Taste Greece in Rhodes

Featured Greek Destination: Pylea Beach Hotel

If you enjoy the authentic Greek recipes on this blog, you'll love experiencing them in Rhodes.

Beachfront hotel • Traditional Greek cuisine • Family hospitality

When the Heatwave Hits, Keep Dessert Simple

When temperatures climb like they have across Europe this week, turning on the oven is probably the last thing anyone wants to do. That's exactly when the simplest desserts are often the most satisfying.

A bowl of fresh seasonal fruit is hard to beat. Juicy peaches, sweet strawberries, ripe melon, cherries, blueberries—whatever looks best at the market. Cut everything into bite-sized pieces, chill well, and serve straight from the fridge. If you like, add a squeeze of lemon or lime, a few fresh mint leaves, or a sprinkle of toasted nuts for a little extra texture.

No baking, no fuss, just refreshing, colourful fruit at its best. Sometimes the perfect summer dessert is also the easiest one.

What's your favourite fruit combination for a hot summer day?

Berry Almond Yogurt Cake

This soft yogurt loaf cake was born from a very generous summer harvest. My garden has been especially prolific this year, giving me an abundance of fresh raspberries and blueberries. Naturally, I wanted to turn them into something simple, comforting, and homemade.

This cake combines those garden berries with Greek yogurt and ground almonds for a moist, tender crumb and a subtle nutty flavor. Lightly scented with lemon, it’s an easy everyday bake—perfect for breakfast, afternoon coffee, or a not-too-sweet dessert that lets the fruit shine.

Easy Homemade Hummus (Houmous) Dip

I won’t pretend I nailed hummus on my first attempt… or even my second. I honestly don’t know why, because it turns out it’s one of the simplest and most satisfying dips to make at home.

A big thank you to Katia (my former Zumba teacher, who makes the most delicious hummus ever) for sharing her recipe, and to Aneta for introducing me to Zumba in the first place—and indirectly to this obsession with hummus!

So what is hummus? It’s a creamy Lebanese-style dip made from chickpeas, and once you start making it at home, it’s hard to go back to store-bought versions.

Spaghetti Carbonara, excellent for debutant cookers!

Happy bday Carbonara!!! 80 years this year! (rumors say that it was invented in 1944 to use the american bacon) Here's how it is linked to our family history below ;)

When I met hubby, I was impressed; I did not know how to cook and he knew how to cook one recipe: Carbonara! No surprise, ages later, our son, picks up the same recipe to start his cooking career, although he is way more experienced in cooking than we were at his age :) In a busy day like today, he proposed to cook and my, I am soooo grateful!

So, find today the original italian recipe, that is excellent for beginners like students. As always, enjoy!  

Fasolakia: A Taste of Greek Summer

Summer is the perfect season to enjoy Fasolakia, one of Greece's most beloved traditional dishes. Made with fresh green beans, tomatoes, onions, and olive oil, this simple recipe is a wonderful example of Mediterranean home cooking at its best.

Fasolakia is one of those timeless recipes that proves you don't need complicated ingredients to create a delicious and satisfying meal. Serve it with feta cheese and crusty bread for a true taste of a Greek summer table.

This recipe is featured in my cookbook Vivian Is Cooking: Greek, where you'll find many authentic Greek family favorites, from meze and main dishes to traditional desserts.

I'm also excited to share that my second cookbook, Vivian Is Baking, is coming soon! It will include a collection of my favorite cakes and desserts, from Greek classics to popular international treats.

If you've never tried Fasolakia before, now is the perfect time while green beans are in season. I hope you enjoy this simple, healthy, and flavorful Greek classic.

Happy cooking!

Vivian

Greek Striped Petit-Beurre Fridge Cake (Vanilla & Chocolate Cream)

A nostalgic no-bake Greek dessert made with Petit-Beurre biscuits and a rich homemade buttercream, divided into vanilla and chocolate layers. An easy alternative is the Greek Chocolate Biscuit Cake (Mosaic dessert/Kormos)

The biscuits are assembled in a unique vertical-style structure and coated with alternating creams, creating beautiful striped slices when cut diagonally. 

A true “mom’s recipe” dessert, simple yet impressive, perfect for making ahead.

Cherry clafoutis (clafoutis aux cerises in french)

🌟 Difficulty	⏱️ Time	🍽️ Serves
★ Easy	1 hr	8–10

Cherry clafoutis (clafoutis aux cerises in french) is a classic french dessert for summer that is pretty easy to make. It has actually fresh cherries in a rich custard that you can serve warm or at room temperature.
Traditional clafoutis is made with cherries that have still their pits that french say that make a difference in taste. I have used ready-made cherries that have already been pitted and preserved in a light syrup, though. It's so easy to make and so summerish that I could not resist to add it to my blog that time of the year! And if you are among the lucky ones that have a cherry tree, here's how to use your extra cherries :)

Happy & tasty summer !

Tabbouleh, the healthy and so fresh salad!

When I first discovered tabbouleh salad, the whole family immediately loved it—especially during hot summer days. It’s fresh, light, healthy, and incredibly easy to prepare.

There are many variations of tabbouleh depending on personal taste, and that’s exactly what makes this salad so enjoyable. Once you know the basics, you can easily adapt it with your favorite ingredients.

Greek Green Beans in Tomato Sauce (Fasolakia)

A traditional Greek recipe that is healthy, comforting, and full of flavor — perfect for vegetarians and lovers of Mediterranean cuisine alike!

Fasolakia is a classic Greek “ladera” dish made with green beans slowly cooked in a rich tomato sauce with olive oil, onions, and herbs. Simple yet incredibly flavorful, it’s one of the staples of Greek home cooking, especially during the summer when fresh green beans are in season (though frozen beans work well year-round too). Served warm or at room temperature with feta cheese and crusty bread, it’s a wholesome everyday meal enjoyed across Greece.

Top Greek Recipes to Try First from Vivian is Cooking GREEK

If you recently got my cookbook Vivian is Cooking GREEK, first of all… thank you so much for supporting my work 💙

After sharing my recipes online for more than 13 years, creating this cookbook has truly been a special journey for me. Every recipe inside has been tested many times in my own kitchen and shared with family, friends, students, blog readers — and now with all of you around the world.

Many readers ask me: “Which recipes should I try first?” So here are the ones I personally recommend starting with...

Rhubarb Tart with Almond Cream

🌟 Difficulty	⏱️ Time	🍽️ Serves
★★ Easy	~1 h 15	8–10

I have a big rhubarb plant growing in my garden, so this year I finally decided it was time to try baking with it. After searching for a reliable recipe, I found one that seemed both simple and elegant — and I’m glad I gave it a try. (Check also my French Pear Tart)

To be honest, it was also my very first time tasting rhubarb. I found it interesting: slightly tangy, fresh, and very different from most fruits I usually bake with. My family was a little hesitant at first too (especially after learning that rhubarb leaves are toxic and should never be eaten!), but the tart itself turned out beautifully.

What truly won me over was the combination of the buttery crust and the rich almond cream, which pairs wonderfully with the tartness of the rhubarb. Even if rhubarb is not your favorite fruit, this recipe is absolutely worth trying — and the same base would work beautifully with many other fruits as well. I will definitely experiment with more variations in the future.

Layered Jello Dessert, for summer parties!

🌟 Difficulty ⏱️ Time 🍽️ Serves

★★ Easy 30 min + chilling 8–10

When temperatures rise and barbecue season begins, it’s time for desserts that are refreshing, light, and easy to share. This layered jello dessert is one of those nostalgic summer classics that instantly brings back family gatherings and childhood memories.

With soft biscuits soaked in fruit syrup, creamy vanilla pastry cream, juicy fruit, and a colorful jello topping, this dessert is simple, refreshing, and always a crowd-pleaser. It is also one of those desserts that looks much more impressive than the effort it actually requires — perfect for summer parties, birthdays, or warm evenings with friends.