Kalliopi's KitchenYIAYIA'S GREEK FOOD RECIPES

Herbs

Bay Leaf

Δάφνη · Dafni

Dried bay leaves used in Greek stews and braises

Bay, dafni, gives its name to the laurel that ancient Greek victors were crowned with, and the same tree's leaves have sat in the bottom of Greek cooking pots for just as long, doing quiet, unglamorous work that most diners never consciously notice. It rarely leads a dish; it supports one, laid into stews, braised meats and simmering pulses to round off sharper flavours over a long cook.

The leaf itself is never eaten and is always fished back out before serving, which is worth remembering since a whole bay leaf left in a bowl of stifado or fasolada is a genuine choking hazard rather than a garnish. Its flavour needs real time in liquid to release properly, which is exactly why it shows up in dishes that simmer for an hour or more and almost never in anything quick.

Fresh bay, where it can be found, is notably more bitter and resinous than the dried leaf most kitchens keep, and Greek cooking has always defaulted to dried, aged bay rather than fresh for precisely that reason.

Photo: Bay Leaves.JPG by Miansari66, Public domain.

Recipes with bay leaf

46 recipes on the site using it.

A tray of Greek moussaka with a browned bechamel top, one square lifted out Greek Main CoursesGreek Moussaka Μουσακάς · 1h 55m · serves 8 A slice of pastitsio showing distinct layers of pasta, meat sauce and golden bechamel Greek Main CoursesGreek Pastitsio Παστίτσιο · 1h 40m · serves 8 A bowl of pale golden avgolemono soup with shredded chicken, rice and a lemon wedge Greek SoupsGreek Avgolemono Soup Κοτόσουπα αυγολέμονο · 1h 30m · 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 Thin slices of veal in a pale garlic and parsley sauce with rice alongside Greek Main CoursesCorfu Sofrito Σοφρίτο · 1h 35m · serves 4 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 Slow-cooked Greek lamb kleftiko falling off the bone with potatoes and lemon Greek Main CoursesGreek Kleftiko Κλέφτικο · 4h 25m · 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 A pot of Greek beef stifado with whole small onions in a dark cinnamon-spiced sauce Greek Main CoursesGreek Stifado Στιφάδο · 3h · serves 6 A bowl of thick Greek lentil soup with olive oil and a small jug of vinegar Greek SoupsFakes Φακές · 1h 7m · serves 6 Cypriot afelia pork in a dark red wine and coriander seed sauce Greek Main CoursesAfelia Αφέλια · 1h 30m · serves 4 Greek Side DishesLouvi Λούβι · 55m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesTavas Ταβάς · 2h 55m · serves 6 Greek Dips and SaucesMoungra Μούντρα · 30m · serves 10 A tray of Cypriot baked macaroni with a golden halloumi topping Greek Main CoursesMakaronia tou Fournou Μακαρόνια του φούρνου · 1h 35m · serves 8 Greek Main CoursesPastitsada Παστιτσάδα · 3h · serves 6 Greek giouvetsi baked beef and orzo in a clay dish Greek Main CoursesGiouvetsi Γιουβέτσι · 2h 55m · serves 6 A bowl of Greek magiritsa Easter soup with fresh dill Greek SoupsMagiritsa Μαγειρίτσα · 2h 30m · serves 8 Greek Main CoursesRevithada Ρεβιθάδα · 8h 15m · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesGamopilafo Γαμοπίλαφο · 2h 20m · serves 8 Greek Meze and AppetisersNoumboulo Νουμπούλο · 30m · serves 10 Northern Greek kavourmas preserved pork in a jar under its own fat Greek Main CoursesKavourmas Καβουρμάς · 2h 50m · serves 8 Mani syglino cured and smoked pork with orange peel and fennel Greek Main CoursesSyglino Maniatiko Σύγκλινο Μανιάτικο · 2h · serves 8 Greek soutzoukakia oval meatballs in a rich tomato sauce Greek Main CoursesSoutzoukakia Σουτζουκάκια · 1h 10m · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesHtapodi Krasato Χταπόδι κρασάτο · 1h 35m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesPapoutsakia Παπουτσάκια · 1h 30m · serves 6 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 pot of basic Greek tomato sauce, saltsa domatas Greek Dips and SaucesSaltsa Domatas Σάλτσα ντομάτας · 40m · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesBakaliaros me Prasa Μπακαλιάρος με πράσα · 1h 15m · serves 4 A pot of Greek arni kokkinisto lamb braised in red tomato sauce Greek Main CoursesArni Kokkinisto Αρνί κοκκινιστό · 2h 5m · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesSoupies Krasates Σουπιές κρασάτες · 1h 25m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesKouneli Stifado Κουνέλι στιφάδο · 2h · serves 6 Greek SoupsRevithosoupa Ρεβιθόσουπα · 1h 45m · serves 6 Greek Dips and SaucesMelitzanes Tursi Μελιτζάνες τουρσί · 45m · serves 12 Greek SoupsSoupa Selino Avgolemono Σούπα σέλινο αυγολέμονο · 1h 55m · serves 6 A bowl of Greek fakes salata lentil salad with red onion and parsley Greek SaladsFakes Salata Φακές σαλάτα · 45m · serves 6 Greek loukaniko sausage braised in red wine sauce Greek Main CoursesLoukaniko Krasato Λουκάνικο κρασάτο · 50m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesMoschari Kokkinisto Μοσχάρι κοκκινιστό · 2h 35m · serves 6 A dish of Greek kotopoulo giouvetsi chicken and orzo in tomato sauce Greek Main CoursesKotopoulo Giouvetsi Κοτόπουλο γιουβέτσι · 1h 20m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesKokoras Pastitsada Κόκορας παστιτσάδα · 3h · serves 6 A bowl of Greek patsas tripe soup Greek SoupsPatsas Πατσάς · 4h 40m · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesArnisio Kapama Αρνίσιο καπαμά · 2h 25m · serves 6 Greek Main CoursesBakaliaros Plaki Μπακαλιάρος πλακί · 1h 10m · serves 4 A dish of Greek kalamari gemisto stuffed squid in tomato sauce Greek Main CoursesKalamari Gemisto Καλαμάρι γεμιστό · 1h 20m · serves 4 Greek Main CoursesHtapodi Makaronaki Χταπόδι μακαρονάκι · 1h 35m · serves 4

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