Friday, June 1, 2012
When the Greek summer has come out in full bloom, it’s perfect time to reap some of the season’s most delicious and fresh fruits and vegetables. Watermelon, figs, tomatoes, zucchini, artichokes, eggplants and okra are some of them.
Do you wonder how you can enjoy these treasures of the Greek land at your home, whether you live in Greece or not?
In fact, there are many original ways to cook them and taste some of Greece’s summer flavour!
Briam -Greece's answer to ratatouille- is a delicious oven roasted vegetable dish with eggplants, zucchini, potatoes, onions, peppers, and tomatoes in a savory sauce.
Yemista or Gemista is another hit for the summer, consisting of vegetables -usually tomatoes- stuffed with either rice, onions and herbs or rice and meat.
Green string beans known as fasolakia are summer’s alternative to winter bean soups. They can be cooked in tomato sauce, or served boiled as a salad with oil and lemon or vinegar. Another popular way to cook them is as a stew in tomato sauce. An alternative to fasolakia, is okra (lady's fingers) - otherwise known as bamies in Greek cooking. 
An interesting summer dish found on Lesvos Island is stuffed zucchini flowers -dubbed louloudakia- with rice and herbs like dolmades (stuffed vine leaves). All these recipes made of summer vegetables are even more delicious when accompanied by a large slice of feta cheese. 
This refreshing Greek dessert is also made with yogurt. In general, summer seasonal fruits are a favourite ending to a meal or can also be eaten as a snack or light meal served with yogurt and honey.
YouTube: Briam-Baked Summer Vegetables [VIDEO] & Stuffed tomatos, peppers and grape leaves: Gemista & Dolmades [VIDEO] &Green beans braised with tomatoes and onions: Fasolakia [VIDEO];
Greek Mediterranean Gastronomy: Watermelon-Manouri salad with fresh mint and chopped almonds & Greek Watermelon Mojito; About.com: 10 Greek recipes for summer vegetables
