BOXING DAY

Today is Boxing Day, so-called because rich people placed Christmas delicacies in boxes and sent them to families in need.                                

                                                         GREEK SOUPS

                                           GREEK LENTIL SOUP

500 g (1 lb) dry lentils

2 onions, peeled and chopped

3 cloves garlic, peeled and cut into chunks

1 ½ tbsp olive oil and more

2 bay leaves

Salt and pepper to taste

Vinegar and olive oil for serving

 

If you have time soak the lentils but it is not necessary. In the meantime, sauté the onions in olive oil until soft, add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Place the lentils with enough water to cover and bring to a boil, dump the water.  Place the lentils in the pot and cover with 4 cups of boiling water, the onion, garlic, bay leaves, and pepper.  Add the tomato paste and mix until completely diluted.   

 

Simmer for about 40 minutes until soft and thick.  Serve with olive oil and vinegar to taste and accompany it with crispy brown bread and feta.

                                            GREEK AVGOLEMONO SOUP

 6 bone-in, skin in chicken thighs

8 cups cold water

¼ large, peeled onion

2 tbsp peppercorns

1 tbsp salt

4 large eggs

¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

 

For serving:

½ a lemon, thinly sliced

Fresh dill

Freshly ground black pepper

 

Place the chicken, water, onion, peppercorns and salt in a large saucepan. Cover and bring to the boil skimming the scum.  Lower the heat and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

 

Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and strain the stock through a fine sieve and place in a saucepan and discard the solids.  Also, discard any fat from the top of the stock.  Reserve 2 cups of stock in a measuring cup and return the remaining stock to the saucepan and keep warm over low heat.

 

When the chicken is cold enough to handle shred and discard the skin and bones and set aside. Bring the stock to a boil, add the rice and cook al dente for about 10 – 15 minutes.  Stir in the shredded chicken and reduce the heat to low.

 

Whip the eggs until light and fluffy about 4 minutes, while whipping pour in the lemon juice.  Slowly pour in the 2 cups of water into the egg and lemon mixture.  Add the avgolemono back into the pot with the chicken and rice to combine.

 

 

                                             TOMATO AND BASIL BISQUE

 

1 kg (2 lb) tomatoes, halved, deseeded, grated, skins discarded

2 ½ cups yogurt

Salt and

Pepper to taste

Fresh basil, plus extra

 

Grated Parmesan

Olive oil

 

Cook first 5 ingredients, over low heat, stirring often for 30 minutes until perfectly cooked.  Taste for seasoning and react accordingly. 

 

Ladle into soup plates and sprinkle with grated Parmesan, chopped basil, and drizzle with a little olive oil.  

   

 

 PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID - 19 SO THAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD AND YOU WILL REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE, DESPITE THE PANIC ABOUT THE OMICRON VARIANT