Recipe Tag: Greek

Greek Braised Chicken with Potatoes

Preheat oven to 325°.

Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper.

In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil. When oil shimmers, in batches, add chicken and cook, 5-7 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate. Repeat with remaining chicken. Drain any excess fat from pot.

Return pot to medium-high heat and add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. When oil shimmers, add onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add carrots, celery, garlic, cinnamon, and nutmeg and cook, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add wine, vinegar, honey, and tomato paste, stir and let cook until reduced by half, 5-7 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook 5 minutes more.

Return chicken to pot. Add chicken broth and bay leaves. Cover pot, increase heat to high, and bring to a boil. Transfer to oven and braise until tender, 30-40 minutes.

Serve with orzo, potatoes, and garnish with cheese.

Pastitsio (Pasta and Ground Beef Casserole)

Preheat oven to 350°.

In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, melt 4 tablespoons butter.

Add onions and cook until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add meat and cook, stirring occasionally, until well browned, about 5 minutes. Add herbs, spices, salt, pepper, tomato paste, wine, and broth, and stir to combine. Let simmer for 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.

In a bowl, combine cooked pasta with 1 cup parmesan.

Meanwhile, in a heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter. Add flour and cook, about 3 minutes. Gradually stir in milk and cook, stirring constantly, until sauce is smooth and thick.

In a medium bowl, beat eggs. Add 1/3 of sauce, 1 teaspoon salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and stir to combine. Add egg mixture to sauce and stir until thick and well blended. Add 1 cup parmesan and stir well.

Oil a 9”x13” baking pan and arrange half of pasta in an even layer on bottom. Add 1 cup parmesan to meat and toss to combine. Place all of meat mixture on top of pasta layer. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. Place remaining pasta on top of meat mixture in an even layer.

Pour half of sauce on top and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven, add remaining sauce, and bake for another 30 minutes. Allow pastitsio to cool for 30 minutes and serve warm.