Psari (fish) Savoro and How to use your leftover rice (Πώς θα αξιοποιήσουμε το ρύζι που μας περίσσεψε)



Μετάφραση της συνταγής στο τέλος

Savoro means sour, and this dish probably has its roots from the Venetian dish “Pesse in saor”, which is found in Cyprus as well as the Ionian Islands as they were both under Venetian rule.

My mother used to make this dish whenever we had leftover fried fish such as red mullet (mullus barbatus), mullet or other cheaper small fish like bogue etc.

The combination of vinegar and rosemary was a method they used to preserve food back when there were no refrigerators but as this is also a delicious mezes they continued making this recipe.

The fish is dredged in flour and fried in olive oil.  A garlic clove is sauteed and vinegar is added.  Then fresh tomato with rosemary and bay leaf are simmered to make a rather thick sauce which the fish is then covered to preserve it.

Mullet or red mullet is an expensive fish and with the economic crisis in Greece, it’s not easy to buy this type of fish very often.  However, sometimes when the catch is abundant, you find it quite cheap at the farmers’ market. Yesterday was one of those days when red mullet was very fresh and at a reasonable price, so I did not miss the chance to buy a small quantity to feed the family.

I made it slightly different but not too different from the original recipe.  I did not add the extra flour to make a roux as I did not want a thick sauce and when I grated the fresh tomato, I mixed in a tablespoon of tomato paste and a tsp of Dijon Mustard, which made all the difference to the sauce in order to serve it with the rice.

How to use your leftover rice:

I always make good use of my leftovers, even before the crisis.  I had some leftover boiled rice pilaf and using ingredients I had in my fridge and pantry, I transformed it into a new dish.  This frugal recipe revived the boring rice pilaf and brought it to another level making it delicious and matched perfectly with the red fish sauce.  I have seen in many recipes that only the white part of the green onion is used.  When it is fresh and tender I always use it in my recipes and it is used like a herb rather than an onion and it adds great flavour when used either raw or cooked.

Rice with Green Onions, halloumi and feta, recipe by Ivy

Preparation time:  10 minutes

Cooking time:  20 minutes

Serves:  4 – 6

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked parboiled long grained rice

2 whole green onions and the green parts of 5 -6 more onions, finely chopped

100 grams halloumi

50 grams feta

50 grams Greek yoghurt

1 egg

1 tbsp olive oil

1 sprig fresh mint, (or 1 tbsp dried mint) finely chopped

1 sprig dill, finely chopped (or 2 – 3 tbsp fresh parsley)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 tsp Greek spice mixture (or use whatever spice you prefer)

1/2 cup dried bread crumbs

Directions:

In a food processor add 1/2 cup rice, the olive oil and the egg and mix.  Remove to a bowl.

In the same food processor add halloumi, feta and yoghurt and mix.  Add in the bowl with all the other ingredients and mix well.

Place in a pyrex and bake in a preheated oven to 180 degrees C / 350 degrees F for about 20 minutes until lightly golden.

The original recipe for Savoro is included in my cookbook Mint, Cinnamon & Blossom Water, Flavours of Cyprus, Kopiaste as well as in Volume 1 of my e-cookbook.

Πώς θα αξιοποιήσουμε το ρύζι που μας περίσσεψε:

Όταν μου περισσεύει κάποιο φαγητό, προσπαθώ πάντα να το αξιοποιήσω με τον πιο καλό τρόπο, δίνοντάς του καινούργια γεύση.  Έτσι έκανα και με το βρασμένο ρύζι πιλάφι που μου περίσσεψε.  Από ένα συνηθισμένο συνοδευτικό έγινε κάτι εντελώς διαφορετικό με υλικά που είχα στο σπίτι.  Βλέπω σε πολλές συνταγές να μη χρησιμοποιούν τα φύλλα από τα φρέσκα κρεμμυδάκια.  Όταν είναι φρέσκα και τρυφερά πάντα τα βάζω στις συνταγές μου είτε ωμά ή μαγειρευτά και τα χειρίζομαι πιο πολύ σαν αρωματικό παρά σαν κρεμμύδι και έτσι προσθέτουν υπέροχη γεύση.

Ρύζι με κρεμμυδάκια φρέσκα, χαλλούμι και φέτασυνταγή της Ήβης

Χρόνος προετοιμασίας:  10 λεπτά

Χρόνος μαγειρέματος:  20 λεπτά

Μερίδες:  4 – 6

Υλικά:

2 κούπες βρασμένο ρύζι για πιλάφι

2 κρεμμυδάκια φρέσκα ολόκληρα και 5 – 6 από το πράσινο μέρος, ψιλοκομμένα

100 γραμμάρια χαλλούμι

50 γραμμάρια φέτα

50 γραμμάρια γιαούρτι στραγγιστό

1 αυγό

1 κουταλιά ελαιόλαδο

1 κλωναράκι φρέσκο διόσμο (ή 1 κουταλιά ξερό), ψιλοκομμένο

1 κλωναράκι άνηθο, ψιλοκομμένο (ή 2 – 3 κουταλιές φρέσκο μαϊντανό)

Αλάτι και φρεσκοτριμμένο μαύρο πιπέρι

½ κ.γ. μείγμα μπαχαρικών (ή άλλο μπαχαρικά της αρεσκείας σας)

1/2 κούπα φρυγανιά τριμμένη

Εκτέλεση:

Βάζουμε στο μούλτι ½ κούπα ρύζι, με το ελαιόλαδο και το αυγό και τα λιώνουμε.  Το ρίχνουμε σε ένα μπωλ.

Στο ίδιο μούλτι λίωνουμε το χαλλούμι και τη φέτα μαζί με το γιαούρτι.  Το ρίχνουμε και αυτό στο μπωλ μαζί με όλα τα υπόλοιπα υλικά και ανακατεύουμε καλά.

Το βάζουμε σε ένα πυρέξ και ψήνουμε σε προθερμασμένο φούρνο στους  180 βαθμούς C / 350 βαθμούς F για περίπου 20 λεπτά μέχρι να πάρουν ένα ελαφρύ χρώμα.

To ρύζι αυτό ήταν συνοδευτικό ενός σαβόρου, λίγο διαφορετικό από την κλασσική συνταγή που περιλαμβάνεται στο βιβλίο μου Mint, Cinnamon & Blossom Water, Flavours of Cyprus, Kopiaste καθώς και στο Volume 1 του e-cookbook.

Similar Recipes / Παρόμοιες συνταγες

Ryzokeftedes (rice fritters)

Ρυζοκεφτέδες

Kopiaste and Kali Orexi,

Solomos Stiffado (salmon stew with onions)

Aside


Stiffado is traditionally made with wild hare or domesticated rabbits as well as beef but new versions have been appearing with chicken, lamb, or sea food. Stiffado is a Greek and Cypriot stew made with lots of onions, which add a sweetness to the dish as well as red wine, vinegar and honey, producing a mildly sweet and sour sauce.

The word “stiffado or stifado” comes from the Italian word “stuffado” which was introduced to Greece and Cyprus by the Venetians. Originally no tomato was included in this dish but after the introduction of the tomato, to the Europeans, after the discovery of America, the Greeks added tomato to this stew. In Cyprus, however, it has kept its original form and is made until today without tomato. The traditional Cypriot recipe is included in my cookbook.

Salmon is not part of Greek or Cypriot cuisine as it has only appeared during recent years. I based this recipe on the Cypriot stiffado, this is why I am including it here, in my Cypriot blog, but as I love fusion cuisine, I have added ingredients which, in my opinion, match with salmon.

Salmon cooks quickly, so after marinating and sautéing the fish, I removed it and cooked the onions for 45 minutes, until soft and the liquid ingredients reduced by 2/3. I then added the fish which I immersed in the sauce, turning it over briefly to absorb the flavour of the sauce.

The dish turned out delicious and very light, as I used minimum amount of olive oil and sweetened the sauce with the addition of orange juice and epsima (grape molasses), called petimezi in Greek.

Solomos (salmon) Stiffado, recipe by Ivy

Preparation time: 10 Minutes
Marinating time: about 1 hour
Cooking time: 45 + 5
Serves: 2 – 3

Ingredients:

500 grams of salmon fillet
1 tbsp olive oil

1/3 cup water

For the marinade

1 tbsp mixed spice mixture
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp orange zest
½ cup orange juice

For stiffado

4 onions, cut into slices
1 big clove garlic, finely cut
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt
1 tsp brown sugar
3/4 cup red dry wine
1 tbsp epsima (grape molasses) or use honey
3 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 bay leaf

Directions:

Wash the salmon and place it in a shallow bowl with all the marinade ingredients.  Cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour.
Cut the fillet in smaller pieces. Heat the olive oil and sauté the salmon on both sides. Remove to a platter.
Add the other tbsp olive oil and sauté the onions until translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for a few minutes and then add the salt and sugar. Keep mixing until they begin to caramelize.
Add the wine, epsima, vinegar, leftover marinade, bay leaf and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover the casserole and simmer until the onions are cooked. Check regularly until the liquids reduce by 2/3.

Add the salmon fillets on top of the onions, gently mix with the onions, cover again with the lid and cook for 5 minutes, turning it after 2 – 3 minutes.

You can serve it with fried potatoes, rice pilaf or mashed potatoes but when on diet, serve it with salad.  Today I served it with ampelofassoula.

Kopiaste and Kali Orexi!

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