A True Greek Tradition - Horta

What is "horta"?

In Greek cuisine, Horta (HOR-tah), or "greens" are a common side dish, usually eaten cold and seasoned with olive oil and lemon.  Of course - horta, or 'greens' of this sort are found all over the world, from Africa to the deep-South of the United States.

Greens used range from typical cultivated veggies like spinach, mustard and turnip - to wild plants like dandelion, wild leeks and smooth sow-thistle.

These boiled greens are a staple in nearly every Greek household. These are easy to prepare, super-healthy, inexpensive - and you will really enjoy the clean, pure taste.

Like spinach, boiled greens wilt and reduce when cooked to a fraction of their original quantity. For four ample servings, one would typically boil approximately 3 lbs. of greens. Here's the details of a traditional Greek recipe for horta:


Greek Horta
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:
• 3 lbs. curly Endive or any leafy green of your choice (Chicory, Chard)
• White vinegar (for adding to soaking water)
• 1 tbsp. salt
• Extra virgin olive oil (about 2 tbsp.)
• Fresh lemon juice to taste (juice of 1 lemon)
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Preparation:

The most important part is your preparation. Wash the greens well before cooking and trim any coarse stems. Discard any brown leaves.

Soak the greens in a clean and rinsed sink with plenty of water - and about a cup of white vinegar. Any sand or residue will sink to the bottom of the sink, while the greens will float on top. Remove the greens to a colander before draining the water.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and then add about a tablespoon of salt to the water. Carefully submerge the greens in the pot and boil for about 20 minutes or until the thickest parts of the stems are tender. Be careful not to over boil.

Drain in a colander and place in a bowl. Dress with extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice and a bit of salt and pepper (to your desired taste).

It's your choice! You can serve the greens warm, at room temperature or even cold. They're a very common side dish in real Greek cuisine.

Planning A Trip To Greece

Relax and celebrate a year’s worth of hard work by experiencing Greece this Spring and Summer!

Although the peak travel season for people to visit Greece falls later in the Summer within July to August—you won’t miss any of the beautiful warm weather if you come earlier. Perhaps, NOW!?

Spring is an excellent time to visit the islands of Greece. Make sure to stop and experience the Halkidiki peninsula off of the north-mainland coast. The Aegean islands offer some of the most breathtaking views and spectacular beaches that picturesque the sea as though it was painted in watercolors shortly before your visit. By visiting Greece earlier than July, you’ll be able to avoid some of the main flow of tourism traffic that Greece experiences – which leads to higher room rates and more expensive packages.

Plan ahead. 

Save money. 

Indulge. 

The weather in late Spring is breezy and cool because the islands are slowly waking up from cold winters. 

No time to travel just yet? Or does this not fit the budget? Come discover Greece right NOW by visiting us here at Ziziki’s for authentic Greek Cuisine. Or visit us at The Greek at One Arts Plaza - we can mimic the 'Greek breeze' on our patio.

We offer a wide-variety of authentic Greek dishes that will have you resting back in your chair listening for the seagulls that gather around Greek docks... OPA!

A Little Greek Culture: The Cretan Wine Festival is No More

For years, the Touring Club of Rethymnon, in collaboration with the Municipality of Rethymnon, organized the Rethymnon Wine Festival – a 2-week celebration of Cretan wine, music and dance. You bought a carafe and some glasses, and you could drink as much wine as you wanted, whilst listening to some very good Cretan music and watching some fantastic dancing. Sounds like heaven (or maybe Mt. Olympus), yes?

In 2008 the municipality of Rethymnon made the decision to stop organizing the Wine Festival, at least in the same format.

In 2009 the Wine Festival was re-introduced, but with a completely new identity and format. Then again, in 2012 the identity of the festival was changed-the 1st Cretan Diet Festival was born. 

Now, don’t let the word diet scare you off. This isn’t a festival that centers around diet food. Rather it’s a cultural experience that goes beyond wine and music to include food, crafts and other traditional Greek food products. 

Thinking it’s time to hunt up those tickets to Greece you purchased a while back? Oh. No tickets to Greece? Well, that’s alright. We can give you a taste of Greece here at Ziziki's…bring your appetite!

Snacks For School - Greek Style

Snacking can be a necessary way to obtain energy, or to provide sustenance on the go. As kids go back to school and young adults off to college - they need all the energy they can get to keep attention sharp. Same goes for adults in the work place!

Everyone knows Greek cuisine is one of the healthiest. So how do people snack in Greece? Ideal foods in the summer in Greece are the Greek snack foods that you can either purchase in a Greek store, (similar to here in the US and other countries) or whip up quickly in the kitchen.

A favorite quick, Greek snack are the Greek spinach pies (also know as spanakopita). Filled with healthy spinach, tasty onions, cheese and herbs - spanakopita is a versatile dish that ca be made with all different types of cheeses as well.

We all know olives are keen in Greece. Snacking on olives, here or in the homeland - is a true summer indulgence. Greeks love their olives - and they can be served up different ways if marinated in different herbs and oils. Soak your olives in olive oil and dried oregano - and you've got a true Greek favorite snack. Toss in some feta cheese, and add some warm bread and you have a well-rounded pick-me up snack.

More quick Greek snacks are simply an arrangement of favorite cheeses and yogurts. (ahhhh.. cheese... truly a Mediterranean cuisine favorite!) 

If sweet snacks are your weakness – the Greeks usually opt for healthy sweet nuts and local honey - also fantastic coupled with yogurt!

Greeks have their guilty pleasures, too - just like Americans - with their chips and sweet-tooth snacks. On the less-healthy side, you could always opt for chocofreta chocolate wafers with hazelnuts,or a bag of white salted chick peas. 

Leaving the kitchen – (and perhaps visiting the blue waters of the beach on the lovely coastline of Greece) - especially on the summer days - is the Greek’s favorite thing to do. So snacking on the go is essential. To indulge - they will typically eat at a little Greek tavern is their way to indulge then they return to the home to eat in the late evening when it’s cooler.

Take A Bite Of Scylla!

The Greek tale of the Scylla, a monster, with six heads, that Odysseus must sail past during his travels, is an example of one of the earlier sightings of what we now know today as The Kraken. Stories tell us that this huge, many armed, monster could reach as high as the top of a sailing ship's main mast, making it obvious as to how one would attack the ship in the first place; by wrapping their arms around the hull and capsizing it. After that the crew would either drown or be eaten by the monster.

The Kraken of this myth is probably what we know today as the giant squid. The giant squid can grow to a remarkable size, and like all squid, a giant squid has eight arms, a mantle (torso), and two longer tentacles (the longest known tentacles of any cephalopod). These giant squid also have a sophisticated nervous system and complex brain, and some are thought to be able to wrestle with something as big as a whale.

Whether Scylla was truly a giant squid, or maybe just an over-sized octopus, she would – in all reality – still taste as good as any other type of seafood anyone has ever had. Size isn’t what matters when it comes to seafood – but it could help a bit. At Ziziki's, you could opt for the smaller version of Scylla & the Kracken: calamari or to stick to the souvlaki's with yummy sea-snacks like tuna and shrimp. Opa!

Springtime In Greece

The travel guides say Spring is a great time to visit Greece...

Traveling during this season to the beautiful Mediterranean destination will allow you to enjoy less crowds, better prices and FANTASTIC weather.  Springtime in Greece means that most of the Greek Isles are coming off of seasonal winds, and preparing for a hot Summer (sounds a bit like Texas.)

And of course - Greek  food is ALWAYS something to behold - regardless of season.  

Spring is a time for festivals and celebrations - including Easter (more on that later!) and feasts and events to celebrate the renewal of Spring.

Greek Springtime is also considered quite incredible as far as Mother Nature is concerned. She's busy making a new, beautiful landscape - and it is said to be refreshing and amazing to see. The lush green landscape, colorful mountains, and blooming majesty of native wildflowers.

Can't break away to go to Greece just yet? Visit us at Ziziki's or Ziziki's Taverna for authentic Greek cuisine that will make you feel like you're really there. Bring a fan to mimic the 'Greek Spring winds' and we'll provide the food and atmosphere. Opa!

A Big, Fat, Greek Thanksgiving

History shows that 'giving thanks' is something that has been done in most cultures all around the world for thousands of years. The Earth provides mankind with shelter, sustenance, life - and in return, it's people have given thanks in celebration. Fall and 'harvest' festivals and ceremonies of thanksgiving took place during ancient Greek times, and many other periods throughout history.

In the ancient Greek traditions, of course - it was Demeter, the goddess of corn & grains and all things harvest - that was celebrated and honored at the festival of Thesmosphoria every Fall. The Greeks believed that it was because of her - that the Earth provided the bounty it did - and that honoring her with offerings and ceremonies would promise a new, fresh harvest each year.

Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated in several countries annually - and some for different reasons. Here in America, we give thanks not only for our wonderful provider, Mother Earth - but also for our ancestors having found the "New World". We all have many things to be thankful for... BUT we should point out that we're REALLY thankful for yummy GREEK FOOD here at Ziziki's. 

Want to add a 'Greek twist' to your Thanksgiving celebration? Try these traditions that are known to grace the tables of Greek-Americans at Thanksgiving:


Tzatziki sauce: (or as we call it - Ziziki Sauce!) is the perfect creamy accent to any table. This traditional Greek sauce is where we got our name - and is a combination of yogurt, cucumber, and garlic. It can be eaten with bread, veggies - or alone and is part of many dishes at Ziziki's Greek restaurant in Dallas.

Be thankful for FETA: Of course, Greeks know feta is the perfect salty sidekick to wine, as well as just about anything on the table.

Don't forget: Add a Greek twist with Ziziki's! We can provide delectable Dallas catering options for your holiday event - call us or  visit us at www.zizikis.com for catering menu and more information!

We're thankful! OPA!

Greek Speak

Have you ever wanted to impress your friends by speaking Greek? Imagine greeting your friends with “yia'sou” (hello) as they walk in to meet you at a Greek restaurant or a hip Greek bar and grill. At this point they may be somewhat amused but then you proceed to ask the waiter to “parakalo' (please) bring plates of ze'sti (hot) and cri'o (cold) mezzes”. Wow! All the sudden, you’re the life of the party!


The Greek language is fascinating as it has evolved over thirty-four centuries beginning with Proto-Greek (early second millennium BC), then evolving into Mycenaean (c 1600-1100 BC), Ancient Greek (c. 800-330 BC), Koine Greek (c. 330 BC), Medieval Greek (c330-1453) and culminating with today’s Modern Greek (from 1453), which is spoken by 13 million people. Modern Greek is the official language of Greece and Cyprus and one of the 23 official languages of the European Union.


For simplicity’s sake, we used Greek words here written with the Latin alphabet rather than the Greek alphabet (as we’re assuming you haven’t had a chance to learn that yet). Using the Latin alphabet is referred to as Greeklish (Greek and English) and was developed for online communication back in the day before operating systems could handle the Greek alphabet.


If learning Greek seems, well, a little “greek” to you, parakalo' (please) don’t despair. There are many great resources on the web – some of which are even free! So start practicing your conversational Greek and bring all your friends to Ziziki’s for a fantastiko' time.


**Note: the ' indicates the accent**