1 - 6 of 6 Posts

blopez34

Active member
I found some Myzithra cheese in a Greek market - to my knowledge, I have never had it before. Or, it could be that I don't know much about it.

How do Greeks typically use this cheese? I tastes some, and it is on the harder side. I can picture it being grated and tasting great on pasta. Other than that, how is it I used? Are there any dishes that include it?
 
I found some Myzithra cheese in a Greek market - to my knowledge, I have never had it before. Or, it could be that I don't know much about it.

How do Greeks typically use this cheese? I tastes some, and it is on the harder side. I can picture it being grated and tasting great on pasta. Other than that, how is it I used? Are there any dishes that include it?
Myzithra is a very sharp cheese, it's not for eating, like some feta, which stands fine on its own. Best use I know for myzithra is on Greek macaroni, with the kappama sauce, cinnamon and myzithra. Think that's the way it's mostly used, but probably good along with anything that has kappama.
 
  • Like
Reactions: blopez34
Myzithra is a very sharp cheese, it's not for eating, like some feta, which stands fine on its own. Best use I know for myzithra is on Greek macaroni, with the kappama sauce, cinnamon and myzithra. Think that's the way it's mostly used, but probably good along with anything that has kappama.
Thank you, I will first try it with Greek macaroni dishes and see how I like it. I tried having a little bit by itself and it was strong - so seems better in small amounts?
 
It's not an "eating" cheese, like others that taste good on their own. You can be generous with it on Greek macaroni. Not sure if it's been mentioned here but along with kappama sauce, brown butter is wonderful on Greek macaroni, and, of course, the myzithra.
 
I love, love it on pasta dishes with a sturdy tomato sauce, and I even sneak onto some rice dishes. I also sometimes add just a tiny amount in my tiropita - it gives it a little something extra!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Luana
I love, love it on pasta dishes with a sturdy tomato sauce, and I even sneak onto some rice dishes. I also sometimes add just a tiny amount in my tiropita - it gives it a little something extra!
What a great idea in the tiropita! Never thought of it and will give it a try--and in some rice. Thanks!
 

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!

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?

Is lamb or beef more traditional for giouvetsi?

I've been looking into traditional Greek giouvetsi recipes lately, and I'm curious about which meat is considered the most traditional. I've seen recipes that use lamb, others that call for beef, and even some that use chicken.

I love the idea of slowly cooking the meat in a rich tomato sauce with orzo until everything becomes tender and flavorful. However, I'm wondering whether lamb or beef would be the more authentic choice.

Is one traditionally preferred in certain regions of Greece? I've read that lamb is often associated with older Greek recipes, but beef seems to be very common in modern versions of giouvetsi.

I'm also curious whether the choice of meat changes the way the dish is prepared. Does lamb require different seasonings or cooking times than beef?

For those familiar with traditional Greek cooking, which version do you prefer, and which would you recommend trying first?

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 make your pastitsio with a thick or thin layer of krema?

I've always preferred my pastitsio with a nice, thick layer of béchamel on top. To me, that's one of the best parts of the dish! I love when the krema is rich, creamy, and thick enough to hold its shape when you cut into the pastitsio.

The problem is that I've been having trouble getting my krema just right. Sometimes it comes out too thin, and other times the texture isn't quite as smooth as I'd like. I've tried adjusting the amount of flour and milk, but I still haven't found the perfect balance.

I'm curious how everyone else makes theirs. Do you prefer a thick layer of béchamel or just enough to cover the pasta? Does your family add eggs or cheese to the mixture?

I'd especially love to hear any tips for making a thick, smooth krema that sets beautifully when baked!
Sign up for a free account and share your thoughts, photos, questions about Greek food, travel and culture!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top