Below you will find tips and techniques you can use to help you around the kitchen. Some of these apply particularly when preparing Greek food but overall they will help you spend less time in the kitchen and at the same time make your food tastier!

• When preparing French fries add a whole onion to the fryer or pot and let it cook with the potatoes. The French fries will get an extra flavor you will love.
• When preparing fish-soup add a whole potato in the stock. Blend it before serving and you will get a thicker and richer soup.
• In order to make fried fish, meat or vegetables crunchier and tastier, coat before frying with coarse maize flour mixed with plain flour.
• When preparing the Greek orzo with chicken, lamb or seafood don’t hesitate to add plenty of olive oil. The orzo won’t become sticky and mushy and it will be good to eat even when cold.
• This is the fastest and easiest way to slice cherry tomatoes into halves.
• Add salt and pepper to your salad just before serving otherwise, it will become soft and watery.
• When reheating a cheese pie or any other Greek pie, use the toaster or oven (in low temperature) and avoid the microwave. The pie will become crunchy again and evenly heated.
• Always season white savoury sauces like béchamel with white pepper.
• Watch here how to separate egg yolks and egg whites.
• When preparing legumes like lentils, chickpeas or white beans add the salt and lemon juice at the end of the cooking time since both ingredients delay the cooking.
• The ratio of dry herbs to fresh herbs is 1:3.
• Cakes are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• To prevent bubbles when preparing tarts with pastry, prick the pastry with a fork, cover with baking paper and fill with a layer of beans or chickpeas concentrating on the edges.
• Season fish or chicken nuggets with salt after frying them (not when coating) or else the crust will come off.
• Use Lebanese bread instead of ordinary pizza dough for a crispy thin homemade pizza.
• To prevent a skin from forming on the surface of any sauce (like béchamel) place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface while it is still hot.
• Taste the food you are preparing along the way and not just at the end of cooking time, as it might be too late to make any adjustments.
• When baking, always sieve the flour and cocoa first, as sifting is the secret to creating light and fluffy cakes or cookies.
• Instead of sautéing onion, try to steam it in the pan with just a little bit of water until it softens. This technique makes everyday food lighter and healthier.