Katerina's Kouzina - Authentic Greek Recipes and more

Fried Zucchini with Tzatziki

There are a few Greek recipes that all people love. Usually those recipes are very simple and require simple ingredients that are easy to find and not expensive. The ingredients often grow in our garden and during summer we have too much of them. Fried zucchini with tzatziki is such a wonderful recipe. Tomorrow it is Easter in many parts of the world, and in a week’s time in Greece. Easter is a holiday to celebrate with family and friends, but because of the current social distancing, for many people that will not be possible. A lot of our friends will be spending Easter alone. Despite it all, I share this recipe for your Easter lunch or dinner as a meze. I hope the fried zucchini with tzatziki will make you smile and transport your soul to Greece.

Simple Greek recipes

Typical of the recipes I talk about on this blog, is that there isn’t a taverna or restaurant in Greece where you can’t find them. The Greeks love to prepare and eat them, as do many of our guests. They are usually passed down the generations from our mothers and grandmothers. We take them for granted and go on loving and enjoying them. Every so often our friends ask how we prepare them and then we start thinking about it. Since so many have asked about making fried zucchini, I decided to share it for Easter.

Tzatziki

Of course you have to serve fried zucchini with tzatziki, some bread, a nice glass of wine or ouzo! When it comes to wine I recommend the dry rosé Peplo from Domaine Skouras.

If you want to read and know about tzatziki, I have written a blog about it before. Fried zucchini might be even simpler to make. I talked with my mother and my friends and I realized that actually there are a lot of different ways to make it and every one of us has their own recipe. So don’t be surprised if I come with more recipes for the fried zucchini in the future. For today I have this very nice and simple way of cooking that beloved vegetable. You will love it!

Easter

In the Orthodox church the Crucification and the Resurrection of Christ that we celebrate at Easter is the most important time of the year for the Christians. In the Orthodox Church, Easter is seldom celebrated at the same time as in the Catholic Church. Usually the Orthodox Easter is a week later as it is this year. In other years there is even a month difference. Easter time for the Greeks is celebration of Spring, the victory of life over death; In nature and in religion. Maybe that is now more relevant than ever.

Traditionally we eat lamb after the 40 days of lent during which we mainly eat vegan food. As the men prepare the lamb for family and friends in the late morning hours during our Easter celebrations, the women quite often prepare a small meze to support the men during their hard work. Our first zucchini is often one of the delicious mezedes that are served at this time. Please enjoy the fried zucchini with tzatziki and have a great Easter! And I hope without the tzatziki it’s a great choice for all my vegan friends!

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