Blog

5 reasons ouzo isn't just for drinking

Anise-flavoured aperitifs are adored across the Mediterranean, and in Greece ouzo reigns supreme. More than a shot or sipable spirit, ouzo delivers big returns in fried chicken, flambé saganaki and boozy 'Hellenic Mess'.

Chargrilled baby calamari with fried saganaki

Source: Armelle Habib

Taking the classic Eton mess to new, Greek heights, this trifle-like dessert combines meringue and vanilla cream with orange blossom jelly and ouzo-spiked strawberry sauce.  Serve this at your next dinner party for maximum effect.
Hellenic mess
Source: Earl Carter
Forget Korean fried chicken or the Southern American style, kotopoulo tiganito or Greek fried chicken is a flavour explosion like no other. Unlike its poultry peers, this recipe calls for the chicken to be marinated in a garlicky, zesty, ouzo-y marinade, and flavoured with fragrant herbs such coriander, juniper berries and bay leaves, before being fried. Serve with lemon wedges, fried oregano sprigs and, if you’re game, a shot or two of ouzo.
More than a slab of fried cheese, saganaki actually translates to “little frying pan” and refers to any number of Greek dishes cooked in such a vestibule. Here, mussels are bathed in a rich, ouzo-scented tomato sauce, then sprinkled with herbs and feta. It’s a more-ish meze that pairs wonderfully with a crusty loaf of bread.
20120419_65_GREEK--MUSSELS-SAGANAKI-in-tomato-sauce-w-feta.jpg
At Sydney restaurant Apollo, chef Stefano Marano serves up caramelised pineapple cooked in our ol’ friend ouzo, alongside milk crumb, yoghurt parfait, white chocolate and mascarpone. Creamy, textural and with a fresh pineapple zing, this dessert is destined to impress.
Caramelised pineapple frozen yoghurt
Chargrilled seafood and fried saganaki are two quintessential dishes you’ll find at coastal tavernas across Greece. Here, the baby calamari is marinated in olive oil, garlic, Greek oregano (rigani) and lemon juice, before being grilled. The saganaki, meanwhile, is an ouzo-spiked flambé of kefalograviera, a hard, salty, Greek sheep’s-milk cheese. Serve with a classic Greek salad for major holiday vibes.
200612_Feast_Squid_Greek_02.jpg
Chargrilled baby calamari with fried saganaki.
Have we got your attention and your tastebuds? The Chefs’ Line airs every weeknight at 6pm on SBS followed by an encore screening at 9.30pm on SBS Food Network. Episodes will be available after broadcast via SBS On Demand. Join the conversation #TheChefsLine on Instagram @sbsfood, Facebook @SBSFood and Twitter @SBS_Food. Check out sbs.com.au/thechefsline for episode guides, cuisine lowdowns, recipes and more!

Share
SBS Food is a 24/7 foodie channel for all Australians, with a focus on simple, authentic and everyday food inspiration from cultures everywhere. NSW stream only. Read more about SBS Food
Have a story or comment? Contact Us

SBS Food is a 24/7 foodie channel for all Australians, with a focus on simple, authentic and everyday food inspiration from cultures everywhere. NSW stream only.
Watch nowOn Demand
Follow SBS Food
2 min read

Published

Updated

By SBS Food bite-sized
Source: SBS


Share this with family and friends


SBS Food Newsletter

Get your weekly serving. What to cook, the latest food news, exclusive giveaways - straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS On Demand
SBS News
SBS Audio

Listen to our podcasts
You know pizza, pasta and tiramisu, but have you tried the Ugly Ducklings of Italian Cuisine?
Everybody eats, but who gets to define what good food is?
Get the latest with our SBS podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch SBS On Demand
Bring the world to your kitchen

Bring the world to your kitchen

Eat with your eyes: binge on our daily menus on channel 33.