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GreekGirlCooks

Active member
I love cooking, and I learned at a very young age. I love being able to share my Greek heritage with people. I have some favorite recipes to share with my non-Greek friends:

- Spanakopita - I have had so many people ask me how to make it!
- Tiropita - I don't actually have a set recipe - I always make it differently, and for me, that is part of the charm. It always has at last feta, though!
- Village salad - It is my favorite salad, and I only make it in the summer when everything is fresh, so it's a real treat
- Souvlaki - this is a crowd pleaser and a great addition to any barbecue!

How about you? What do you like to cook for Greek food?
 
Your favorite recipes are all crowd pleasers and very popular with non Greeks and Greeks.
My favorite are
Pastichio
Gemista
Imam
Makarionia me kima
Tzatziki
Taramosalata
And Baklava (a dessert but love it)
 
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Your favorite recipes are all crowd pleasers and very popular with non Greeks and Greeks.
My favorite are
Pastichio
Gemista
Imam
Makarionia me kima
Tzatziki
Taramosalata
And Baklava (a dessert but love it)
Love this! I haven't made makaronia me kima in a while. I will have to dust off my recipe.
 
Giouvetsi, ladopsomo, tigania kotopoulo, kokkinisto, saganaki me meli kai sousami, gavros tiganitos
 
Giouvetsi, ladopsomo, tigania kotopoulo, kokkinisto, saganaki me meli kai sousami, gavros tiganitos
Excellent choices - I also love cooking ladopsomo and many of the others you mentioned. I made makaronia me kima (Chef Pemi inspired me) and forgot how much I love that too!
 
My favorites to make are:

- Spanakopita
- Fasolakia
- Plaki
- Koulourakia
- Horiatiki

Great thread!
 

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.

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 potatoes in your briam?

I've noticed that there are quite a few variations of briam, especially when it comes to which vegetables people include. One ingredient I'm particularly curious about is potatoes. Do you always put potatoes in your briam, or do you prefer making it without them?

I usually think of briam as a combination of zucchini, eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and plenty of olive oil. I love how the potatoes absorb all those wonderful flavors as everything slowly roasts together in the oven.

However, I've seen recipes that leave the potatoes out entirely and focus more on the summer vegetables. I imagine that makes the dish a little lighter.

I'm also curious whether there are regional differences in how briam is prepared throughout Greece. Does your family have a particular way of making it? And what vegetables do you consider absolutely essential?

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?

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?
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