1 - 3 of 3 Posts

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.
 
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.

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
 
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
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.
 

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?

How does your family season dolmades?

I’ve been thinking about how much dolmades can vary from one family to another, especially when it comes to seasoning. Even when the basic ingredients are similar, the flavor can be completely different depending on which herbs and spices are used.

How does your family season dolmades? Do you use mostly dill and parsley, or do you add mint as well? I’ve also seen recipes that include green onions, oregano, or even a little cinnamon, especially when meat is part of the filling.

I’m curious whether you season the rice mixture pretty heavily before rolling the grape leaves or keep it simple and let the lemon and olive oil provide most of the flavor. Does your family add lemon juice directly to the filling, or only during cooking and serving?

I’d especially love to hear about any regional or family traditions. What gives your dolmades their distinctive flavor?

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?

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.
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