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auroracoor1

Active member
I've had loukoumades many times - both in Greece and elsewhere. I love them so much - especially doused with honey and topped with walnuts in cinnamon. One time when I was out drinking in Greece, the waitstaff brought over a batch of loukoumades simply because I hadn't ordered food, and it was on the house.

Is it straightforward to make these at home? I know they are friend. I usually see people making these with a machine.

loukoumades-376x220.jpg
 
Yeah, they're easy to make. You can also make something called "tiganites" which is very similar. Don't feel obligated to put honey on top (the traditional). Most people in Greece put some kind of chocolate, strawberry sauce, vanilla, white chocolate, or some other sauce...
 
Yeah, they're easy to make. You can also make something called "tiganites" which is very similar. Don't feel obligated to put honey on top (the traditional). Most people in Greece put some kind of chocolate, strawberry sauce, vanilla, white chocolate, or some other sauce...
WOW!!! I never thought to put chocolate on it - wow those other options sound so delicious. I only had loukoumades once in Greece and they had honey on them, but come to think of it, I have seen different version of them in other places. Do they do chocolate sauce? I can picture putting thinly shaved chocolate over and letting it melt and that being delicious...
 
WOW!!! I never thought to put chocolate on it - wow those other options sound so delicious. I only had loukoumades once in Greece and they had honey on them, but come to think of it, I have seen different version of them in other places. Do they do chocolate sauce? I can picture putting thinly shaved chocolate over and letting it melt and that being delicious...
Most Greeks don't eat loukoumades with honey. Id you look at the pictures of the menu, you'll see that the menu is of several different flavors and the tradtiona (παραδοσιακοί) are in thr bottom right in a spot where you have to force your eyes to go.

Some loukoumadea have a sauce in them and some don't. Here are some of my pictures I took of my loukoumades (one with sauce in it and one with the sauce on top)...
 

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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?

How Much Garlic in a Batch of Tzatziki?

How much garlic do you usually put in a batch of tzatziki? I think I may be using a little too much. I usually make mine with about 2 cups of Greek yogurt and 4 cloves of garlic, along with cucumber, olive oil, and the other usual ingredients.

It tastes great when I first make it, but we usually take about three days to finish the batch. By the second or third day, the garlic flavor and smell become really strong. Some people in my household love that and don’t mind it at all, but others think it becomes a bit overpowering. I’m starting to agree that four cloves might be too much, especially since the garlic seems to get stronger as it sits.

What do you all do? How many cloves would you use for about 2 cups of Greek yogurt?

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 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?

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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