Occasion

Greek Lent and Nistisima Recipes

Nistisima are fasting dishes: no meat, no dairy, no eggs, and on stricter days no olive oil or fish. Centuries of that discipline produced Greece's best vegan cooking.

The Greek year has a shape, and food follows it closely. The Orthodox calendar sets out long fasting periods and then breaks them with enormous feasts, and much of the repertoire exists because of that rhythm rather than in spite of it.

This page collects Gigantes plaki, Melitzanosalata, Horta vrasta, Gemista, Fasolada and Melomakarona and others suited to the occasion.

Every recipe on Kalliopi's Kitchen carries the dish's Greek name and a pronunciation, its region where that is meaningful, ingredient quantities in both metric and imperial, and an honest note on what commonly goes wrong. Nutrition figures are calculated estimates and are labelled as such.

Greek Lent and Nistisima Recipes

72 recipes on the site so far.

A dish of baked giant beans in a rich orange tomato sauce with parsley and olive oil Greek Main CoursesGigantes Plaki Γίγαντες πλακί · 2h 5m · serves 6 Greek Dips and SaucesMelitzanosalata Μελιτζανοσαλάτα · 45m · serves 6 A plate of dark boiled greens dressed with olive oil and lemon wedges Greek Side DishesHorta Χόρτα βραστά · 35m · serves 4 A tray of baked stuffed tomatoes and peppers with browned tops and potato wedges between them Greek Main CoursesGemista Γεμιστά · 2h 10m · serves 6 A bowl of thick Greek white bean soup with carrot and celery, olive oil pooled on the surface Greek SoupsFasolada Φασολάδα · 1h 45m · serves 6 Oval honey-soaked Greek Christmas cookies topped with chopped walnuts Greek DessertsMelomakarona Μελομακάρονα · 1h 5m · serves 30 A tray of collapsed roasted Greek vegetables, browned at the edges and glossy with olive oil Greek Main CoursesBriam Μπριάμ · 2h · serves 6 A bowl of smooth yellow split pea puree topped with raw red onion, capers and olive oil Greek Dips and SaucesSantorini Fava Φάβα Σαντορίνης · 1h · serves 6 Charred grilled octopus tentacles dressed with olive oil, vinegar and oregano Greek Meze and AppetisersGreek Grilled Octopus Χταπόδι στα κάρβουνα · 1h 30m · serves 4 Rolled stuffed vine leaves arranged in a dish with lemon wedges and olive oil Greek Meze and AppetisersDolmades Ντολμάδες · 1h 50m · serves 8 A bowl of thick Greek lentil soup with olive oil and a small jug of vinegar Greek SoupsFakes Φακές · 1h 7m · serves 6 Crisp Rhodian chickpea fritters piled on paper with lemon wedges Greek Meze and AppetisersPitaroudia Πιταρούδια · 45m · serves 6 Greek Side DishesLouvi Λούβι · 55m · serves 4 A golden spiral tahinopita bread dusted with sesame seeds Greek Breads and PiesTahinopita Ταχινόπιτα · 1h 10m · serves 8 A bowl of pale homemade taramosalata drizzled with olive oil Greek Meze and AppetisersTaramosalata Ταραμοσαλάτα · 15m · serves 8 A bowl of Greek skordalia garlic potato dip drizzled with olive oil Greek Dips and SaucesSkordalia Σκορδαλιά · 35m · serves 6 A pot of Greek spanakorizo spinach and rice, deep green and glossy Greek Main CoursesSpanakorizo Σπανακόρυζο · 45m · serves 4 A pot of Greek prasorizo leek and rice, pale and glossy with olive oil Greek Main CoursesPrasorizo Πρασόρυζο · 50m · serves 4 Fried Greek salt cod fillets served with a bowl of garlic potato skordalia Greek Main CoursesBakaliaros Skordalia Μπακαλιάρος σκορδαλιά · 50m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesRevithada Ρεβιθάδα · 8h 15m · serves 6 A plate of golden fried Greek revithokeftedes chickpea fritters Greek Meze and AppetisersRevithokeftedes Ρεβιθοκεφτέδες · 45m · serves 6 Greek Side DishesTsigareli Τσιγαρέλι · 30m · serves 4 A sliced Greek fanouropita spice cake, dusted with cinnamon Greek DessertsFanouropita Φανουρόπιτα · 1h 5m · serves 12 Greek Breads and PiesKolokithopita Epirus Κολοκυθόπιτα Ηπείρου · 1h 55m · serves 8 A rustic loaf of Epirus batzina cornbread with greens Greek Breads and PiesBatzina Μπατζίνα · 55m · serves 8 A bowl of Greek trahanas soup, thick and rustic Greek SoupsTrahanas Soup Σούπα τραχανά · 30m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesMarouli Dolmades Ντολμάδες με μαρούλι · 1h 25m · serves 6 A pot of Dodecanese sitaraki pasta in tomato sauce Greek Main CoursesSitaraki Σιταράκι · 35m · serves 4 A pot of Greek fasolakia lathera green beans in tomato sauce Greek Side DishesFasolakia Lathera Φασολάκια λαδερά · 1h · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesHtapodi Krasato Χταπόδι κρασάτο · 1h 35m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesSkordostoumbi Zakynthou Σκορδόστουμπι Ζακύνθου · 55m · serves 4 Greek melitzanes imam baked aubergine with onion and tomato Greek Main CoursesMelitzanes Imam Μελιτζάνες ιμάμ · 1h 20m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesPsari Plaki Ψάρι πλακί · 1h 15m · serves 4 A pot of Greek fakorizo lentils and rice Greek Main CoursesFakorizo Φακόρυζο · 50m · serves 4 A bowl of Greek fasolia salata white bean salad with red onion and parsley Greek SaladsFasolia Salata Φασόλια σαλάτα · 1h 15m · serves 6 A stack of Greek tiganites pancakes drizzled with honey and walnuts Greek Breakfast RecipesTiganites me Meli Τηγανίτες με μέλι · 35m · serves 4 A pot of Greek bamies latheres okra in tomato sauce Greek Side DishesBamies Latheres Μπάμιες λαδερές · 1h · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesAnginares a la Polita Αγκινάρες αλά πολίτα · 1h 20m · serves 4 Greek SoupsPsarosoupa Ψαρόσουπα · 1h 10m · serves 6 Greek SoupsKakavia Κακαβιά · 1h 10m · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesBakaliaros me Prasa Μπακαλιάρος με πράσα · 1h 15m · serves 4 Corfu bianco, a pale white fish stew with potato and garlic Greek Main CoursesBianco Corfu Μπιάνκο · 55m · serves 4 Vegan Greek melitzanes gemistes stuffed aubergine halves Greek Main CoursesMelitzanes Gemistes Μελιτζάνες γεμιστές · 1h 40m · serves 6 A slice of Greek prasopita leek and feta pie showing layered phyllo Greek Breads and PiesPrasopita Πρασόπιτα · 1h 30m · serves 8 A slice of Greek spanakotyropita spinach and cheese pie Greek Breads and PiesSpanakotyropita Σπανακοτυρόπιτα · 1h 25m · serves 8 A slice of Greek hortopita wild greens pie Greek Breads and PiesHortopita Χορτόπιτα · 1h 25m · serves 8 Greek Main CoursesMelitzanes Souvlaki Σουβλάκι μελιτζάνας · 37m · serves 4 A slice of Greek melitzanopita aubergine and feta phyllo pie Greek Breads and PiesMelitzanopita Μελιτζανόπιτα · 1h 35m · serves 8 A pot of Greek melitzanes yahni aubergine and tomato stew Greek Main CoursesMelitzanes Yahni Μελιτζάνες γιαχνί · 1h 10m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesRevithopita Sifnou Ρεβιθόπιτα Σίφνου · 1h 20m · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesSoupies Krasates Σουπιές κρασάτες · 1h 25m · serves 4 A plate of Greek ladokouloura olive oil cookies dusted with sugar Greek DessertsLadokouloura Λαδοκούλουρα · 50m · serves 10 Greek SoupsRevithosoupa Ρεβιθόσουπα · 1h 45m · serves 6 Fried Greek galeos dogfish with skordalia garlic potato dip Greek Main CoursesGaleos Skordalia Γαλέος σκορδαλιά · 40m · serves 4 A tray of Greek halvas simigdalenios semolina halva with cinnamon and walnuts Greek DessertsHalvas Simigdalenios Χαλβάς σιμιγδαλένιος · 40m · serves 10 A flat oval Greek lagana bread topped with sesame seeds Greek Breads and PiesLagana Λαγάνα · 1h · serves 8 A pot of Greek kolokithakia yiahni courgette in tomato sauce Greek Side DishesKolokithakia Yiahni Κολοκυθάκια γιαχνί · 45m · serves 4 A pot of Greek anginares me araka artichokes with peas and dill Greek Side DishesAnginares me Araka Αγκινάρες με αρακά · 1h · serves 4 Greek Side DishesVrasta Lahanika me Ladolemono Βραστά λαχανικά με λαδολέμονο · 45m · serves 4 A bowl of Greek fakes salata lentil salad with red onion and parsley Greek SaladsFakes Salata Φακές σαλάτα · 45m · serves 6 A bowl of Greek revithosalata chickpea salad with red onion and parsley Greek SaladsRevithosalata Ρεβιθοσαλάτα · 1h · serves 6 A bowl of Greek soupa kritharaki orzo soup Greek SoupsSoupa Kritharaki Σούπα κριθαράκι · 40m · serves 4 A bowl of Greek red lentil soup with cumin and a drizzle of olive oil Greek SoupsFakes Kokkines Soupa Σούπα φακές κόκκινες · 40m · serves 4 Greek Side DishesBulgur Pilafi Πιλάφι με πλιγούρι · 30m · serves 4 Greek Dips and SaucesSkordalia me Amygdala Σκορδαλιά με αμύγδαλα · 20m · serves 6 Aubergine-wrapped Greek dolmades in tomato sauce Greek Main CoursesMelitzanes Ntolmades Ντολμάδες με μελιτζάνα · 1h 30m · serves 6 A tray of Greek moustokouloura grape must ring cookies Greek DessertsMoustokouloura Μουστοκούλουρα · 50m · serves 16 Greek SoupsLouvana Λουβάνα · 1h 10m · serves 4 Greek DessertsHalvas Farsalon Χαλβάς Φαρσάλων · 45m · serves 12 Greek Main CoursesBakaliaros Plaki Μπακαλιάρος πλακί · 1h 10m · serves 4 Greek Dips and SaucesSkordalia me Psomi Σκορδαλιά με ψωμί · 20m · serves 6 Greek Side DishesKolokithokorfades Κολοκυθοκορφάδες · 35m · serves 4