Αν ξεφλουδίσεις πρώτα το μήλο και μετά ρίξεις λίγη κανέλα, το γλυκό γίνεται πιο ελαφρύ.

It introduces the condition, just like if in English.

So the sentence is built as:

• Αν ... = If ...
• το γλυκό γίνεται πιο ελαφρύ = the result

In other words, the first part sets up the condition, and the second part tells you what happens if that condition is met.

Because Greek is focusing on complete, one-time actions:

• ξεφλουδίσεις = peel, as a completed action
• ρίξεις = add/put in, as a completed action

After αν, Greek often uses this perfective non-past form when talking about a possible future action or a general instruction like this.

So:

• αν ξεφλουδίσεις ... και ρίξεις ... = if you peel ... and add ...
• αν ξεφλουδίζεις ... και ρίχνεις ... would sound more like habitual or ongoing action, not the neat sequence of completed steps a recipe-style sentence wants.

Because αν does not normally combine with να or θα in this kind of clause.

A very common learner expectation is something like:

• αν θα... or
• αν να...

But standard Greek does not do that here.

Instead, after αν, you simply use the appropriate verb form:

• Αν ξεφλουδίσεις...
• Αν ρίξεις...

If you want a future marker, it usually appears in the main clause, not inside the αν-clause.

Because the sentence is phrased as a general result or recipe truth:

• το γλυκό γίνεται πιο ελαφρύ = the dessert becomes lighter / comes out lighter

This sounds like whenever you do this, that is the result.

If you wanted to talk about one specific future case, you could also say:

• το γλυκό θα γίνει πιο ελαφρύ

That would mean something closer to the dessert will become lighter in that particular instance.

So:

• γίνεται = general result
• θα γίνει = specific future result

Yes, you is understood from the verb endings.

Greek often leaves out subject pronouns because the verb form already shows the person:

• ξεφλουδίσεις = you peel
• ρίξεις = you add

So Greek does not need an explicit εσύ here.

You could add εσύ, but only for emphasis or contrast:

• Αν εσύ ξεφλουδίσεις...

That would sound like if you, specifically, peel...

Because they are being used differently.

• το μήλο = the apple
  This refers to a specific item involved in the action.

• λίγη κανέλα = a little cinnamon
  This is an indefinite amount of a substance, so Greek naturally leaves out the article.

This is very common with mass nouns like:

• ζάχαρη
• αλάτι
• κανέλα

When you mean some / a little of it, Greek often uses no article.

Also, λίγη means a little / a small amount of, and it agrees with κανέλα, which is feminine singular.

Λίγη is the feminine singular form of λίγος, and here it means a little or a small amount of.

Because κανέλα is feminine singular, the form is:

• λίγη κανέλα

Compare:

• λίγος καφές = a little coffee
• λίγη ζάχαρη = a little sugar
• λίγο νερό = a little water

So the form changes to match the noun’s gender.

Yes, literally ρίχνω can mean throw, drop, or cast. But in everyday Greek it very often means put in, add, or sprinkle, especially with ingredients.

So in cooking contexts:

• ρίχνω αλάτι = add salt
• ρίχνω ζάχαρη = add sugar
• ρίχνω κανέλα = add/sprinkle cinnamon

So here ρίξεις λίγη κανέλα is a very natural way to say add a little cinnamon.

Here το γλυκό is a noun, not just the adjective sweet.

As a noun, το γλυκό means:

• dessert
• sweet dish
• sometimes more generally the sweet item

So in this sentence it means the dessert.

That is why the sentence is not saying the sweet becomes lighter, but rather the dessert becomes lighter.

Because Greek often forms the comparative with πιο + adjective:

• πιο ελαφρύ = lighter

This is extremely common and natural in everyday Greek.

Greek also has a one-word comparative:

• ελαφρύτερο

Both are correct. In many contexts, πιο ελαφρύ sounds simpler and more conversational.

Also, ελαφρύ is in the neuter singular form because it agrees with το γλυκό, which is neuter singular.

They are adverbs showing sequence:

• πρώτα = first
• μετά = then / afterwards

Their position makes the order of actions very clear:

• first peel the apple
• then add cinnamon

Greek word order is fairly flexible, so you could move them a bit for emphasis, but this placement is very natural and easy to follow.

Yes. One αν can introduce the whole coordinated condition:

• Αν ξεφλουδίσεις πρώτα το μήλο και μετά ρίξεις λίγη κανέλα...

That means:

• if you peel the apple first
• and then add a little cinnamon

Both actions belong inside the same if-clause.

Greek does not need to repeat αν before the second verb unless you want a special rhetorical effect, and in a sentence like this repetition would usually sound unnecessary.