Rustic red pasts pebbles (Kokkinos trachanas)
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The dough for this rustic pasta is kneaded with bits of red pepper, squash, potato, ect. and dried in the sun. Thus, summer vegetables are consumed in this form even when out of season.
*Trachanas is a type of rough pasta made all over Greece in July and August. Clumps of stiff dough made with goat milk (fresh or sour), salt, and coarsely ground wheat or semolina are partially dried and then rubbed through a coarse sieve. The pebbly shreds are further dried and stored for soup and other hearty winter dishes.*
Much has been written regarding the origins of trachanas. Many believe that it was introduced to the region by the Ottoman Turks. This primitive "convenience" food appears, however, to be of a much more anciant lineage. Food historians relate it to the tragos of classical and Byzantine Greece which is thought to have derived from the world tragimata which meant "good things to eat". Pliny described it and the Byzantine Geoponica gave a recipe which called for soaking Alexandrian wheat, separating (clumps) and drying in the sun. Hesychians (5th c. AD) equated chondros with tragos in his dictionary. It is telling that the modern Cretan term for trachanas is chondros. These examples all refute the possibility of a "Turkish origin".
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Thracian Yeast Crepes (Langhites)
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2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tbsp dry yeast
1/2 tsp salt
Mix all the ingredients together and add as much water as needed to make a medium batter (similar to crepe batter) Let it rise until doubled in bulk and bubbles form on top. Put a special flat stone slab (known as satsi) over the fire, brush it with oil, and when it is hot, ladle some batter in the center so a thin layer is formed. As soon as bubbles form on top, quickly turn it over and try on the other side. These primitive "crepes" fry up rapidly. You'll probably want to use a regular frying pan. (serves 6)
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