Make your own gyro spice
- Detaljer
- Publicerad tisdag, 03 november 2020 20:36
- Skriven av Markus Olsson
Making your own gyros is actually quite simple and you achieve a surprisingly equivalent result. A result that works well here at home in the more northern latitudes of Sweden when you can´t enjoy the original in Greece.
Different spices to make gyro spice. (Photo: Markus Olsson)
To get that characteristic taste of the meat or chicken, gyro spice is needed, which is a mixture of several different spices such as cumin, garlic powder, red pepper (paprika) powder, oregano, thyme and cinnamon.
This is the recipe for the right proportions:
Ingredients
2 tablespoons cumin (1 ounce)
2 tablespoons garlic powder (1 ounce)
2 tablespoons red pepper (paprika) powder (1 ounce)
1 tablespoon thyme (0,5 ounce)
2 teaspoons oregano
1 pince cinnamon (1 ml)
Cooking
Measure the spices and mix well.
Gyro spice before mixture. (Photo: Markus Olsson)
Gyro spice after mixture. (Photo: Markus Olsson)
Greek pasta- Greek salad meets Tortiglioni
- Detaljer
- Publicerad lördag, 02 november 2019 15:02
- Skriven av Markus Olsson
This is one of my absolute favorite dishes when it comes to a massive pasta dish: Greek salad meets, in this case, Tortiglioni. Some are sceptical of hot cucumber, but the trick is to not let it cook too long but to keep the cucumber's crispiness by just heating it up. Flavors from a Greek salad mixed with creme fraiche and optional pasta. I promise, that´s good!
Greek pasta. (Photo: Markus Olsson(
Ingredients
300 g pasta
1 red onion
1 cucumber
3 tomatoes
3 tbsp black olives
1 cup crème fraiche (sour cream)
2 tsp dried oregano
150 gr feta cheese
Salt & pepper
Dressing
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
0.5 tsp salt
1 pinch white pepper
Directions
In a large pot, bring water to boil. Add the pasta and cook al dente. While the pasta is cooking, peel and slice the red onion, cut the tomatoes and cucumber into rough pieces. Split the olives.
Fry the red onion in olive oil until it becomes soft. Add tomatoes, cucumbers and olives. Sprinkle with oregano. Add salt and pepper. Let the vegetables just become warm and then add the creme fraiche. Stir and let it just start boiling. Put aside.
Drain the pasta and add the pasta into the vegetable mix. Mix the dressing and add it to the pasta dish. Crumble the feta cheese and add it as well. Toss. Serve immediately.
Greek pasta. (Photo: Markus Olsson)
Pasta with Greek flavors, gratinated in a mug
- Detaljer
- Publicerad söndag, 05 maj 2019 15:26
- Skriven av Markus Olsson
In some strange way I like to cook food in a mug. Perhaps it is due to the portion size because it is not always smoother than cooking in a regular gratin tin. Maybe it's because of the shape and the serving possibilities. No matter what, I will continue to cook food in a mug.
This is a dish that you can vary endlessly based on taste. This variant I did with the Greek cheeses Graviera and Feta, Kalamata olives and dried oregano. And isn't it fun way to serve pasta?
Pasta with Greek flavors. Gratinated in a mug. (Photo: Markus Olsson)
Ingredients (1 port)
1 cup tomato sauce of any kind
⅓ cup grated Garviera cheese
4- 5 Kalamata olives
½ teaspoons dried Oregano
¼ pound pasta (Tortiglioni or Rigatoni)
1 tablespoon crumbled Feta cheese
Directions
Start by boiling the pasta al dente and let it cool.
Heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Add three teaspoons of tomato sauce to the bottom of the mug. Add grated Graviera and then sliced olives. Add over six teaspoons of tomato sauce and then start setting down the pasta in the whole mug. Add 7-8 teaspoons of tomato sauce and top with oregano and crumbled Feta cheese.
Grate the pasta in the middle of the oven for 20 minutes. When the pasta is ready, place a plate over the mug and flip it over immediately before the cheese begins to solidify. Enjoy!
Watch the video of how to make it:
How to eat a Greek salad as a Swedish semla
- Detaljer
- Publicerad lördag, 19 januari 2019 19:01
- Skriven av Markus Olsson
Greek sallad and Feta cheese cream in an bun. (Photo: Markus Olsson)
Actually it is quite easy and very delicious to do so. A swedish semla is an old tradition dating back to the 16th century where you kind of digging out the inside of a bun and fill it with almond paste and cream but instead of filling it with sweet ingredients I fill it with Greek salad and feta cheese cream. Lovely!
Ingredients
Greek Country Bread (12 buns)
50 gr yeast
3.2 dl finger warm water (37 degrees)
1 dl Greek yogurt
1 dl olive oil
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp salt
about 10 dl of wheat flour
Greek salad
Cucumber
Tomatoe
Pepper
Red onion
Olives
Feta chesse
Oregano
Olive oil
Feta cheese cream (for 3-4 buns)
50 gr Feta cheese
1 dl Greek yogurt
1 tbsp mayonnaise
Salt & pepper
Garnish
Frozen Feta cheese (grated)
How to make them
Start with the bread dough.
Mince the yeast in a bowl, pour over finger warm water and stir until the yeast has dissolved. Mix down Greek yogurt, olive oil, honey and salt. Add the flour. The dough should be pretty sticky. Knead in machine for about eight minutes or by hand for about ten minutes. Let the dough ferment for 45 minutes.
When the dough has yeast to its double size, you divide the dough into twelve parts (my parts weighed about 110 grams each). Spin each part towards a table in a circular motion with one hand so that you get a smooth bun. Allow the buns to ferment covered on a plate for 30 minutes.
Heat the oven to 220 degrees celsius. While the oven is getting warm, you can make Greek salad and Feta cheese. When making Greek salad, remember to cut the vegetables into smaller pieces and crumble the feta cheese in the salad. Pour over the olive oil and stir. Continue with the Feta cheese cream. Mash the feta cheese with a fork in a bowl. Add Greek yogurt and mayonnaise and stir. Season with salt and pepper. Put the salad and cream in the fridge.
When the buns have fermented, bake them in the middle of the oven for 10-15 minutes. Allow the buns to cool on a grill. Carefully cut off the top of the buns, grab the bun and fill them with Greek salad. Top with Feta cheese cream, put back the lid and grate with frozen feta cheese.
Greek salad with Feta cheese cream in a bun. (Photo: Markus Olsson)
Kir-Yianni Assyrtiko 2017- a white wine from Greece
- Detaljer
- Publicerad lördag, 01 september 2018 14:37
- Skriven av Markus Olsson
I have previously written about the progress and retreat of Greek wines, but now I am tempted to write that they actually have taken possession of their legitimate place. The move of the wine troop is completed. Domains are taken. Greek wine should not be detected, the letter G should be an obvious stay for consumers on the swedish Systembolaget. There is no longer any reason for a trivial word exchange about the quality of Greek wine.
This week I had the privilege of meeting the Greek wine producer Kir-Yianni and its owner Stellios Boutaris. A captivating man with a range of charismatic wines in his luggage. In total we tested ten different wines, several of which are in Systembolaget's ordering range, while the main character of the evening, the white wine Kir-Yianni Assyrtiko 2017, is actually found in Systembolaget's regular range from today. Opa!
Kir-Yianni Assyrtiko 2017. (Photo: Markus Olsson)
In 236 stores you can now find this dry, fruity and crispy white wine next to the shelf for Greece. The outstretched aftertaste has elements of both minerals, citrus and green apples. Kir-Yianni Assyrtiko 2017 is a wine that fits perfectly with white fish, pasta dishes and light chicken dishes as well as white cheeses. The wine has No. 2338 and costs 99 kronor at Systembolaget.
Wines from Kir-Yianni. (Photo: Markus Olsson)
The starter. (Photo: Markus Olsson)
The main course. (Photo: Markus Olsson)
It makes me truly happy to enjoy Greek wines at home. High quality wines and far from the outdated mental picture of the lovely drink from the cradle of democracy.
Wines from Kir-Yianni. (Photo: Markus Olsson)
The Kir-Yianni Wine House was founded in 1997 by Yiannis Boutaris, one of the leading figures in the Greek wine industry, when he left the family-run business as his grandfather founded in 1879. Today, Kir-Yianni is run by his son Stellios Boutaris with the clear philosophy: innovation, tradition and knowledge about the wine; from grape to final consumer.
Stellios Boutaris, the owner of Kir-Yianni. (Photo: Markus Olsson)
Kir-Yiann's goal is to produce wines that fit the taste of the modern consumer, which reflects the potential of Greek vineyards in combination with traditional grape varieties such as the red grape Xinomavro.
Kir-Yiannis property is located on the mainland of northern Greece in the Macedonia region, more specifically in Naoussa and with farms in Amyndeon. The area is characterized by a continental climate with cold winters and warm summers, which creates great conditions for wine growing.
Kir-Yianni is a wine producer to count on now and in the future, and are you curious about their wines and maybe even a visit to their vineyard, you can find further information on Kir-Yiannis website: https://kiryianni.gr (link)
This post is written based on my own choice to attend the event without counterclaim and contains my own comments.
50 reason to visit Greece- mygreece
- Detaljer
- Publicerad söndag, 08 april 2018 15:49
- Skriven av Markus Olsson
Have you not booked a trip for the summer yet? Or for the upcoming spring or for later this fall? Or maybe you are dreaming of a ski trip in the winter? Lean back and relax! There are 50 different reasons* why Greece shoud be your obvious choice. Everything from world heritages to paradise beaches, there are simply many reasons why you should visit Greece!
Who does not love sun safe Greece with nearly 300 days of sunshine a year and having such a pleasant climate for most of the year? During the summer the humidity is low, the sky is clear blue and it rarely rains. For us frozen northerners, a trip to Greece in early spring or late autumn is mumble for the soul as the days are hot and the clear blue water invites you to wonderfull swims. As early as April the daily average temperature can reach 20 degrees Celsius and a glorious 25 degrees Celsiuscan can be reached in October.
Nearly 6 000 islands and islets form together with the mainland Europe's longest sea border, giving us visitors a variety of opportunities to enrich our stay in Greece . Of thousands of islands there are 227 who are inhabited, all of them with typical and unic features. Each island has its own history and self esteem and its inhabitants are truly happy to show you what the island has to offer. In other words, creating a varied Greek trip is absolutely no problem!
The Greek mainland offers paradise like coastlines, fabulous mountains, fertile plains, a fabulous history and a staggering present. Large parts of the mainland are just waiting to get the same deserved attention as many of the islands.
Mountains, mountains and more mountains. In every direction you see a stately mountain rising and the mountain of all mountains Mount Olympus, the dwelling of God, watches over the humanity in the Macedonia region. "The mountain is calling" has a kind of spellbinding significance in Greece and for all of us who love mountains will not get disappointed. A more beautiful scenery is hard to get.
The whole of Greece is full of hiking trails, old donkey paths and trampled trade routes. Both on the mainland and on the islands. Greece is a gratifying country to hike in and it is easy to get hold of hiking maps that show the trails. Just lace up the hiking boots and venture out on historic walks in all directions.
Sandy beaches, pebble beaches, rocky beaches and everything Mother Nature has to offer you can find in Greece. Some of the world's most beautiful and unique beaches are found here and most of the beaches are under the Blue Flag which among other things guarantees clean water and environmental considerations. It's easy to fall in love with all the enchanting beautiful beaches Greece has to offer!
A trip to Greece in May offers summer warmth, beautiful swims and a nature in full blossom. In other words, a really enjoyable time to experience Greece. The tourist season has just begun but at this time you can have a beautiful sandy beach all by yourself.
A trip to Greece in September offers a wonderful extension of the short summer we have up in the north. Comfortable temperatures, both on land and in sea, stretch the summer limits. High season pressure on the country is over and it is starting to get more quiet. It is a really enjoyable time!
Most of us travel to Greece in the summer but the country really has something to offer all year round. Summer, autumn, winter or spring does not matter, but the different seasons offer different activities. Cultural experiences, swimming, sun, physical activity or culinary experiences can be enjoyed in different ways during different time of the year.
Greece is not only offering classic beers such as Mythos, Alfa and Fix but Greece also serve one unique variety of beer after another from a large number of microbreweries who flourish all over Greece. Greece is the perfect country for a delicious beer tasting!
Greece is starting to regain the epithelial of wine country. During ancient times, Greece was the main wine country and from that time to the present high-quality wines are produced in areas from Macedonia and even down to Crete.
Athens Wine Week is just one of the activities that showcase the return of high class wine. Another initiative is Attica-Wine and Food Experience which works hard to put Greece back on the wine map. Next time you are in Greece, be sure to enjoy a local wine!
Ouzo and Greece are all together, but the opinion of this precious drink may differ among Greek lovers. Some love it while others don't. Ouzo is not always the same as Ouzo so be sure to try the beverage in different distilleries. My favorite ouzo is produced at Athens oldest distillery, Brettos in the Plaka area, a bar that not only serves fantastic Ouzo but also organizes wine tastings and serves enjoyable charcuterie and cheese platters.
The Greek people! Countless are the times when I have met wonderful hospitable Greeks who do everything to welcome you and help you. Whatever the house has to offer, the generosity is incredibly great and there is a basic love and pride in being generous. A trip to Greece largely consists of the actual encounter with Greeks and their attitude towards us visitors.
The views in Greece are endless in both quantity and sight. Enjoying the surroundings gives the soul an energy fulfillment that is difficult to achieve elsewhere. High mountains, deep valleys and flat plains give you panoramic views to feed your inner being with.
Clean and local food makes Greek cuisine a formidable culinary experience. Timeless dishes such as Moussaka, Souvlaki, Gyros, Stifado and Kleftiko are an unassuming part of the classic Greek cuisine, but even the modern and more experimental cuisine is growing. In Greece there is wonderful food in every street corner and village streets, flavors that satisfy both young and old, fastidious as pleased.
On each island and on the Greek mainland there are ancient, genuine villages where residents take care of each other life out. Uncontrolled settlements with winding alleys create a dreamlike community with rich history. It is certainly a pleasure to walk in the alleys, find a local tavern and enjoy local specialties.
The cities of Greece vibrates of life and activity and you will find everything between heaven and earth. The urban life of Greece is both tough and loving, modern and ancient. Almost half of Greece's population lives in the country's two largest cities, Athens and Thessaloniki, where you will find everything from countless attractions, great shopping and unique food and beverage culture.
Greece has eighteen world heritage sites which actually speaks for itself! Visiting Meteora or Delphi is just a tantalizing thought and overwhelming experience. Why not make a world heritage trip to visit the cultural and geographical world heritage sites Greece has to offer?
In addition to the seventeen world heritage sites there are crammed of archaeological sites and ancient remains. You can actually feel the story in a way that can rarely be done elsewhere. One of the most beautiful temples, Afea on the Aegina, is just an example of a magnificent remains from a bygone era. Imagine walking in the same places as fellow people did long before Christ's birth!
The Mediterranean climate benefits plants that you rarely see in wild conditions at home or at least in a natural environment. Pruning Bougainvillea, fig tree, citrus and Nerium give us that exotic feeling that is hard to feel anywhere else. Visit a botanical garden and experience an artifact of rare nature and in an environment far from home.
The sunsets in Greece are something out of the ordinary; magical, enchanting, captivating, beautiful, lovely and magnificent. Wherever you are in Greece you can enjoy a sunset who also frame the amazing scenario you have in front of you.
As many magical, enchanting, captivating, beautiful, lovely and magnificent sunsets there are, there are as many sunriseses. Even if you're morningtired, I can promise you that it's worth defying the sleeping laws to enjoy the scenery as the star extend across the horizon.
There is a reason why you usually see a Greek with a coffee in his hand; Greek coffee, frappé, espresso, cappuccino or freddoccino. The Greeks know their coffee and to enjoy a coffee in Greece is a pleasant ritual. What would a trip to Greece be without a frappé? I can assure you that it tastes extra good in the environment that this beautiful country has to offers.
The Greek music has a pleasant ability to express feelings, even for those who can not speak the language. Beautiful, passionate, melancholy and full of history. Who does not love a dinner under the stars accompanied by bouzouki?
The azure Mediterranean Sea that surrounds Greece's islands and coast enchant us as few things. All shades of blue give us an experience that is hard to follow and be sure to top the Greece trip with a number of swims in the magic blue. Whether you are using the sea for transportation, exercise, recreation or pleasure, it never ceases to fascinate.
The oldest olive tree in the world grows on Crete and is 3000 years old, mythically spun and legendary. During all these years it has provided us with amazing olives and olive oil. Enjoying this in Greece is a favor and is a must during your stay in Greece.
Even the ancient Greeks knew how to design a building. So even the new ones. No other country has such a mix of styles, shapes and expressions. It is fascinating to walk aorund in the various districts of a city and see the mix of differences and distinctions.
Street Art in Athens. (Photo by: Markus Olsson)
Few expressions are as strong as the true street art, and Greece's bubbling capital of Athens is full of it. The whole city is actually an exhibition of contemporary street art. See, experience and feel.
Graviera. (Photo by: Markus Olsson)
Halloumi, feta cheese and Graviera are just some of the cheeses produced by the tender sheep and goat milk. Be sure to enjoy a cheese tray, cheese dishes or just as a side dish when you are in Greece. Enjoying the local food is a stronger experience than the imported varieties at home. I promise!
Many of the spices that we usually use in our cooking grow in Greece and are harvested in their wild state. The Mediterranean climate exposes them to the weather and provokes amazing flavors from the plants. Shopping spices in a local market is certainly a pleasure for both mind and taste.
Wherever you turn, you can find genuine Greek craftsmanship; ceramics, leather, wood or textile. You can buy everything and it keeps good quality. Numerous are the ceramic goods that I have dragged with me home from Greece. Being able to enjoy my morning coffee from a cup from Pottery Limpertas Manolis on Naxos gives the golden drink an extra gold edge.
Although the price difference is not particularly noticeable compared with back home, Greece is a country where you can still reduce travel expenses. Fold off the tourist strip, travel out of season or travel to villages where charter tourism has not yet reached. It is possible to enjoy this amazing country without a burning wallet.
Greece is a safe country to live in. Crime is usually lower than in many other European countries and it is rare that something seriously happens. Extremely helpful people are also something you can lean on.
The Mastiha only grows in some unique places in the world and the island of Chios is one of the few places where the bush is thriving. Mastiha is used both in cooking, in medicine and in skin care products thanks to its good qualities. Have you tried the liqueur with Mastiha? A liqueur made of superfood can only mean good, right?
Greeks know how to party and it is clear in the nightspots and in the bars. Some of the world's best bars are located in Athens according to the list "The World's 50 Best Bars". That kind of says it, right?
Few capitals have such a clear history and such a clear connection to the east and the west. Life boils in the quay of Athens, one of Europe's most interesting capital cities. Here antiquity is constantly reminded while modern times are existing right next door. Here life can be hard and life can be wonderful. Here is something for everyone and why not combine all sight seeing with cool swims along the Athens Riviera?
For us who live in Europe, Greece is easily accessible and is no more than a few hours away. In an hour, you will also reach other countries like Turkey, Bulgaria, Albania and Italy. You do not have to travel over half the globe to find paradise ... if you do not live on the other side of the globe ofcourse.
Greece is a wonderful country to revisit. Every time you come to Greece, you discover something new at the same time as you get the opportunity to relive the things that made you fall in love in Greece for the first time. The variation is simply endless with all the islands and the mainland.
Greece is the country of constrasts. Here you can experience the intense car traffic in Athens while driving is banned on the island of Hydra. Here you will meet antiquity and here you will meet 2018. Old, really old, meets new and at the same time you are in the middle of all this. The thoughts set no limits to how it might have been. The thought is playful and energetic. Here you will meet traditions and here you will meet new thoughts. Here you will encounter prodigious vegetation and here you will encounter barren landscapes. Here you will meet hard winter and here you will meet hot summer days. In other words, a country to never get tired of.
Did you know that there are over 70 thermal springs all over Greece? This means that you could enjoy the heat and healing forces in at least 70 places and if you make three dips in each spring it means 210 enjoyable occasions. Several of the thermal springs have plants with pools filled with the warm and mineral rich water. The different springs have different healing purposes for example skin disorders, remautism or neurological problems.
Mediterranean waters around Greece offer great opportunities for diving and snorkeling. The view is clear and long and for the one with diving certificates "The Great Wall" on the island of Chios is just a must.
There are several beaches in Greece where windsurfing and kitesurfing is a natural element; Mikri Vigla on Naxos and Kremasti in Rhodes are just a few examples. If you like a board, airborne adventures and a wonderful experience, just simply go to Greece!
It is easy to travel within Greece; ferry, catamaran, bus, train or flight. You can easily get where you want to and often at an affordable cost. Unlike at home, you just have to stand along the road and wave at a bus to get a ride instead of looking for a bus stop. As easy as that.
When I am in Greece I have been told that I should live in the present and that I should enjoy the place where I am and not hurrying on to the next. There is a relief of being able to enjoy here and now, embracing the moment without stress and just simply live. We can all learn from the Greek mentality of being in the present and not hurrying elsewhere.
The island of Ikaria is a so-called blue zone where residents live longer than on most other places in the world. You sure want to find out why, don't you? Ikaria is an island with a kind of untouched environment and with clean and nutritious food that takes the courses to another level. What makes the age so high? Go there and find out!
It was in Greece it all started once. The idea of that they all traveled to Olympia for the Olympic Games in ancient times is staggering. And are you not curious to see the place where it all started and where the Olympic fire still is lit for every Olympiad?
Sailing in the Mediterranean Sea is a dream for many and being able to land to so many places (one of all Greek islands or the mainland) are few countries extinct. There are both natural ports and constructed. You choose.
Few countries have so many myths and legends about their existence and history. To experience the country where Aphrodite rose from the sea or where Athena, wisdom and science goddess, is housed is a true favor.
Easter celebration in Greece is something out of the ordinary. The Greeks take their religion seriously and with that comes an Easter celebration that strikes most celebrations around the world. If you ever go to Greece outside the season, then it's Easter. Easter is simply the year's biggest feast in Greece.
Sun and beaches in all honor but did you know there are several skiing systems in northern Greece and on Crete? For example, who would not like to stand on top of a ski slope while looking out at the Aegean? In other words, Greece is also suitable for a holiday on skis.
*The list is done without mutual arrangement.
In english
- Detaljer
- Publicerad söndag, 06 september 2015 17:58
- Skriven av Markus Olsson
What is mittgrekland.se (mygreece.se)?
mittgrekland.se is a travel guide for everyone who loves Greece and the greek islands. You can get information, recommendations and inspiration about travelling to and within Greece. mittgrekland.se tells you about ways to travel, accomodation, beaches, attractions, restaurants and gives you the weather and maps of the islands and the mainland.
In the blog you can read travel books, get recipies from the fantastic greek cuisine, listen to greek music and take part of little of everything. mittgrekland.se also gives you the latest news about Greece and you can take part of other greek travellers travel books, experiences, recommendations and events. If you contrary to all expectations still have an unanswered questions, just contact me and I will get back to you.
As an advertiser you can easylly advertise your hotel, accomodation oppurtunities or your greek products on mittgrekland.se. At the moment you reach about 16 000 unique visitors/month who is searching for information about Greece and the greek islands. Contact Markus Olsson, Den här e-postadressen skyddas mot spambots. Du måste tillåta JavaScript för att se den., for more information.
So far I have recieved the following reward and have been published in the following media:
Rewarded with the tittle "Travel inspirer of the year- 2015" by the travel agency Apollo.
- An article in the lifestyle magazine Älskade Östermalm
- Guest blogpost at Travellink's Travel Blog
- Guest blogpost at Resias Hallins reseblogg
- Published posts in the travel magazine Vagabond
- Guest blogpost at Apollos Blog
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