Ntakos is a Cretan Salad and the name of the rusk on which the salad is made. It is also called Koukouvagia in Crete, which means owl but to be frank I don’t know why they are so called. Probably because the rusks look like the owl’s eyes :) Ntakos is a lovely mezes or a light meal on its own and very healthy.
From all the places I have been in Greece, Crete is my favourite. The Cretan people are wonderful and very hospitable. Wherever you go they will offer you tsikoudia also called raki or what is called tsipouro in other parts of Greece and Zivania in Cyprus.
It is the traditional Cretan alcoholic drink, which is made from the leftovers of the grapes when making wine. The pomace is distilled and what is produced is a very strong drink containing 35 – 65% alcohol. It has a very strong taste and this you will receive as a treat from the locals in every village, city, restaurant, or coffee shop. Even when traveling on the Cretan ships you will be offered tsikoudia. By accepting it is a confirmation of a new friendship and part of the welcoming procedure. A couple of shots are enough to make you stumble so don’t overdo it if you don’t want to get drunk. Their food is fantastic. Spicy and aromatic. There isn’t a single herb you can’t find in Crete. When we were traveling to Sfakia, we stopped near the edge of a gorge and I picked some sage. Travelling around you will see the goats on all hillsides, and maybe that’s the reason the meat is so nice and tasty. As for their cheeses, most of them are unique and not made in other parts of Greece, staka, malaka, xynomyzithra, myzithra, graviera, kefalograviera the list is endless.
No wonder why every neighbourhood in Athens, has its Cretan products’ shop.
There is one just near my house and today I got the barley rusks and myzithra. Most of the herbs I have I’ve brought them from Crete when I visited during summer.
One of our favourite things we used to eat in Crete is Dakos. Barley rusks, either big or small ones, wet under the tap just for a few seconds or quickly dipped into a bowl with water then pure extra olive oil is added, finely cubed or grated tomatoes on top and soft fresh myzithra cheese and feta cheese, salt and oregano and oil again on top.
Ingredients for 4:
- 4 small barley rusks
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, on each
- 2 large tomatoes, cubed
- salt
- freshly ground black pepper (optional)
- 50-100 gr xynomyzithra
- 50 gr. of crumbled feta cheese
- 50-100 gr. myzithra
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- A few capers and olives
Note: xynomyzithra is produced only in Chania and is something between feta and myzithra. It is a wonderful mezes (hors d’oeuvres) by itself and sometimes in Chania they add xinomyzithra in their Greek salad instead of feta.
Enjoy a slide show of Chania, Crete.
Click on the slide show to see it enlarged.
Tags: Anari, Anthotyro, Greek cheese, healthy, mezes, Myzithra, rusks, salad, Xynomyzithra
December 23rd, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Crete is still on my “to do” list.
Dakos from Cretan barley rusks are delicious and healthy.