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ssherie_

Active member
I typically make my stuffed grape leaves with meat, but one of my New Year's goals is to not eat as much meat.

Can I simply use my normal recipe but get rid of the meat?

My gut is I might need more olive oil, maybe more herbs. I don't know, it might be helpful to see what people are doing.
 
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I typically make my stuffed grape leaves with meat, but one of my New Year's goals is to not eat as much meat.

Can I simply use my normal recipe but get rid of the meat?

My gut is I might need more olive oil, maybe more herbs. I don't know, it might be helpful to see what people are doing.
This recipe pretty much looks like the ones I eat. Just pack loads of herbs in with the rice. I like the thought of corn in there too: https://thegreekvegan.com/stuffed-grape-leaves-dolmades/
 
I typically make my stuffed grape leaves with meat, but one of my New Year's goals is to not eat as much meat.

Can I simply use my normal recipe but get rid of the meat?

My gut is I might need more olive oil, maybe more herbs. I don't know, it might be helpful to see what people are doing.
Hi ssherie
I don’t think you should use your regular recipe. If you were to omit the meat, you would definitely need to up your rice amount used. Also more water and salt would be need. A great recipe for dolmadakia gialatzi is in our book Cooking greek. -Pemi
 
Hi ssherie
I don’t think you should use your regular recipe. If you were to omit the meat, you would definitely need to up your rice amount used. Also more water and salt would be need. A great recipe for dolmadakia gialatzi is in our book Cooking greek. -Pemi
This is great advice. I have never had luck making vegetarian ones and I think that not having enough rice might be part of the issue!
 

How Much Garlic in a Batch of Tzatziki?

How much garlic do you usually put in a batch of tzatziki? I think I may be using a little too much. I usually make mine with about 2 cups of Greek yogurt and 4 cloves of garlic, along with cucumber, olive oil, and the other usual ingredients.

It tastes great when I first make it, but we usually take about three days to finish the batch. By the second or third day, the garlic flavor and smell become really strong. Some people in my household love that and don’t mind it at all, but others think it becomes a bit overpowering. I’m starting to agree that four cloves might be too much, especially since the garlic seems to get stronger as it sits.

What do you all do? How many cloves would you use for about 2 cups of Greek yogurt?

Do you put potatoes in your briam?

I've noticed that there are quite a few variations of briam, especially when it comes to which vegetables people include. One ingredient I'm particularly curious about is potatoes. Do you always put potatoes in your briam, or do you prefer making it without them?

I usually think of briam as a combination of zucchini, eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and plenty of olive oil. I love how the potatoes absorb all those wonderful flavors as everything slowly roasts together in the oven.

However, I've seen recipes that leave the potatoes out entirely and focus more on the summer vegetables. I imagine that makes the dish a little lighter.

I'm also curious whether there are regional differences in how briam is prepared throughout Greece. Does your family have a particular way of making it? And what vegetables do you consider absolutely essential?

What is your favorite Greek potato dish?

Potatoes show up in so many Greek meals, and I think they are often at their best when they soak up plenty of olive oil, lemon, herbs, and cooking juices.

Greek lemon potatoes are probably the first thing that comes to mind for me. I love when they are roasted until they are soft inside, a little crisp around the edges, and full of lemon and oregano. Potatoes cooked alongside chicken or lamb are also hard to beat because they absorb so much flavor from the pan.

I also enjoy simple boiled potatoes dressed with olive oil, lemon, parsley, and salt, especially with fish or grilled meat.

What Greek potato dish do you make most often? Do you prefer lemon potatoes, potatoes roasted with meat, fried potatoes, or something else? And is there a particular seasoning or family method that makes your version especially good?

Favorite Greek Cheeses Beyond Feta

Feta gets most of the attention when people talk about Greek cheese, but there are so many other varieties worth trying. I’m curious which Greek cheeses everyone enjoys most beyond feta.

Graviera is one of my favorites because it works so well on a cheese plate, grated over dishes, or just eaten with bread. Kasseri is another one I really like, especially melted. I’ve also been interested in trying more regional cheeses like metsovone, manouri, kefalotyri, and formaela.

Some Greek cheeses seem to be much easier to find outside Greece than others, so I’d also love to know which ones people regularly buy and where they usually find them.

What Greek cheeses do you keep coming back to? Are there certain ones you associate with a particular region, dish, or family tradition? And if someone has mostly eaten feta, which Greek cheese would you recommend they try next?

Do You Put Cinnamon in Your Keftedes?

I’m curious how everyone here makes keftedes, especially when it comes to cinnamon. I know some Greek families add a little cinnamon to the meat mixture, while others would never think of putting it in.

In my experience, even a small amount can change the flavor quite a bit. It gives the keftedes a warmer, slightly sweeter spice in the background, but I can also see how it might not be for everyone. I’ve had versions that lean more heavily on oregano, mint, parsley, garlic, and onion instead.

Do you put cinnamon in your keftedes? If you do, how much do you usually use, and was that something your family always did? I’d also be curious to know if it varies depending on what part of Greece your family comes from.

Would love to hear how everyone seasons theirs and what you consider essential for really good keftedes.
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