Riganada from Kefalonia

Ριγανάδα - A little taste of the Greek Ionian islands

Published originally on my blog on 2 September 2022

Food from the Greek island of Kefalonia and the island itself always mesmerized me.

The last time I was there was far too long ago, a little over a decade, but recipes from the island are often cooked in my home, following those given to me by friends and acquaintances who are from Kefalonia.

Pastitsada, stewed meat in tomato and spices, will forever be my favorite Kefalonian dish as well as Kreatopita, a luscious meat pie. Riganada is an appetizer, breakfast, snack which isn’t very well known to people who haven’t visited Kefalonia. Beats the Spanish pan con tomate any time of the day if you ask me.

A dish with Venetian influences, as is the case with lots of other dishes from the Greek Ionian Islands, Riganada consists of toasted or dry, stale bread, grated or chopped fresh tomato, olive oil, a little vinegar and lots of Greek wild dried oregano. I rub a garlic clove on the bread because I’m a garlic fiend, but that’s totally optional. Also, some add crumbled feta (the one from Kefalonia is among the best I’ve ever had) or a different white soft goat’s cheese. Your choice.

Riganada from Kefalonia

Traditionally, Riganada is made with stale, dry bread that is soaked very briefly in water to soften a bit. If your bread is too dry, then you can do this too.