Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Trahanas me Ntomata kai Feta--Trahanas with Tomato and Feta

The other day my husband came home with a package--well, a few packages. Our latest shipment of olive oil, which my father-in-law and mother-in-law send us straight from Agrinio every few months, was in and my hubby drove to Astoria to pick it all up from one of the many Greek shipping companies based there.

In the past, my in-laws have managed to send along a couple of large containers of olive oil as well as a small container of Kalamata olives or some Feta cheese preserved in salt water. With this shipment, however, we not only received our oil and olives but a fourth container filled to the brim with smaller vessels of my beloved thyme honey, homemade hilopites and lots of trahana. We thoroughly appreciate my in-laws' generosity and their willingness to send a little bit of Greece to us every chance they get.

And now onto what all these goodies will become ...

So the heat wave we enjoyed just over a week ago has now subsided and given way to some wet and dreary weather. But I'm not complaining; it is Spring after all ... and all these showers bring all our beautiful flowers. Not to mention that this rainy weather is accompanied perfectly by a good bowl of Trahanosoupa (soup made with trahanas) ... and there's nothing like curling up with a warm bowl of soup while the rain pitter patters across every window around the house.

Trahanosoupa is a simple soup made with sour trahana (which you can read more on here) and either water, chicken broth, beef broth or vegetable broth. Some like to add in a bit of milk but I opt to add some chopped tomato and top it off with some crumbled Feta once done. If you haven't tried trahana yet, I urge you to soon. Beyond soup, trahana makes for a distinct side dish to meats and poultry, a versatile filling for vegetables and a great alternative to bread crumbs.

Try it, you won't be disappointed.




Trahanas me Ntomata kai Feta--Trahanas with Tomato and Feta

1 cup sour trahana
3 cups water
2 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1 small to medium tomato, diced
6 ounces Feta, crumbled
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Finely chopped parsley (to garnish)

In a saucepan combine the trahana, water, broth and tomato and bring to a boil. Stir well, reduce heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes stirring often.

Season with salt and pepper and ladle into serving bowls. Top with crumbled Feta and chopped parsley and serve immediately.

12 comments:

Peter G | Souvlaki For The Soul said...

I love my care packages from Greece too! The trahanas is prepared so simply and this allows its true flavours to come through. Very comforting Maria.

Ivy said...

I feel like making trahanas right now. This is almost like the way we make it in Cyprus but instead of feta we halloumi.

Maria Verivaki said...

aren't these gifts a delight!
most people dont understand how precious this gesture is to us, to have food sent from abroad.
i can just imagine your faces as you open up your packages - most people liken food packages with a war effort!

Anonymous said...

This soup sounds delicious! I've never had a sour trahana before! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

gastroanthropologist said...

I feel in love with feta on my trip to greece a few summers back. The real greek feta is hard to recreate. I find most "fetas" outside of greece to be too salty and not as creamy.

You must so love getting those Greek packages.

Its cold again in London this week so I think I must try this soup.

Betty's Cuisine said...

Feta tastes great in combination with trahanas. This soup is really delicious!

Teresa Cordero Cordell said...

Maria, just wanted to take the opportunity to wish you a Happy Mother's Day.

shambo said...

Hi! I just discovered your blog. For some reason my family did not eat trahanas, so I've never tasted it. But you've convinced me that I'll have to pick some up and give it a try.

FoodJunkie said...

What a great joy these packages must be for you! Trahanas is an underestimated ingredient, but once you get to like it, there is no turning bakc!

Janet @Gourmet Traveller 88 said...

This is a very special soup. I learn more about Greek cooking from great greek foodbloggers and you are one of them. I do not want to eat at the Greek restaurant in Germany anymore, the food is too standard. I would love to try your recipes soon in the future : )

Thistlemoon said...

How lucky you are to receive these awesome care packages! :) This dish looks great!

Peter M said...

Your in-laws are awesome to send you a "care package" from Greece...and on a regular basis!

I'm slowly getting into traxana...your dish here is helping me greatly. Looks and sounds very tasty.