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ssherie_

Active member
I love grilling in the summer - I tend to make whole meals on the grill! Baked potatoes, corn, vegetables, meats.... I don't always do Greek-style grilling but it is one of my favorites. I start by marinating the meat in an olive oil and lemon type marinade that I make from scratch. I don't always do this, sometimes I just rub garlic and put oregano, salt, and pepper on the meat and don't marinate it.

For vegetables I like to make foil packets with mixed veggies. I add olive oil, salt, pepper - I use whatever I have.

What do you guys like to do for grilling (Greek style or otherwise!)...?
 
I love grilling in the summer - I tend to make whole meals on the grill! Baked potatoes, corn, vegetables, meats.... I don't always do Greek-style grilling but it is one of my favorites. I start by marinating the meat in an olive oil and lemon type marinade that I make from scratch. I don't always do this, sometimes I just rub garlic and put oregano, salt, and pepper on the meat and don't marinate it.

For vegetables I like to make foil packets with mixed veggies. I add olive oil, salt, pepper - I use whatever I have.

What do you guys like to do for grilling (Greek style or otherwise!)...?
i love to grill in the summer. Even though there are some amazing summer dishes that need to be cooked in the oven like gemista or imam, but nothing can beat some chicken souvlakia and a side of tzatziki.
I usually grill chicken that has salt pepper and then I drizzle it with ladolemono. I grill eggplants and peppers and make that into a side dish with some fresh garlic salt, pepper, parsley and olive oil. Sometimes when I’m lazy and the kids want pizza I use the pita bread (not pocket) and I add some pizza sauce and cheese and grill that as well.
 
I love grilling pizza! I do the same thing with pita bread or I will even get one of those Boboli crusts. I like to grill meats (of course), and I also grill packets of cut up vegetables, corn on the cob, etc. I always have tzatziki around to go with the meat!
 

What Is the Best Way to Serve Taramosalata?

I absolutely love taramosalata and have it pretty regularly at home, but I’m having some people over soon and was wondering about the best way to serve it when entertaining.

Normally I just eat it with some bread or pita, so I don’t really put much thought into presentation. For guests, though, I’d like to make it part of a nice Greek-style spread with a few other things on the table. I was thinking warm pita triangles, crusty bread, maybe some cucumber and other vegetables for dipping, but I’m curious what everyone else usually serves with it.

Do you drizzle a little olive oil over the top or add any kind of garnish? And are there particular meze that you think pair especially well with taramosalata?

I’d love some ideas for making it look a little more special while still keeping everything traditional and simple.

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.

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?

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?

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!
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