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axariotisxy

Active member
I love lentil soup and now that it is getting colder, I plan to cook it more.

I have a recipe that I typically use, but in talking with people, I noticed everyone does something a little different.

Here's my ingredients list... I am curious about what you all do!

  • onions
  • carrots
  • celery
  • lentils
  • tomatoes
  • chopped greens - like kale or spinach
I don't use vinegar like I see in some recipes. If I do that, should I omit the tomatoes?
 
I've tried several variations, and my favorite is the most simple. It carrots, celery, lentils, small can tomato paste and some red wine vinegar at the end. I chop carrots, celery and, add lentils (well rinsed), and cook until tender, about 40-45 minutes. Remove about 1/3 of the soup and process in blender or food processor until smooth and add that back to the pot. This makes it thick, and not just lentils floating in water. It will thicken more if you have leftovers for the 'fridge, and leftovers are my main idea for any homemade soup.

Sprinkle with red wine vinegar ? when serving.

Enjoy!
 
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I've tried several variations, and my favorite is the most simple. It carrots, celery, lentils, small can tomato paste and some red wine vinegar at the end. I chop carrots, celery and, add lentils (well rinsed), and cook until tender, about 40-45 minutes. Remove about 1/3 of the soup and process in blender or food processor until smooth and add that back to the pot. This makes it thick, and not just lentils floating in water. It will thicken more if you have leftovers for the 'fridge, and leftovers are my main idea for any homemade soup.

Sprinkle with red wine vinegar ? when serving.

Enjoy!
This is a great variations - I would try this one - it is more traditional for Greek-style cooking. But the other version you have is pretty good, too.
 

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?

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?

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 Make Avgolemono Thick or Brothy?

I usually prefer avgolemono somewhere in the middle. I don’t like it so thick that it feels almost like a cream soup, but I also don’t want it completely thin and brothy. For me, the best version has enough egg and lemon to give the broth some body while still keeping it light.

A lot probably depends on what kind of avgolemono you’re making, too. In chicken soup, I like it a little more brothy because I want the rice or orzo and chicken to still stand out. With something like lahanodolmades, I don’t mind the avgolemono sauce being thicker because it is coating the food rather than serving as the soup itself.

The lemon level matters just as much as the thickness. I like enough lemon to make it bright and noticeable, but not so much that it overwhelms everything else. I think balance is really the key.

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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