SPICY TIC TAC TOE

When my friends gather at my house, sometimes they ask me if there is something to eat or to order food delivery … I always answer something like that “we don’t need to order, I will cook...something…” so I open the fridge and I try easy recipes for quick meals. In a similar situation an idea of a spicy tic tac toe came on my mind. Keep it in mind; the preparation process is really easy and it catches visitors' eyes.

Ingredients

1-2 cucumbers 

½ kg.  Touloumisio or soft feta cheese

3 tablespoons strained yogurt (in case you use feta cheese)

1 tablespoon white vinegar

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 chili green pepper

1 red pepper

½ tablespoons hot red paprika powder

Steps

Preheat oven at 200 degrees Celsius. Wash the cucumber and cut it at medium pieces as in the picture. Remove the soft inner part (you can use it to make Tzatziki instead of throwing it away) and place the pieces of cucumber at a serving dish. In a bowl crumble the feta using a fork (Touloumisio is already crumbled), put in the vinegar, the olive and the yogurt and mix well. Put the peppers in the oven and bake them till they slightly brown on both sides turning them once. Let them cool a little bit. Take another bowl and put in the half portion of the mixture. Peel the peppers, remove the seeds and crumble them. Put the crumbled green pepper in the first bowl and the red pepper at the second bowl. At the second bowl add the paprika. Combine well. Now that the mixtures are ready, fill some cucumber pieces with the white mixture and the rest with the red. You can garnish with mint leaves the pieces with the white mixture. Place sticks at the serving dish so as to resemble a tic tac toe (I used sticks for Souvlaki, you can use Chinese sticks.  Use your imagination…you can find something better). 

Ready for a tic tac toe game!!!

Tips

Touloumisio is a traditional cheese that is made in some regions of Greece. The way that is produced is the same as Feta except for the last stage of hardening, that’s why it has quite the same flavor as feta but its texture is much more soft.

You can adjust the proportions of chili peppers and paprika depending on your preferences. Don’t forget some like it hot!

CERTAINLY not A GOURMET SAUCE

This time I am going to show you how to make tzatziki! Tzatziki is a dip with main ingredient the yogurt that Greeks cook it all the time. It is also definitely a must-have appetizer when you visit a Greek tavern. As well as don't forget to add to your gyros. Now I must warn you to avoid it in case you have planned a romantic evening; as you know garlic smell is quite repulsive....

Ingredients

250 gr. strain yogurt 
1 peeled cucumber 
3 tbsps. olive oil
1 tbsp. white vinegar
1/2 tbsp. garlic powder
2 tbsps. finely chopped fresh dill
A pinch of salt 




Steps

Grate the cucumber and strain it. Mix the rest ingredients until all ingredients are well combined. Add the cucumber and mix again. Put it in fridge for a couple of hours and it is ready to be served. It can be preserved at fridge for 2-3 days. Optionally you can use one or two gloves of garlic instead of garlic powder. Just smash it before you use it. 

Good luck!