Chef Dimitra

Chef Dimitra

Greek Sauces: Avgolemono, Ladolemono & Besamel

Updated June 6, 2026

The sauces that carry the cuisine. Avgolemono done so it sets like silk instead of scrambling, the besamel for the baked classics, the spiced meat and tomato sauces under pastitsio, ladolemono and ladorigani for grilled fish and meat, Corfu's savoro, and the pickle jar.

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Toursi Lachanikon Makedonias (Τουρσί Λαχανικών Μακεδονίας) - Chef Dimitra

Chef Dimitra

Toursi Lachanikon Makedonias (Τουρσί Λαχανικών Μακεδονίας)

Macedonian toursi is the winter pickle jar of northern Greece: cauliflower, carrot, celery and pepper held crisp in vinegar brine, ready for beans, lentils, tsipouro, and fasting tables.

Macedonian Ladoxido (Λαδόξιδο) - Chef Dimitra

Chef Dimitra

Macedonian Ladoxido (Λαδόξιδο)

Macedonian ladoxido is the Greek table's oil-and-vinegar dressing, sharper than ladolemono, built for horta, beans, cabbage, and anything that needs good olive oil and a clean bite.

Athenian Saltsa Kima (Σάλτσα Κιμά) - Chef Dimitra

Chef Dimitra

Athenian Saltsa Kima (Σάλτσα Κιμά)

Athenian saltsa kima is minced beef, tomato, cinnamon, and allspice, cooked slowly until the sauce tightens and the green-gold oil pools at the top.

Cycladic Kapari Toursi (Κυκλαδίτικη Κάπαρη Τουρσί) - Chef Dimitra

Chef Dimitra

Cycladic Kapari Toursi (Κυκλαδίτικη Κάπαρη Τουρσί)

Cycladic caper buds and tender leaves, soaked until their wild bitterness calms, then packed under vinegar and salt for the sharp little pickle that wakes fava and every ouzo table.

Aegean Islands Ladolemono (Λαδολέμονο) - Chef Dimitra

Chef Dimitra

Aegean Islands Ladolemono (Λαδολέμονο)

Aegean ladolemono is the quick oil-and-lemon sauce for grilled fish, boiled greens, and potatoes: cloudy when beaten hard, sharp enough to wake everything it touches on the plate.

Corfiot Savoro (Σαβόρο Κέρκυρας) - Chef Dimitra

Chef Dimitra

Corfiot Savoro (Σαβόρο Κέρκυρας)

Corfu's savoro is fried small fish steeped in vinegar, rosemary, garlic and black currants, made ahead until the oil, acid and sweetness settle into one bright Ionian sauce.

Kalamata Melitzanaki Toursi (Μελιτζανάκι Τουρσί Καλαμάτας) - Chef Dimitra

Chef Dimitra

Kalamata Melitzanaki Toursi (Μελιτζανάκι Τουρσί Καλαμάτας)

Kalamata's little eggplants are slit, filled with garlic and celery, tied closed, and left under vinegar brine until they turn firm, sour, and ready for the meze plate.

Cypriot Elies Tsakistes (Ελιές Τσακιστές) - Chef Dimitra

Chef Dimitra

Cypriot Elies Tsakistes (Ελιές Τσακιστές)

Cypriot elies tsakistes are green olives cracked open, cured until the fierce bitterness softens, then kept bright with lemon, garlic, coriander seed, and good olive oil.

Thessaloniki Saltsa Domata (Σάλτσα Ντομάτας) - Chef Dimitra

Chef Dimitra

Thessaloniki Saltsa Domata (Σάλτσα Ντομάτας)

Thessaloniki's everyday tomato sauce is softer than the Italian pot: onion melted in olive oil, tomato simmered low, and just enough sweetness to carry pasta, rice, or gemista.

Athenian Besamel for Moussaka and Pastitsio (Μπεσαμέλ Αθηναϊκή) - Chef Dimitra

Chef Dimitra

Athenian Besamel for Moussaka and Pastitsio (Μπεσαμέλ Αθηναϊκή)

Athens gave Greek baking this thick white crown: a cooked butter-flour sauce enriched with eggs and cheese for moussaka, pastitsio, and the Sunday pan.

Epirote Avgolemono Sauce (Αυγολέμονο Ηπείρου) - Chef Dimitra

Chef Dimitra

Epirote Avgolemono Sauce (Αυγολέμονο Ηπείρου)

Epirus avgolemono is egg, lemon and hot broth turned into a pale, silky sauce for dolmades, soups and fricassee. The whole dish depends on slow tempering.

Attica Grill Ladorigani (Λαδορίγανη) - Chef Dimitra

Chef Dimitra

Attica Grill Ladorigani (Λαδορίγανη)

Attica's quick ladorigani is the oil, lemon, and oregano dressing that makes souvlaki taste like souvlaki. Bruise the rigani first, then let good olive oil do its work.

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