Pork with celery and lemon sauce is a delicious and typical Greek dish. Many Greek households prepare it throughout the winter months, but did you know it can also be a wonderful alternative for your Christmas table?
Its refreshing lemon aroma and tender meat create a festive yet lighter option compared to the traditional roast.
For vegetarian guests or for those who prefer not to eat pork, the pork can easily be replaced with mushrooms. The celery-lemon sauce pairs beautifully with earthy flavours, making the dish just as satisfying and aromatic.
What makes this recipe especially appealing is its simplicity. With just a handful of ingredients and very little preparation time, you can serve a meal that feels very homely. It’s also a great way to introduce guests to authentic Greek home cooking, beyond the well-known classics like moussaka or souvlaki.
So why not try something different this year? Explore this Greek recipe, and consider replacing your traditional “turkey” with something else!
Enjoy your meal and happy holidays!
Recipe
Ingredients
1 kilo of pork (shoulder, neck)
2 onions, chopped
1 small glass of dry white wine (optional)
1.5 kilo of celery (root and leaves)
½ teacup of olive oil
2 teacups of homemade meat stock or water
½ teacup of dill, chopped
2 eggs
Juice of 2 lemons
Salt and pepper
Method
Clean the meat and cut it into pieces. In a deep pot, put the olive oil to heat and fry the meat well on all sides until golden brown. Then add the onion and fry it for 2-3 minutes. (Add the wine, if using), add stock or water and let the meat simmer until tender for about 1-1.5 hours. In the meantime you clean, wash and chop the celery root and leaves in medium-sized pieces. Half an hour before the meat is cooked, add salt and pepper, add the celery and dill and continue to let it cook.
For the lemon sauce:
Whisk the egg whites in a bowl until they become thick foam, add the yolks and whisk again. Add the lemon juice and beat slightly. Finally, add a few tablespoons of the hot stock (of the food) to the egg mixture. Remove the meat from the heat and add the lemon sauce slowly and stir gently (make sure the egg does not get cooked).
Serve hot and garnish with freshly cut dill.
Enjoy your meal – Καλή όρεξη!
In the mood for another nice recipe for winter?
Then try the Greek chicken soup
