us maintain our independent journalism and continue serving Hellenism worldwide.
In order to deliver a more personalized, responsive, and improved experience, we use cookies to remember information about how you use this site. By Continuing to access the website, you agree that we will store data in a cookie as outlined in our Privacy Policy.
We use cookies on our site to personalize your experience, bring you the most relevant content, show you the most useful ads, and to help report any issues with our site. You can update your preferences at any time by visiting preferences. By selecting Accept, you consent to our use of cookies. To learn more about how your data is used, visit our cookie policy.
You’re reading 1 of 3 free articles this month. Get unlimited access to The National Herald. or Log In
You’ve reached your limit of free articles for this month. Get unlimited access to the best in independent Greek journalism starting as low as $1/week.