Food Blog

Classic Seville Marmalade

February 10, 2023

Seville trees grow everywhere in Greece. They are often wild or planted next to roads, especially in the cities where they decorate the streets. The orange blossoms are used for blossom water, the unripe fruit for ‘glyko’ and the juice as a secret ingredient in lemony Greek potatoes. Known as Nerantzi, they are not bitter but fragrant, sour and tangy. I often opt for Nerantzi juice to sweeten sauces or make orange curd. But, for now, I’m thinking hot buttery

Pasta Soffritto

February 9, 2023

So many good things start with a good soffritto, this magical base of onion, celery and carrot is the starting point for ragus, tomato sauces, lasagne and many stews. But also with the addition of a handful of cherry tomatoes, it makes a delicious pasta sauce. Easy to make for a mid-week supper when inspiration is lacking or when you need something easy and comforting. Pasta soffritto ticks all the boxes. There is nothing complicated about soffritto – all the

Wild Boar Ragu

February 9, 2023

Following on from my previous post. The next stage of my wild boar cooking extravaganza. Conchiglie grandi stuffed with wild boar ragu. A ragu made with wild boar is gorgeous, a rich sauce which you don’t need much of. Begin with a classic soffritto and then gently braise with the marinating ingredients, orange peel and rosemary. It must cook very slowly until the meat begins to fall off the bone. Ease the meat off the bone with a fork, return

Wild Boar Goulash

February 8, 2023

We were given a massive parcel of local wild boar at the beginning of the year, which as I take it out to defrost, I realise is a lot of meat, and I need to decide, rather quickly, what to cook. Wild boar makes a very delicious goulash – so I’ve decided to dice all the tender meat into large bite-sized cubes and go down the goulash route. I will slowly braise the meatier bones for a rich wild boar

Black-Eyed Bean Salad

January 27, 2023

Black-eyed beans are eaten in the Southern States of America on New Year’s day to bring luck and prosperity, but here in Greece, they are eaten all year round. Very nutritious, the beans are an excellent source of complex carbs, fiber and many essential vitamins and minerals; they are also inexpensive and easy to prepare. What’s not to love? Black-eyed bean salad is super easy, with loads of options that evolve with the seasons: a go-to mezze or quick lunch.

Gigantes Bean and Orange Salad

January 20, 2023

Western Macedonian giant-coloured elephant beans (Gigantes) are the star of this giant bean and orange salad. Rich in flavour and repudiated to be full of antioxidants – these gorgeous beans are cousins to the classic white Greek Gigantes bean but have a much earthier flavour. They are delicious in salads and taste of chestnut and sweet potato, which is gorgeous with oranges. Ideally, soak the beans overnight in water with a pinch of bicarbonate of soda and then boil them

Pear and Celeriac Soup

January 19, 2023

Pear and celeriac – a fabulous combination for soup and super quick and easy to make. Our version of this classic adds a little cardamom and green peppercorns for a hint of spice and a parmesan rind to create a slight creaminess. I used chicken stock, but if you want to make this pear and celeriac soup vegan – lose the parmesan and change the chicken stock for a homemade vegetable one. Start by sauteing onion and leek in a

Carrot Korma Soup

January 18, 2023

Food fusion at its best – combining classic winter carrot soup with one of the most popular curry dishes, korma. The key to a perfect korma is sealing and then slowly braising the meat in a chicken or vegetable stock, often with yoghurt, to achieve a rich, creamy sauce. And, as it so happens, a perfect technique for soup. Many carrot soups call for the carrots to be roasted in the oven – to preserve and seal in the flavour.

Fragrant Root Vegetable Tagine

December 13, 2022

If you don’t already have a tagine in your kitchen armoury – I highly recommend adding it to your Christmas list. Yes, you can use a shallow Dutch oven, but it doesn’t steam and cook the vegetables or meat the same way the tagine does. It’s quick, super easy to use, and so helpful in making an original and inexpensive mid-week meal. The original clay versions take a long time and need careful handling, so the modern cast iron version

Tangerine Cranberry Sauce

December 11, 2022

I won’t blurb on too much about this. However, I am just saying cranberry sauce is not cranberries boiled with orange juice and sugar. The incredible tart burst of berries deserves a little more than that. This recipe is delicious and easy to make. Whether you are cooking turkey, goose, duck, pheasant, ham, or a mixture of these, tangerine cranberry sauce needs to sit on your festive table😃; delicious with everything, from vegetable dishes to pigs in blankets, roast potatoes,

Beef Chilli (Chilli con Carne)

December 7, 2022

This is one of the most straightforward and satisfying meals to serve when you have a full house. However, chilli con carne comes in many different disguises. It is the equivalent of trying to be an expert on bolognese, bourguignon or paella. We are in dangerous recipe territory here. So, maybe let’s agree, it’s slow-cooked beef (ground, chopped or chunky) in a rich chilli sauce. But should it contain beans? What are the sides? Has it grated cheese, onion, yoghurt

Red Cabbage with Apple

December 3, 2022

festive vegetarian Red cabbage with apple is delicious with pork or game and is the go-to vegetable for any Christmas table. Fondly known as purple cabbage in our family – I now see that it is actually a thing. 😁 Red cabbage is also known as purple cabbage. Unlike most vegetables, red cabbage benefits from gently cooking for a little longer. It also loves being reheated and freezes well. So, a perfect make-ahead dish for the Christmas table. Plenty of

Mincemeat with Apricots and Oranges

November 24, 2022

festive An easy recipe, mincemeat with apricots and oranges is definitely worth the effort. Despite all the media mince pie reviews! Homemade is by far the best. It has a beautiful light and fruity texture – not too sweet. By heating it in the oven, you coat all the ingredients in the suet and extend its shelf life. However, I also think the gentle bake in the oven intensifies the flavours and makes for much lighter mincemeat because all the

Celeriac and Fennel Crumble

November 16, 2022

Vegetarian Winter is trying to arrive with huge gusts of wind and finally (here that is) glorious downpours soaking our barren, dry soil. Looking at the weather map – it seems to be warm everywhere. So here’s a wintery treat that is not too heavy but comforting and easy to put together. I used fennel, celeriac and carrot – a delicious threesome topped with parmesan, fennel seed and cracked pepper crumble. Savoury crumble – who’d of thought? The Filling Tucked

Leek and Potato Soup

November 2, 2022

soups and stews I’ve had many requests for some budget-friendly, easy, quick recipes that don’t require too many spices🙃. Leek and potato soup fits the bill. I’ve tweaked a classic recipe in the Wild Epicurean kitchen, adding a little fenugreek and garnishing the soup with garlic chips. As always free to leave out my ‘extras’ marked as optional in the recipe card. We are always looking to invent new flavour combinations and play with ingredients to create something different, but

Homemade Candied Peel

November 1, 2022

Making homemade candied peel always seems like a faff. However, peel candied at home has a delightfully fragrant and aromatic flavour and bears absolutely no resemblance to the shop-bought stuff. It is the secret ingredient to everything baked at Christmas, from the pudding to mincemeat and fruit cake. You’ll also find yourself using it in all sorts of unexpected ways; decorating a fancy Christmas cocktail, the magic in gingerbread, folded into florentines or winter fruit salad… The hassle is peeling

Classic Seville Marmalade

Pasta Soffritto

Wild Boar Ragu

Wild Boar Goulash

Black-Eyed Bean Salad

Gigantes Bean and Orange Salad

Pear and Celeriac Soup

Carrot Korma Soup

Fragrant Root Vegetable Tagine

Tangerine Cranberry Sauce

Beef Chilli (Chilli con Carne)

Red Cabbage with Apple

Mincemeat with Apricots and Oranges

Celeriac and Fennel Crumble

Leek and Potato Soup

Homemade Candied Peel

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Classic Seville Marmalade

Pasta Soffritto

Wild Boar Ragu

Wild Boar Goulash

Black-Eyed Bean Salad

Autumnal Recipes

Leek and Potato Soup

Pumpkin Cake with Salted Caramel

Mung Bean Curry

Kachumber Salad

Italian Apple Cake

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