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knicks_fan87

Active member
I am serving a lot of Greek foods at a barbecue I will be hosting next month. I am starting to plan the menu now. There will be on the grill- lamb chops, chicken souvlaki, and loukaniko. There will also be Greek salad, fasolakia, and other miscellaneous dishes (I am not sure what yet). I like to have some dips and spreads laid out, both to accompany the grill foods, and to serve with bread.

Any advice? Definitely tzatziki, but was thinking of having something else, like kopanisti- but the issue with that is I am not sure I want to leave that outside.
 
Yes, I can see your dilemma, but wouldn’t the same apply for the tzatziki as well. I say make them both throw in there a melitzanosalata or a tarama dip and place the bowls on top of ice therefore no spoilage will take place.
 
I am serving a lot of Greek foods at a barbecue I will be hosting next month. I am starting to plan the menu now. There will be on the grill- lamb chops, chicken souvlaki, and loukaniko. There will also be Greek salad, fasolakia, and other miscellaneous dishes (I am not sure what yet). I like to have some dips and spreads laid out, both to accompany the grill foods, and to serve with bread.

Any advice? Definitely tzatziki, but was thinking of having something else, like kopanisti- but the issue with that is I am not sure I want to leave that outside.
tirokafteri tzatziki taramosalata melitzanosalata htipiti and some kind of hummus
 
I am serving a lot of Greek foods at a barbecue I will be hosting next month. I am starting to plan the menu now. There will be on the grill- lamb chops, chicken souvlaki, and loukaniko. There will also be Greek salad, fasolakia, and other miscellaneous dishes (I am not sure what yet). I like to have some dips and spreads laid out, both to accompany the grill foods, and to serve with bread.

Any advice? Definitely tzatziki, but was thinking of having something else, like kopanisti- but the issue with that is I am not sure I want to leave that outside.
Skordalia is always a hit and easy to prepare
 
I would suggest Melitzanosalata but not the one velvet spread but the more rustic version called "Agioritiki". The eggplants are grilled the red peppers also. You chop everything with a knife, add parsley, olive oil, vinegar, and of course garlic.
 
Not sure if you already had that BBQ but I would save the following:

- Melizanosalata
- Tzatziki
- Spicy Feta Dip (don't know the greek name)
- Fava Dip
 
Not sure if you already had that BBQ but I would save the following:

- Melizanosalata
- Tzatziki
- Spicy Feta Dip (don't know the greek name)
- Fava Dip
I like this idea! Thank you
 

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?

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?

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?

Do you make Greek lentil soup with vinegar

I’ve always made fakes with a splash of vinegar, either stirred into the pot near the end or added individually at the table. To me, that little bit of acidity is part of what makes the soup taste right, especially with the earthy lentils, olive oil, onion, garlic, and bay leaf.

But I have a Greek friend who makes hers very differently. She doesn’t use vinegar at all and instead adds quite a lot of tomato product, so her version is much redder and more tomato-forward than mine.

Now I’m curious about what is considered more traditional in Greek cooking. Is vinegar usually a standard part of fakes, or is it more of a regional or family preference? Are tomato-heavy versions just as traditional?

How do you make yours, and what did your family serve growing up?
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