In my family we have always celebrated Easter twice, as more often than not Orthodox Easter does not coincide with Western Easter. Each year, Orthodox Easter falls either one or four weeks after its celebration by Western Christianity and sometimes the two coincide. This year, Orthodox Easter falls just one week after the Western Easter, which we celebrated last Sunday.
Easter is the most important holiday on the Orthodox Christian calendar. The Easter table is not only a reflection of tradition, but it also highlights the seasonality of Greek cuisine. In today’s post I have put together a Simple Greek Easter Menu with some of my favorite Greek Easter recipes to share with you!
While a big percentage of my readers are here in the United States, many of you are reading my posts in Greece and in other parts of the world with large Greek communities, such as in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. I want to wish Happy Easter to everyone who is celebrating Easter this Sunday and Kalo Pascha to all my Greek friends around the world!
A Simple Greek Easter Menu🐣
Braided Greek Easter Bread (Tsoureki)
During the week leading to Easter just about every family in Greece makes this delicious sweet bread. It is a brioche-like, yeast bread made using eggs, milk, and butter. While this is the traditional bread eaten upon return home from Midnight Mass, it is a real breakfast treat and it also makes the perfect accompaniment to a hot cup of coffee or tea. You can make the dough earlier, to get a head start. Using the same dough, you can also form small rolls, these mini braided rolls, are equally delicious!
Feta Cheese Filo Triangles (Tiropitakia)
These classic, simple, bite-sized treats are the ideal make-ahead appetizer for any occasion, and, are great to have on hand for Easter as well. Every region in Greece offers its own subtle variations of the filling, but no matter what, there is nothing complicated about this recipe.
Classic Greek Yogurt and Cucumber Dip (Tzatziki)
Tzatziki is a cool, refreshing dip that is made with thick, strained Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil. It is a very popular accompaniment to a variety of Greek dishes, especially grilled or roasted meat.
These golden brown potatoes, are tender, soft and creamy inside, incredibly flavorful and infused with the unmistakable Greek flavor combination of lemon, garlic and oregano. They are the classic accompaniment to any lamb recipe!
Classic Greek Lettuce Salad (Maroulosalata)
This flavorful salad is enjoyed in Greece throughout the year, but it is especially delicious in the spring and early summer when young lettuce is at its best. This salad is made with thinly sliced lettuce, chopped green onions, snipped fresh dill, and some crumbled Feta cheese. Everything is tossed in a bright lemon vinaigrette just before serving.
Greek Roasted Lamb in Parchment Paper
Lamb dishes, in their many variations, are always present on the Greek Easter table. This foolproof recipe is a rustic version of Greek lamb that is marinated in lemon, garlic and olive oil (the trinity of Greek flavors) and is then wrapped in parchment paper and slow-cooked in the oven. The result is a melt-in-your-mouth, succulant, incredibly delicious lamb!
Greek Orange-Scented Easter Cookies (koulourakia)
When these cookies come out of the oven, the whole house fills with the aromas of orange and vanilla! These Easter cookies are usually made in great quantities and because they keep so well, they can last for weeks after Easter. These are a true treat to enjoy with coffee or tea.
Orange Custard Filo Ruffled Pie
This dessert has layers of golden, crispy, “ruffled” sheets of buttered filo pastry, which are baked in a delicious orange custard then drizzled with an orange simple syrup while it is still hot and just out of the oven. This easy-to-prepare dessert is truly Heaven on a plate!
HAPPY EASTER/Καλο Πασχα TO EVERYONE WHO IS CELEBRATING EASTER THIS SUNDAY!
∼ Thank you all for reading my posts and trying my recipes ∼
