Greece A to Z: L
15 entries from the Greece A to Z Travel Dictionary, starting with L. Search or filter them here, or open another letter.
Laiki agora
PracticalThe weekly street market held in every Greek neighbourhood, the cheapest place to buy fruit, vegetables and fish.
#Lavrio
PracticalThe third port of Attica, about 60 km south east of central Athens and roughly half an hour from the airport. It is the usual departure point for Kea and Kythnos, with less frequent sailings on to Lemnos and the north eastern Aegean. Check the ticket: most Athens departures are from Piraeus.
#Lefkada
RegionAn Ionian island connected to the mainland by a causeway and floating bridge, so it's reachable by car, with beaches like Porto Katsiki ranked among Greece's best.
#Lemnos
RegionA north Aegean island of wheat fields, sand dunes and empty beaches, with a large Venetian and Byzantine castle above Myrina.
#Leoforos
PracticalAvenue. Greek addresses are usually Odos or Leoforos plus the street name and number.
#Leros
RegionA Dodecanese island of deep bays and Italian era architecture at Lakki, with a Byzantine castle above.
#Lesvos
RegionA large north Aegean island known for ouzo from Plomari, a petrified forest, olive groves and serious birdwatching.
#Levante Ferries
PracticalThe Ionian operator, linking Kyllini with Zakynthos and with Poros on Kefalonia, and Patras with Sami on Kefalonia and Pisaetos on Ithaca. It does not serve Corfu.
#Liatiko
DrinkAn early ripening Cretan red grape, pale in colour, made both dry and sweet.
The classic plate to drink it with, kleftiko
#Limnio
DrinkA red grape from Limnos, one of the oldest named Greek varieties still in commercial use.
The classic plate to drink it with, pastitsio
#Lipsi
RegionA very small Dodecanese island near Patmos, with a single village and a handful of beaches.
#Litochoro
RegionThe village at the foot of Mount Olympus and the starting point for most walks up the mountain.
#Logariasmo, ton parakalo
PhraseThe bill, please. In Greece the bill is almost never brought until you ask.
#Loukoumades
FoodHoney drenched fried dough puffs dusted with cinnamon, one of the oldest Greek sweets.
#Loukoumi
Food'Greek delight', soft, fragrant jellied squares dusted with sugar, a speciality of the island of Syros.
How to make Loukoumi
- Serves
- Makes 36 pieces
- Time
- Prep 30 min, cook 1 hr 15 min plus setting overnight
Ingredients
- 800g granulated sugar
- 500ml water
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 120g cornflour
- 1 tsp cream of tartar
- 350ml cold water, for the starch
- 1 tbsp rosewater, or a pinch of ground mastiha
- 60g cornflour and 60g icing sugar, mixed, for dusting
Method
- Boil the sugar, 500ml of water and the lemon juice to 118C, 245F, the soft ball stage, then set aside.
- In a second heavy pan, whisk the 120g of cornflour and the cream of tartar into the 350ml of cold water until completely lump free.
- Heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens into a translucent paste.
- Pour the hot syrup into the paste in a slow stream, whisking hard the whole time.
- Simmer on the lowest heat for 60 to 75 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until it is thick, pale gold and pulls away from the side of the pan.
- Stir in the rosewater or mastiha.
- Pour into a 20cm tin lined and dusted with the cornflour and icing sugar mix, and level the top.
- Leave uncovered overnight at room temperature. Do not refrigerate, it weeps.
- Turn out, cut into cubes with an oiled knife and roll every cut face in the dusting mix.