My Big Fat Greek Squash Recipes

GREEK-STYLE SUMMER SQUASH

Steps:

• Prepare a large cast-iron skillet (with a tight fitting lid) with non-stick cooking spray.
• Put skillet on very low-heat burner.
• Add the oil and garlic; then add the squash.
• Sprinkle the chopped tomatoes over the squash.
• Cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes (do not stir).
• Cover and cook 30 minutes (do not stir); make sure the heat is low enough to not cause burning.
• Do not be alarmed if one side of the squash is browned, that is good and how it should be.
• Uncover and stir carefully (squash should be very tender and you don't want to break it up).
• Increase the heat, stir gently occasionally, until the liquid is evaporated and the squash is the consistency of a chunky puree.
• Remove from heat.
• Season with salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste; add in the dill and stir.
• Serve immediately.

MY BIG FAT GREEK SALAD

Steps:

• Peel off a few strips of cucumber skin using a channel knife, creating a striped pattern. Cut cucumbers in half crosswise. Cut each half into quarters before cutting into 1/4- to 1/2-inch slices. Place into a colander; toss with some kosher salt and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut cherry tomatoes in half. Rinse cucumbers; drain thoroughly for 10 to 15 minutes more.
• While cucumbers are draining, slice onion thinly. Cut bell pepper into strips. Turn knife diagonally and cut strips into diamond-shaped pieces. Slice Kalamata and green olives.
• Combine cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, olives, and 2 tablespoons oregano in a bowl. Season with salt, black pepper, and cayenne. Sprinkle in vinegar and toss thoroughly. Drizzle in olive oil. Add about 2/3 of the feta cheese and toss again. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes.
• Give the salad another mix. Taste and season as desired. Scatter remaining feta cheese on top and garnish with remaining oregano.

GREEK-STYLE SPAGHETTI SQUASH WITH SHRIMP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut the spaghetti squash in half and scrape out the seeds with a spoon. Place the halves cut-side down on a rimmed baking sheet and roast until the halves look somewhat wrinkly and collapsed, about 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes.
• Use a fork to scrape the inside of the squash to form spaghetti-like strands and transfer to a large serving bowl.
• Heat the oil over medium heat in a very large, deep skillet (or even a large Dutch oven or pot). Add the garlic and saute until just golden, about 30 seconds. Add the shrimp and onion, season with salt and pepper and saute until the shrimp are pink and almost cooked through, about 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes, olives and oregano and saute until the mixture is hot and the shrimp are cooked through, another 2 minutes.
• Turn the shrimp mixture into the serving bowl and toss with the spaghetti squash. Sprinkle with the feta and serve.

MY BIG FAT GREEK PASTITSIO

Steps:

• In a nonstick skillet sprayed with nonstick spray, saute the onion over medium-high heat until translucent, 2-3 minutes or so.
• Add meat to the pan and cook over medium heat until browned all the way through; drain fat.
• Add tomato sauce, garlic,just 1 tsp of the cinnamon, and some salt to taste.
• Simmer on low heat 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, melt the butter.
• Once the butter has melted, stir in the flour, whisking until blended.
• Remove pan from heat and whisk in the milk slowly until blended.
• Return pan to heat and let simmer over low heat about 5 minutes, stirring often,or until thick and smooth.
• Remove sauce from heat and let cool slightly.
• In a bowl, beat eggs and then add small portion of the cream sauce, whisking quickly as you do.
• Whisk in a bit more of the sauce, then add all the rest and whisk well until smooth.
• (You can to be careful not to add too much at first or you will cook the eggs.) Season sauce with some salt& pepper and a dash of nutmeg to taste, mixing well.
• Grease a 9x13" casserole with deep sides well and place hot macaroni in it.
• Top with meat sauce, then sprinkle meat sauce with remaining 1 tsp cinnamon.
• Pour cream sauce over all to cover.
• You may need to shake the pan a little to make everything settle in (not too hard- you don't want sauce flying everywhere).
• You may have a little extra cream sauce left over, depending on how deep your pan is.
• Bake in a preheated 350 F oven for approximately 40 minutes or until custard is firm (no jiggling).
• Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

GREEK SQUASH PITA (SAVOURY)

Steps:

• Put the grated pumpkin in a colander (sieve) and toss with 2 tsps salt.
• Allow to drain for 1 hour.
• After 1 hour, squeeze pumpkin between hands to remove extra water.
• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat and add pumpkin and onion.
• Saute gently for 8-10 minutes to evaporate more liquid.
• Remove from heat, let cool 5 minutes and stir in cheese, parsley, dill, breadcrumbs, milk, some pepper and the eggs.
• Combine this mixture well.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Get a 13 X 9 inch pan and brush with some melted butter.
• Start layering the phyllo pastry in the pan, brushing each layer with butter before adding the next.
• Use up 1/2 the phyllo+ 2 extra sheets.
• Spoon the pumpkin filling into the prepared pan and turn any overhanging phyllo inwards, over the filling.
• Layer the remaining phyllo sheets neatly on top, buttering each before adding the next.
• Butter the last sheet VERY generously.
• Cut away any overhang and, with the tip of a small, sharp knife, cut gently through the top layers of pastry, lengthwise, into 3 strips.
• Be careful not to cut all the way down through the pastry, you just want to pierce the top few layers.
• Cut through the pastry in the width too, creating the pieces that will eventually be served when the pie is baked.
• Bake pie for approximately 1 hour, until a lovely golden-brown colour.
• Remove, and allow to rest for 15-20 minutes before cutting all the way through the pre-cut pieces to serve.
• Serve hot or cold.