The Real Greek

Greek Chicken Skewers + The Real Greek Cookbook Giveaway

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You know that frustrating feeling when you go to a restaurant, you have the most *amazing* dish and you know that you won’t for the life of you be able to have this again ever because the restaurant has an ever-changing menu and they won’t give you a recipe so you can make it yourself at home? SO FRUSTRATING!

Well, that won’t happen with The Real Greek.

Not only do they keep classics and favourites right and centre on their menu all year round, but they also just released a cookbook running you through those same recipes that have made their success on London’s restaurant scene.

The Real Greek Cookbook with Tonia Buxton

A stunning collaboration between the team of experienced chefs at The Real Greek and the restaurant’s consultant Tonia Buxton, the cookbook is a comprehensive guide to creating restaurant standard food at home.

From delicious meze dishes to scrumptious feast, it’s the perfect companion for beginners and well-read foodies alike to explore the wonders of Greek food.

Greek Chicken Skewers from The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

With over 100 recipes to choose from, deciding where to start was no easy job, but I decided to try recreating one of the dishes we indulged in at The Real Greek cookbook launch: Marinated chicken skewers.

The ones we had at the restaurant were simply beautiful: tender chuncks of chicken with sweet pepper and onion pieces, basted in a light and fresh marinade, with the subtle flavour of the charcoal there had been cooked over.

Greek Chicken Skewers from The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

So I was curious to see if I could achieve the same results at home.

And the good news is, I did! …oh, and there’s another good news!

I teamed up with Blink Publishing to give out a copy of The Real Greek with Tonia Buxton cookbook so you also get to cook restaurant-worthy Greek recipes from the comfort of your own home!

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Greek Chicken Skewers from The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Chicken Skewers (serves 4-6)

Ingredients: 6 chicken breasts (boneless and skinless, cut into 3cm chunks), 1 small red pepper (deseeded), 1 small yellow pepper (deseeded), 1 red onion; For the marinade: 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp freshly chopped rosemary, 1 tsp freshly chopped thyme leaves, 1 tsp ground paprika, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. In a large bowl, mix together the ingredients for the marinade. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken chunks, coating them well, then marinade for at least 1 hour, but preferably longer (ideally overnight in the fridge).

2. Cut the peppers into 2 cm pieces. Quarter the onion and cut the leaves into 2cm pieces.

3. Soak 6 wooden skewers to prevent them from charring. When ready to cook, thread the chicken, peppers and onion alternately onto the skewers. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Cook under a medium-hot grill or in a griddle pan for 8-10 minutes, turning every couple of minutes and basting with any remaining marinade.

5. Cut each skewer in half and arrange crossways on individual serving plates.

I served my Greek chicken skewers with a side of tzatziki and pan-fried pepper slices, but lemon mayonnaise would also work well.

A’meze’ing, isn’t it?

The Real Greek with Tonia Buxton, RRP £20, out now, Blink Publishing

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Greek Chicken Skewers + The Real Greek Cookbook Giveaway

Greek Feast at The Real Greek

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If you can’t go to Athens, let Athens come to you.

Which, short of the view, is just what The Real Greek does!

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Modeled after traditional Greek tavernas, The Real greek offers a wide range of inexpensive Greek mezze, all designed by Greek cooking goddess Tonia Buxton.

Perfect for a quick lunch or to linger over a few nibbles and a chilled bottle of wine with a big bunch of your favourite people!

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + WhiskyThe Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Over-ordering non-comulsory but very much recommended!

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Creamy Houmous, rich in tahini and delicately spiced with cumin and fresh chilli.

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Melitzanosalata, a light and fragrant blend of smoked aubergine, garlic, shallot and lemon.

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

All scooped up with warm Greek flatbread!

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + WhiskyThe Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Crisp & morish Tiropitakia, filled with with creamy leek, spinach and feta.

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

An absolute triumph!

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Zesty Revithia, a traditional chickpea salad with handfuls of herbs, olive oil and lemon.

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Hearty Gigandes Plaki, slow-cooked in a rich and herby tomato sauce.

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Beer-battered salt cod.

Perfect to replenish your stock of minerals!

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Delightful with a little squeeze of lemon!

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Tonia’s Prawns with feta

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Finger licking tiger prawns with tomato sauce, feta and a hint of Ouzo, and pretty much the essence of summer in a bowl.

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Grilled octopus with Greek oregano.

A standout dish and my absolute favourite.

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Lamb meatballs.

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + WhiskyThe Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Greek salad, obviously.

Classic, hearty, rustic and an absolute must-order!

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Though the Couscous salad is also a good choice and pairs especially well with grilled meats.

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Put everything in the middle of the table, pour everyone a glass of chilled Greek rosé and nibble your way through!

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

And if pudding isn’t much of a thing in Greece, where sweets are traditionally eaten inbetween meals rather than at the end of them, you sure shouldn’t overlook them at The Real Greek!

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Greek yoghurt with walnuts in syrup.

Not much of a looker, but the perfect way to end the meal on an indulgent, yet healthy note.

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Greek filo custard pie is just the opposite: rich and indulgent, it’s an absolute delight!

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

But nothing a big cup of Greek Mountain Tea can’t counter-act.

Full of anti-oxydants, and very delicate in flavour, it encapsulates the spirit of Greek food perfectly: super tasty, sort of healthy, perfect for sharing.

A-mezze-ing!

All you need now is getting everyone together and book a table at one of The Real Greek’s 8 London locations.

The Real Greek Cookbook | Cake + Whisky

Or you could have your own little Greek feast at home!

The Real Greek is -finally- releasing a cookbook, full of their best-sellers recipes (including all of the above), from delicious meze dishes to scrumptious feasts of lamb kleftiko and Loukaniko.

Marbleous recipes and an absolute bargain, you’d be a fool not to order it!

 

Greek Feast at The Real Greek