Photos of Santorini

Santorini volacano

Faros

Road to Akrotiri

Fira

Light-house in Akrotiri

Oia

View of the Caldera from Fira

Santorini Salad

Ingredients:

• 10-15 Santorini cherry tomatoes cut in halves
• 4-5 fresh, finely cut lettuce leaves
• 2-3 garden rocket leaves
• 1 medium-sized rusk, cut to bites
• 1 small-diced onion
• 4-5 olives
• 1 anchovy cut to small pieces
• 1 tablespoon caper
• 1 tablespoon ricotta cheese (or myzithra)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt
• Freshly – grounded pepper
  

Preparation:

1. Place half the rusk bites at the bottom of a large bowl and top them with the finely cut lettuce, the cherry tomatoes, a pinch of salt, the onion and the rocket.
2. Add the rest of the rusk bites, the caper, the olive oil and the cheese.
3. Let the salad rest for about 10 minutes and then serve.
   

Thirasia

Even though Thirasia is located very close to Santorini, it is very far away from the fast pace by which those opposite live. It is as if the volcano’s explosion in 1600BC was so definitive that it kept the two islands from ever uniting again. From the moment you set foot on Thirasia you will understand that you have come to a place that is impenetrable by tourism. As you walk through the two unique settlements of the island, Potamo and Manola, you will come across narrow pathways where genuine islanders walk. You will not only be won over by the human simplicity, but also by the beauty of the settlements that, when you look at from afar with the naked eye, appear to have a printed colour. The church-towers and houses are colored with the bright shades of blue, yellow and green.

During the winter time there aren’t more than 200 inhabitants on the island. Together with Oia, Thirasia constitutes an autonomous community in terms of administration. The only visitors of the island are relatives of inhabitants and those who go by kayak on tourist excursions.
If you visit Thirasia by kayak and disembark at Korfos, you can reach Manolas only by donkey or on foot. Alternatively you can go to Riva, the main harbor of Thirasia, by ferry boat from Athinios, or by small boat from Ammoudi which operate according to a regular schedule. There is a sandy beach here as well as the country church of St Irene. A little further up, as you follow the path from the main road to Potamo, you will reach Panagia of Lagadi. In order to get a complete picture of the island make sure you visit the monastery of the Assumption, that can be reached by following the pathway from Manolas.

The three stong points of Santorini

In case you do not have much time and not know where to go first, here are the three top things you do not want to miss:

1. The Akrotiri, where the archaeological settlement of the pre-historic Thira is situated.
2. The museum of Pre-historic Thira in Fira. You will be impressed with the findings exhibited there.
3. The world-famous sunset of Oia. People from all over the world come to live this unique experience!

Yellow split pea puree (fava)

Serves 8 people

Ingredients:

• 500gr yellow split peas
• 1 medium onion
• ½ cup olive oil
• salt, pepper
• finely chopped parsley
• finely chopped onion
• juice of 1 lemon
  

Preparation:
Wash the split peas, place them in a pot, cover with water and let them boil. Skim off the scum that forms on the top of the water.
Add the onion quartered, a little salt, half the olive oil, and let it simmer for 1 hour until the peas are soft and have acquired the consistency of thick porridge.
Put the split peas through a food mill until they are a smooth puree. Add the rest oil, the lemon juice, the finely chopped onion and a little more salt and pepper. Stir and garnish with the finely chopped parsley.

Tomatokeftedes (tomato balls)

Ingredients:

• 2 onions
• 1kg Santorinian tomatoes (cherry tomatoes)
• 2 potatoes
• 2 zucchinis
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1 tablespoon soda
• 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
• salt, pepper
• flour
  

Preparation:

Grate the onions, tomatoes(4-5 normal-sized tomatoes if cherry tomatoes cannot be found), potatoes, zucchinis and add peppermint, basil, soda, salt, pepper, one tablespoon of tomato paste and as much flour needed until the mixture becomes puree. We take the mixture with the spoon and one by one spoonful we fry it on strong fire.

Sandsmelt fish pie (Αθερινόπιτα)

recipe from "Kyra Katina" at Ammoudi
For 1-2 persons

Ingredients:

• ¼ kg sandsmelt fish
• 1 medium sized onion
• 1 tablespoon peppermint
• Salt and pepper
• A little flour
  

Preparation:
In a bowl put the sandsmelt fish, onion (chopped) peppermint, salt, pepper and a little bit of flour. Mix the ingredients until they become one integrated mixture. Pour oil into a frying pan, lay the mixture to be fried as an omelet and turn it over.