Clean Monday and Koulouma in Greece

Clean Monday means the end of the Carnival and the beginning of the Lent. Traditionally, it symbolizes the manifestation of our love to nature, including the flying of the kite, and the beginning of mental and physical preparation for the Passion Week and the Resurrection, with fasting and devotion.
It is even said that the Clean Monday as a feast has roots in the antiquity and the Dionysia, and was later named "clean" because from the morning the housewives used to clean their utensils from the carnations of the Carnival and the meat slops. 


The "menu" this day includes exclusively the "koulouma", a word produced by the Latin colum, and means "pure". The dishes must be simple and quick, the white bean and the lagana bread (unbreakable bread) stand out, while various salads,  taramas and  olives are common. In various places in Greece there are parades of and revive various cunning customs that have been preserved for centuries.  

Lagana bread

 

Ingredients

• 1 envelope instant dry yeast
• 1 1/2 tablespoon sugar
• 500 gr. all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Sesame seeds

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast, and 150 gr. of the bread flour in 1 cup warm water. Cover and let stand for 15 minutes until begins bubble.
2. Add the rest of the flour, salt and  sugar to the yeast mixture.
3.  knead for 10 minutes by hand.
4. Shape dough into a ball. Rub with olive oil. Place in an oiled bowl, cover and leave to rise. Let stand for 30 minutes until doubled.
5. When dough has risen, remove from bowl and knead until it's down to it's original size.
6. Divide into two balls - if you made the entire amount. Only one ball if you halved it.
7. Lightly oils your pan(s).
8. With a rolling pan, roll out the dough into a flat oval shape about 15 x 6 inches. Cover and let rise for 45-50 minutes until doubled.
9. Place in sheet pan and brush with olive oil and cover with sesame seeds.
10. Bake for 30 minutes in a 450 degree oven until golden brown. Place on wire rack to cool immediately.

Octopus with split peas

 

Ingredients 

• 1 octopus 
• 500 g yellow split peas 
• 1 big onion finely chopped 
• 150 ml olive oil 
• 1 bay leaf 
• 1.5 liters of vegetable broth 
• 100 ml balsamic vinegar
• Salt 
• Pepper 

Instructions 

1. Clean the octopus thoroughly, cut off the hood and bring it in a saucepan with some water. 
2. Broil in low heat until the octopus is tender. 
3. Add oil in the same saucepan where you broiled the octopus and sauté the onions with the bay leaf and the split peas. 
4. Add the vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, stir, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer until the split peas are very mushy and all of the liquid is absorbed, about 30-50 minutes. 
5. Add the balsamic to taste. 
6. Cut the legs off the octopus and bake them on a grill or hot pan with some olive oil and salt and pepper. 
7. Serve with the split peas.