No matter where you live, there really is no reason not to be transported to a Greek Island getaway this winter. This issue, I’m sending your tastebuds on a Mediterranean fling to enjoy the warmth of the sun on your skin and the feeling of comfort in your belly.

When it’s breakfast time, why not start the morning with a healthy Greek yoghurt lassi? Probiotics can do wonders for your gut and immune system and Greek yoghurt is a wonderful source of helpful bacteria to stave off winter bugs. Almost 80 per cent of your immune tissue is located in your gut, a place where bad bacteria can flourish, so that part of your immune system can be first in line for attack.

Nourishing your gut with healing good bacteria is a fantastic way to combat winter bugs. Like regular yogurt, Greek yogurt is created from fermented milk, but it’s strained more times than traditional yogurt to remove more whey. As a result, it has a thicker consistency and more protein than regular yogurt. Greek yogurt also contains a larger amount of beneficial bacteria because it is more concentrated.

This moussaka's topping is made with sunflower seeds to satisfy creamy winter cravings and offer you a healthy dose of vitamin E and B vitamins.

If you’re looking for good-quality Greek yogurt, look for a variety that is free from sugar and additives and has the words “contains active cultures” on the label. Sometimes specific probiotic names such as Lactobacillus acidophilus or Lactobacillus casei will be listed, and finding a yogurt with more than one probiotic strain is more beneficial.

If the thought of a cold drink in winter sends shivers down your spine, you can gently warm my lassi on the stove-top. Greek yogurt will not curdle when it is heated.

For lunch, explore a casual dip with my deep-flavoured olive tapenade. There’s a variety of ways it can be used. Try adding it to pizza as a wonderful topping, serve it traditionally in a pitta, stir it though a warmed sweet potato salad or enjoy it on top of a chunk of freshly toasted sourdough or gluten-free bread. It’s also appealing topped with a poached egg and partnered with avocado and a pinch of chilli flakes.

You can also make the most of this tapenade at dinner by dressing up a bowl of pasta or stirring it through a dish of pan-fried zucchini noodles with garlic and lemon.

It’s best made with super-fresh ingredients to really bring out the Mediterranean holiday flavours.

With winter now in full swing, it’s time to tackle the inevitable onslaught of sniffles and sneezes. As beautiful as the change in season is, the inevitable sudden drop in temperature can lead to more colds and flus. If you’re feeling a little sniffly or under the weather, it can help to reduce or remove dairy from your diet.

My colourful moussaka will do the trick at dinnertime, sweeping you off on a sensory experience potent enough to make you believe you’re dancing bare-footed on the white sands of a Mediterranean island. Your guests will certainly be dancing for joy when they immerse themselves in the warming flavours of this vibrant vegetarian dish.

For those whose delicate digestive systems are sensitive to dairy, you’ll embrace the creamy, oozy, “non-cheesy” sauce that delivers deliciousness without the distended belly and stomach-churning gymnastics afterwards. This moussaka’s topping is made with sunflower seeds to satisfy creamy winter cravings and offer you a healthy dose of vitamin E and B vitamins.

Forget the rainy days, cloudy skies and longer nights and enjoy the fragrant scents and flavours of these Mediterranean recipes, which will deliver you to distant, sunny Aegean shores.

Greek Yoghurt Lassi

Serves: 2

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Olive Tapenade

Makes: 250g

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Lentil & Sunflower Seed Moussaka

Serves: 3-4

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Topping & Sunflower Seed Cheese

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