Green Monday's Greek Recipes 2013

Green Monday, also called Clean Monday, is a public holiday in Greece and Cyprus as it marks the beginning of Lent. It is celebrated with family picnics in the countryside, kite-flying and  Greek Lenten foods consisting of shellfish, vegetables and various greens. For many Greeks, this day also marks a 40-day fasting period which ends on Easter Day. Here are some of my favourite recipes for Green Monday's Lenten menu.

Lettuce, fresh Spring onions and radish

 

Lagana - Azyme Bread Baked on Green Monday

 

The Starters: taramosalata, tahini, houmous, aubergine salad, olives, carrots and radishes

 

Pickled Vegetables

Baked Okra in Tomato Sauce

Μπάμιες στο Φούρνο - Baked Okra

Ingredients

• 1 kilo okra
• 2 onions, coarsley chopped
• 1 cup olive oil
• 2 cups ripe tomatoes, grated
• salt and pepper
• 1 cup hot water
  

Directions

• Rinse the okra and spread on a kitchen towel to dry.
• Trim stalks but do not remove cone-shaped tops.
• Place the okra in an ovenproof dish and mix with all other ingredients.
• Bake in preheated moderate oven (160*C - 170*C) for about an hour stirring occasionally.

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B. Wholegrain Rice with Mixed Vegetables and Ouzo

Wholegrain Rice with Mixed Vegetables and Ouzo

Ingredients

• 2 cups wholegrain rice (brown rice)
• 3 cups hot water
• 3 zucchini, chopped in rings
• 3 aubergines (eggplant), chopped in medium-sized pieces
• 2 red peppers, chopped in thick strips
• 2 onions, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup parsley and mint, coarsely chopped
• 4-5 cloves garlic
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2  cup ouzo
• salt and pepper

Directions

• Heat the olive oil in a pan and gently fry the zucchinni, aubergines and red peppers over medium heat for 20 minutes.
• Add the ouzo and keep cooking for another 5 minutes.
• Add the parsley , the mint and salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover the pan and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.
• Boil the rice till all the water is absorbed and add it to the vegetables stirring gently for 5 minutes, then remove from heat and serve.

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C. King Prawns in Olive Oil and Lemon Juice Sauce

King Prawns

 

King Prawns in Olive Oil and Lemon Juice Sauce

Ingredients

• 8 king prawns
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• fresh lemon juice to taste
• salt to taste
• pink pepper

Directions

• Boil the king prawns in salted water till they turn pink.
• Keep boiling over low heat for 5 minutes.
• In a shaker mix the olive oil and the lemon juice with some freshly ground pink pepper.
• Peel the prawns while still warm and serve with the olive oil and lemon juice sauce.

Comments

[Christina]

WoW! Your Green Monday dishes look great. I love king prawns so much both saganaki and ladolemono. But my favourite is the saganaki version which I make with lots of tomato sauce and garlic. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous photos!

[Haruko N]

Delightful dishes - they must be so healthy and yummy. Did you make them all yourself?

[Anastasia]

I bought the dips for the starters at the supermarket but I made the rest. They're quick, easy to prepare recipes. And yes they are very tasty, healthy and nutrtious.
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[Stefania]

Thanks for the great recipes, Anastasia - especially the rice and the baked okra. To be honest I've never tried to cook okra in the oven. I usually cook it in a frying pan with olive oil, onion, garlic and tomato sauce and occasionally combine it with chicken. But I find your baked okra very tempting and I'll give it a try.

[Laura]

I always look forward to your Monday's Greek recipes as I always discover new and exciting dishes. I must admit I've never eaten okra, I don't even know what it tastes like, but I would love to try your recipe and find out. It looks delicious in the photo.

[Alexia M]

Being a vegetarian, I'm sure I'd love most of your green Monday's dishes. They look delicious!!!

[Lisa A]

First I would like to tell you that I like very much your recipes and will try them soon. Lent (Quaresima) for the Italians marks the forty days of fast and abstinence before Easter. Lent is marked with the Feast of St. Joseph (Festa di San Giuseppe) on March 19th and Palm Sunday (Domencia della Palme), in which palms and olive branches are blessed by the parish priest and given out to the congregants. Many churches still follow the tradition of having the priest knock three time from the outside of the closed church doors to symbolize Jesus' entry in Jerusalem.

[Walid]

Hello.
Two table spoon of mayonnaise a tea cup of catchup a tea spoon of whiskey a sprinkle of white pepper some salt to taste.Whisk all this in a bowl and serve as a dip for the prons.
Lisa hello we still have the tradition serves of all feasts here in Lebanon.That is why we are called Orthodox.We have the closed door of the church .Where some one will stay inside every body out.The priest will Knock the door saying let the doors of even open to the king of kings.The one inside will answer who is the king of kings.That will be three times then the door will open every body will enter the church praying Christ has raised.
Corban will be served.But from the year 1973 till now any Easter I am at home I will boil 200 colored eggs and serve them at the church.To us egg is the sing of new life.God bless.

[Anastasia]

Walid, thank you very much for sharing your dip recipe and your traditions. Colouring 200 Easter eggs for the church sounds wonderful!
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[A Twitter User]

Wow....the photos even look tempting. I love rice and prawns . Thanks so much for featuring the recipes here. I'm not good in cooking and all I do well is eat. But sometimes, if I'm in the mood , I come up with something that's pretty passable. :-)
Are all these Greek recipes?

[Andy]

Love your recipes and the photos are truly gorgeous!

[Anastasia]

I didn't use to like cooking either. For years, hubby and I had been living on mum's cooking or take away. Cooking for friends and family is a pleasure now. Cooking can be a very relaxing and creative activity.

[Jeff]

I am impressed, Anastasia. Your Green Monday dishes are a healthy alternative to what most of us Americans eat - like my favorite Triple Prime Bacon Cheddar Burger :-)

[Constantinos T]

I spent Green Monday away from home but your post brought back happy memories. Thanks for sharing your great Green Monday recipes and photos.