Greek Food, Cooking and Recipe Community

Kopanisti Recipe

1 - 3 of 3 Posts
paharo45

paharo45

Active member
I had Kopanisti once but have never made it. I found a recipe. Does this ingredients list look right? It looks easy, but was from a non-Greek source.
  • 1/2 lb feta cheese
  • 3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced
  • 1 Tbs. minced fresh mint or 1 tsp. crumbled
    dried mint
  • 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes, plus more as needed
  • 6 Italian peperoncini (pickled green peppers),
    chopped, plus more as needed
Can I omit the peperoncinis? I don't like them. Can I maybe use some roasted red pepper instead? I don't think I have ever used peperoncini's before.
 
paharo45 said:
I had Kopanisti once but have never made it. I found a recipe. Does this ingredients list look right? It looks easy, but was from a non-Greek source.
  • 1/2 lb feta cheese
  • 3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced
  • 1 Tbs. minced fresh mint or 1 tsp. crumbled
    dried mint
  • 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes, plus more as needed
  • 6 Italian peperoncini (pickled green peppers),
    chopped, plus more as needed
Can I omit the peperoncinis? I don't like them. Can I maybe use some roasted red pepper instead? I don't think I have ever used peperoncini's before.
Click to expand...

Hi pharao45
The recipe looks, I would definitely omit the peperoncini as well as the mint.
These are the ingredients list for a traditional Kopanisti.
Greek Feta
Olive Oil
garlic peeled
Red Pepper Flakes
Tomatoe paste (for color)
roasted red pepper
salt and pepper
 
PemiKanavos said:
Hi pharao45
The recipe looks, I would definitely omit the peperoncini as well as the mint.
These are the ingredients list for a traditional Kopanisti.
Greek Feta
Olive Oil
garlic peeled
Red Pepper Flakes
Tomatoe paste (for color)
roasted red pepper
salt and pepper
Click to expand...
Agreed, the pepperoncini is an odd choice and I use tomato sauce, as well! This is a great dish - it might take a few tries to get the proportions you like but of course, one has to start somewhere.
 
1 - 3 of 3 Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION AND READ OTHER GREEK INFO:

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!

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?

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!

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.

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?
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