Christmas is nearly here! While you've likely started planning, have you decided on your holiday menu? In Northern Greece's winter wonderland, local kitchens buzz with preparations for the year's most cherished dinner. Drawing from authentic recipes shared by Greek locals, we bring you a complete three-course meal: appetizer, main, and dessert.
Even better, Santa's delivering a special virtual gift. The chef from Aldemar Resorts—a prestigious Greek hotel group with six luxury properties—offers a one-on-one virtual baking workshop on Melomakarona to one lucky winner. Details after the recipes.
APPETIZER
Meat Pie (Kreatopita) from Arcadia
Arcadia, in the Peloponnese peninsula, captivates with its lush green mountains and charming villages. It's famed for kreatopita, a savory pie stuffed with minced meat and more—a guaranteed crowd-pleaser as an appetizer.
INGREDIENTS:
– 900 g minced meat
– 2 finely chopped onions
– 3 eggs (beaten slightly)
– 75 g panko
– 90 g soft yellow cheese
– Handful of parsley (chopped)
– Filo dough
– 180 ml Greek olive oil
– 2 teaspoons salt
– 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
COOKING METHOD: Lightly fry the onion with the minced meat in olive oil. Remove from heat and mix with all other ingredients except the olive oil and filo sheets.
Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a 23cm x 33cm tart tin and line with 6 filo sheets, brushing each with oil. Spread the meat filling evenly and top with remaining sheets, brushing with oil. Fold edges to seal.
Cut the top three sheets into 7.5cm strips across the pan. Sprinkle with water.
Bake for about 45 minutes, slice into squares, and serve warm.
MAIN COURSE
Roasted Pork with Epirus Plums
Epirus in Northern Greece boasts pristine snow-capped mountains, stunning lakes, and adventures from winter skiing to summer rafting. This hearty winter dish graces every local table, filling homes with festive aromas.
INGREDIENTS for 6 people:
– 700 g pork tenderloin
– 65 g flour
– 120 ml Greek olive oil
– 4 large quinces
– 10 prunes
– 150 g cooked chestnuts
– 1 large finely chopped onion
– 3 cloves crushed garlic
– 3 cm grated ginger
– 2 sticks of cinnamon
– Teaspoon allspice
– 3 cloves
– 2 bay leaves
– 240 ml sweet red wine (such as Mavrodafni from Patras)
– 1/2 teaspoon coriander
– 1/2 teaspoon thyme
– 1/2 teaspoon pepper mix
– 1 tablespoon Greek honey
– 480 ml water
– Salt
– Lemon juice
COOKING METHOD: Cook and peel the chestnuts. Peel and slice quinces, soaking in water with lemon juice to prevent browning. Cut meat into pieces, season with salt and pepper, and dredge in flour.
Heat olive oil and brown quinces on both sides; set aside. Sauté onion and garlic until translucent, then brown meat. Add wine, quinces, chestnuts, and prunes. Simmer covered until quinces soften and sauce thickens.
DESSERT
Kourabiedes Cookies from Kavala
Kavala's vibrant port city offers magical Aegean Sea sunsets from its ancient walls, plus cultural gems and cozy spots. It's the birthplace of kourabiedes, the beloved Greek Christmas almond shortbread sure to delight your family.
INGREDIENTS for 25 cookies:
– 250 g butter
– 150 g almonds (coarsely chopped and toasted)
– 75 g icing sugar
– 1 tablespoon rose water
– 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1 tablespoon baking powder
– Icing sugar to sprinkle
– Salt
COOKING METHOD:
Preheat oven to 200°C. Spread almonds on parchment-lined tray, drizzle with water, and toast 7-8 minutes until golden; cool.
In a food processor, cream butter and icing sugar. Add salt, rose water, vanilla, and baking powder; mix. Transfer to bowl, fold in almonds by hand (wear gloves to keep cool for lightness).
Reduce oven to 170°C. Line trays with parchment. Shape tablespoon-sized balls, press a dimple in each, and bake 15-20 minutes until lightly golden. Cool, sprinkle with rose water and icing sugar.
WIN: 1-ON-1 VIRTUAL BAKING WORKSHOP WITH ALDEMAR RESORTS CHEF
Award-winning Chef George Hatzopoulos, from Thessaloniki, leads cuisine at Aldemar's six resorts in Crete and the Peloponnese since 2016. Enter to win his virtual Melomakarona workshop:
* Comment on our December 10th wintery 'I Love Greece' Facebook/Instagram post
* Tag a friend
* Follow our Facebook/Instagram
* Winner announced December 17th (nicest comment wins)
