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nm1999

Active member
I love Greek yogurt and I thought I would make a list of Greek foods that use it. I also love to serve either yogurt or tzatziki, with a variety of different Greek foods.

Here are the dishes:
  • Tzatziki
  • The yogurt, honey, walnut breakfast/dessert
  • Some versions of kopanisti (not sure I agree with this)
  • Some versions of spanakopita - I really do know some Greeks who do this, but I didn't realize people did this
  • There is a creamy pasta dish that uses Greek yogurt
Can you think of any others? The pasta dish, especially, is quick and easy. I find that dishes that involve Greek yogurt are usually pretty simple.
 
I love Greek yogurt and I thought I would make a list of Greek foods that use it. I also love to serve either yogurt or tzatziki, with a variety of different Greek foods.

Here are the dishes:
  • Tzatziki
  • The yogurt, honey, walnut breakfast/dessert
  • Some versions of kopanisti (not sure I agree with this)
  • Some versions of spanakopita - I really do know some Greeks who do this, but I didn't realize people did this
  • There is a creamy pasta dish that uses Greek yogurt
Can you think of any others? The pasta dish, especially, is quick and easy. I find that dishes that involve Greek yogurt are usually pretty simple.
Hi nm1999,

I love Greek yogurt, and I love using it in my cooking. I love a yogurt cake that’s drench in honey syrup, also greek yogurt ice cream with sour cherry spoon sweet on the top (to die for). As for savory cooking, there are plenty of pasta dishes you can use greek yogurt. Even pastitsio or mousaka can be made with a Greek yogurt sauce instead of bechamel sauce for a lighter version. You can add greek yogurt in Tiropita as well.
 
I make a great cake with yogurt that involves orange zest and an orange glaze. It's a classical French-style yogurt cake but I use Greek yogurt with great results. This is something you could try!
 

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?

Greek cooking without a recipe?

I've been thinking about how much traditional Greek cooking relies on instinct rather than following exact recipes. Some of the Greek dishes I learned to make were taught to me by feel, with someone showing me what to do rather than measuring everything out.

I actually enjoy cooking this way, but I've noticed that it can make certain dishes difficult to recreate consistently! Sometimes everything comes together perfectly, and other times I wonder what I did differently.

I'm curious how others approach this. Did you learn Greek cooking by watching your yiayia, mother, or other relatives? Do you measure ingredients, or do you just know when something looks, smells, or tastes right?

What herbs do you use when making Greek stuffed zucchini?

I've been thinking about making Greek stuffed zucchini (kolokithakia gemista), and I'm curious about which herbs everyone uses in the filling. I've seen quite a few variations, and it seems like the combination of herbs can really influence the overall flavor of the dish.

Some recipes use plenty of fresh dill and parsley, while others include mint or even a little oregano. I've also noticed that some people add green onions for extra flavor. I'm wondering whether certain herbs are considered more traditional, especially when making stuffed zucchini with rice and ground meat.

Do you use a combination of herbs, or do you prefer to keep the seasoning fairly simple? Does your family have a particular recipe that has been passed down through generations?

I'm especially interested in how the herbs complement the avgolemono sauce. What combination do you think gives Greek stuffed zucchini the best flavor?

My Family’s Keftedes Recipe

Keftedes are one of those foods that always remind me of family gatherings. Everyone seems to make them a little differently, but this is the basic version my family has always used.

For about a pound of ground beef, we add one small grated onion, a handful of chopped fresh parsley, a little fresh mint, one egg, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, oregano, and a small splash of red wine vinegar. Sometimes we add a little grated garlic as well.

The important part is mixing everything well and then letting the mixture sit in the refrigerator for a little while before shaping the keftedes. We make them fairly small, roll them lightly in flour, and fry them in olive oil until browned on the outside and cooked through.

We usually serve them with lemon, potatoes, salad, or tzatziki.

How does your family make keftedes? I’m especially curious about which herbs and seasonings everyone uses. Thought I'd share!

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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