332 Greek and Cypriot recipes · Every dish with its Greek nameCyprus · Crete · The Cyclades · Epirus · The Peloponnese · The Mainland · Asia Minor
Kalliopi's KitchenGreek food recipes

Occasion

Greek Name Day and Celebration Recipes

Greeks celebrate name days more than birthdays, and a name day means an open house, a table of meze and far more food than anyone planned.

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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 Spanakopita, Baklavas, Loukoumades, Galaktoboureko, Melomakarona and Tiropita 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 Name Day and Celebration Recipes

70 recipes on the site so far.

A tray of spanakopita cut into squares showing green spinach filling under crisp golden phylloSpanakopitaSpanakopita ΣπανακόπιταBreads and Pies · 1h 30m · serves 8Diamond-cut baklava pieces glossy with honey syrup, studded with walnuts and a cloveBaklavaBaklavas ΜπακλαβάςDesserts · 1h 45m · serves 24A bowl of golden loukoumades glossy with honey, dusted with cinnamon and chopped walnutsLoukoumadesLoukoumades ΛουκουμάδεςDesserts · 45m · serves 6A square of galaktoboureko showing thick yellow custard between crisp golden phylloGalaktobourekoGalaktoboureko ΓαλακτομπούρεκοDesserts · 1h 30m · serves 12Oval honey-soaked Greek Christmas cookies topped with chopped walnutsMelomakaronaMelomakarona ΜελομακάροναDesserts · 1h 5m · serves 30A square of Greek cheese pie with crisp layered phyllo and a pale creamy fillingTiropitaTiropita ΤυρόπιταBreads and Pies · 1h 15m · serves 8Rolled stuffed vine leaves arranged in a dish with lemon wedges and olive oilDolmadesDolmades ΝτολμάδεςMeze and Appetisers · 1h 50m · serves 8Greek kourabiedes cookies buried under thick icing sugar on a plateKourabiedesKourabiedes ΚουραμπιέδεςDesserts · 52m · serves 30Cypriot koupepia stuffed vine leaves arranged on a plate with lemonCypriot Stuffed Vine Leaves with MeatKoupepia ΚουπέπιαMain Courses · 1h 50m · serves 6Cypriot flaounes cheese pastries with a golden sesame-topped crustCypriot Easter Cheese PastriesFlaounes ΦλαούνεςBreads and Pies · 2h 5m · serves 16Cypriot Clay-Pot Lamb and RiceTavas ΤαβάςMain Courses · 2h 55m · serves 6Golden fried Cypriot koupes bulgur shells on a plate with lemonCypriot Bulgur Shells Stuffed with MeatKoupes ΚούπεςMeze and Appetisers · 1h 40m · serves 8Cypriot mahalepi milk pudding topped with rose syrup and crushed pistachiosMahalepiMahalepi ΜαχαλεπίDesserts · 30m · serves 6Cubes of Cyprus delight loukoumia dusted in icing sugar on a plateCyprus Delights, Rose and MasticLoukoumia ΛουκούμιαDesserts · 1h 30m · serves 30Golden Cretan kalitsounia cheese hand pies drizzled with honeyCretan Sweet Cheese Hand PiesKalitsounia ΚαλιτσούνιαDesserts · 1h 10m · serves 8Cretan Wedding PilafGamopilafo ΓαμοπίλαφοMain Courses · 2h 20m · serves 8Cretan antikristo lamb propped facing an open fire on skewersCretan Spit-Roasted Lamb Facing the FireAntikristo ΑντικριστόMain Courses · 4h 30m · serves 8Sliced noumboulo, Corfu's smoked cured pork filletCorfu Smoked Cured Pork FilletNoumboulo ΝουμπούλοMeze and Appetisers · 30m · serves 10Thessaloniki trigona Panoramatos custard-filled pastry trianglesThessaloniki Custard TrianglesTrigona Panoramatos Τρίγωνα ΠανοράματοςDesserts · 1h 20m · serves 10Mani syglino cured and smoked pork with orange peel and fennelMani Cured and Smoked PorkSyglino Maniatiko Σύγκλινο ΜανιάτικοMain Courses · 2h · serves 8Peloponnese New Year's Eve Fried DoughLalangia ΛαλάγγιαDesserts · 1h 50m · serves 8A sliced Greek fanouropita spice cake, dusted with cinnamonEggless Spice Cake for Saint FanouriosFanouropita ΦανουρόπιταDesserts · 1h 5m · serves 12Diamond-cut pieces of Rhodes melekouni sesame honey sweetRhodes Sesame and Honey Wedding SweetMelekouni ΜελεκούνιDesserts · 40m · serves 16Sifnos Lamb Baked in Wine and DillMastelo Sifnou Μαστέλο ΣίφνουMain Courses · 2h 50m · serves 6Tinos and Mykonos Cured PorkLouza Tinou Λούζα ΤήνουMeze and Appetisers · 30m · serves 10Kalymnos Honey-Soaked Cheese PancakesKatimeria Kalymnou Κατιμέρια ΚαλύμνουDesserts · 1h 15m · serves 8A slice of Epirus tyropita cheese pie showing a thick custardy fillingEpirus Hand-Rolled Cheese PieTyropita Ipirou Τυρόπιτα ΗπείρουBreads and Pies · 1h 45m · serves 8Pontic Greek manti dumplings served under garlic yogurt saucePontic Greek Dumplings in Yogurt and GarlicManti pontiako Μαντί ποντιακόMain Courses · 1h 50m · serves 6Kalymnos Baked Lamb and PotatoesFournisto Kalymnou Φουρνιστό ΚαλύμνουMain Courses · 3h · serves 8A tray of golden Greek tiropitakia trigona cheese triangle pastriesCheese Triangle PastriesTiropitakia trigona Τυροπιτάκια τρίγωναMeze and Appetisers · 1h 10m · serves 8Greek lamb souvla turning slowly on a spit over charcoalLamb SouvlaSouvla arni Σούβλα αρνίMain Courses · 4h 30m · serves 10Rhodes Sesame Ring CookiesKoulourakia Rodou Κουλουράκια ΡόδουDesserts · 1h 5m · serves 10Kumquat Spoon SweetGlyko koumkouat Γλυκό κουμκουάτDesserts · 1h 30m · serves 12Unripe Walnut Spoon SweetKarydaki glyko Καρυδάκι γλυκόDesserts · 3h · serves 16A slice of Greek ravani semolina syrup cake dusted with coconutSemolina Syrup CakeRavani ΡαβανίDesserts · 1h 5m · serves 12A slice of Sifnos melopita honey cheesecakeSifnos Honey CheesecakeMelopita Sifnou Μελόπιτα ΣίφνουDesserts · 55m · serves 8Karpathos Hand PiesPougia Karpathou Πουγιά ΚαρπάθουMeze and Appetisers · 1h 10m · serves 8Lamb and Cheese Baked in ParcelsExohiko ΕξοχικόMain Courses · 1h 40m · serves 4Minced Meat Phyllo TrianglesBourekakia me kima Μπουρεκάκια με κιμάMeze and Appetisers · 1h 20m · serves 8A jar of Greek kydoni glyko quince spoon sweet, deep amber redQuince Spoon SweetKydoni glyko Κυδώνι γλυκόDesserts · 2h 10m · serves 16A jar of Greek vissino glyko sour cherry spoon sweetSour Cherry Spoon SweetVyssino glyko Βύσσινο γλυκόDesserts · 1h 45m · serves 16A jar of Greek nerantzi glyko candied bitter orange peelBitter Orange Spoon SweetNerantzaki glyko Νεραντζάκι γλυκόDesserts · 2h 30m · serves 16Rose Petal Spoon SweetTriantafyllo glyko Τριαντάφυλλο γλυκόDesserts · 1h 20m · serves 16A jar of Greek melitzanaki glyko candied baby aubergine spoon sweetCandied Baby Aubergine Spoon SweetMelitzanaki glyko Μελιτζανάκι γλυκόDesserts · 2h 15m · serves 16A glass of Greek Metaxa brandy served neatMetaxa Serving GuideMetaxa ΜεταξάDrinks · 5m · serves 4A small chilled glass of Chios mastiha liqueurMastiha Liqueur Serving GuideMastiha ΜαστίχαDrinks · 5m · serves 4Greek amygdalota almond macaroons dusted in icing sugarAlmond MacaroonsAmygdalota ΑμυγδαλωτάDesserts · 50m · serves 12A tray of Greek kollyva memorial wheat decorated with pomegranate and nutsKollyvaKollyva ΚόλλυβαDesserts · 2h 15m · serves 20Bars of Greek pastelli sesame and honey candySesame and Honey BarPastelli ΠαστέλιDesserts · 25m · serves 12A pot of Pontic Greek keskek wheat and meat porridgePontic Greek Wheat and Meat PorridgeKeskek ΚεσκέκMain Courses · 4h 30m · serves 8Apricot Spoon SweetVerikoko glyko Βερίκοκο γλυκόDesserts · 1h 15m · serves 16A tray of Greek kataifi shredded pastry and walnut rolls in syrupKataifiKataifi ΚανταΐφιDesserts · 1h 15m · serves 12A small chilled glass of Naxos kitro citron liqueurKitro Liker Serving GuideKitro ΚίτροDrinks · 5m · serves 4A bowl of Cypriot ravioles halloumi ravioli served in chicken brothCypriot Halloumi and Mint RavioliRavioles ΡαβιόλεςMain Courses · 1h 20m · serves 6Cypriot Wedding Wheat and LambResi ΡέσιMain Courses · 2h 50m · serves 8Cypriot Sweet Cheese PastriesBourekia me anari Μπουρέκια με αναρήDesserts · 1h 5m · serves 6Cypriot Semolina Custard PastriesShamishi ΣιάμισιDesserts · 1h 10m · serves 6Argolida Slow-Baked Lamb with PotatoesBogana ΜπογάναMain Courses · 3h 55m · serves 6Maniot Pasta with Mizithra and EggTsouchti ΤσουχτήMain Courses · 30m · serves 4A small glass of Patras tentoura liqueur beside cinnamon bark and clovesPatras Cinnamon and Clove LiqueurTentoura ΤεντούραDrinks · 45m · serves 20Astypalaia Easter Stuffed LambLambriano ΛαμπριανόMain Courses · 3h 45m · serves 8Zagori Batter Pie with FetaAlevropita ΑλευρόπιταBreads and Pies · 45m · serves 6Fried Bread with FetaTiganopsomo ΤηγανόψωμοBreakfast Recipes · 40m · serves 6Bougiourdi, Thessaloniki baked feta with tomato and peppers, bubbling in a clay dishThessaloniki Baked Feta with PeppersBougiourdi ΜπουγιουρντίMeze and Appetisers · 35m · serves 4Boiled Goat SoupGida vrasti Γίδα βραστήSoups · 3h 20m · serves 6Hunkiar begienti, lamb in tomato sauce over smoked aubergine pureeLamb on Smoked Aubergine PureeHounkiar begienti Χουνκιάρ μπεγιεντίMain Courses · 2h 20m · serves 6Greek tas kebap, spiced beef stew in a thin sauce served over ricePolitiko Spiced Beef StewTas kebap Τας κεμπάπMain Courses · 2h 20m · serves 6A bowl of Cypriot trahanas soup with cubes of halloumiCypriot Trahanas SoupTrahanas ΤραχανάςSoups · 55m · serves 4Cypriot Bulgur Wheat PilafPourgouri pilafi Πουργούρι πιλάφιSide Dishes · 35m · serves 6Chicken SouvlaSouvla kotopoulo Σούβλα κοτόπουλοMain Courses · 1h 55m · serves 6
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Greek Christmas RecipesGreek Easter RecipesGreek Lent and Nistisima RecipesSunday Greek Family MealsGreek Taverna FavouritesMezedes and Ouzo RecipesSummer Greek Recipes