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cubrinj

Active member
This is the first year I will be making vasilopita. I am so excited! I thought I'd share the recipe I plan to use. Does this look right?

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups of sugar
• 1 ½ cups of unsalted butter
• ½ cup of orange juice
• 2 tbsp. of orange zest
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp. of baking powder
• 1 tsp. of baking soda
• 1 tsp. of vanilla essence
• A pinch of salt
• 1 small cake-shaped coin or an almond

Steps:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until it turns light and fluffy.
3. Add the eggs one by one, whisking them adequately into the butter-sugar mixture after each addition.
4. Add the orange zest, orange juice, and vanilla essence while continuously whisking the mixture.
5. In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, then mix thoroughly.
6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, whisking until it forms a smooth batter.
7. Grease a baking dish or pan then pour the batter into it, ensuring it spreads evenly.
8. Insert the coin or almond into the batter randomly.
9. Bake the mixture in the oven for about 45 to 50 minutes until a fork inserted at the center comes out clean.
10. Remove from the oven, allow the cake to cool before cutting the cake.
 
This is the first year I will be making vasilopita. I am so excited! I thought I'd share the recipe I plan to use. Does this look right?

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups of sugar
• 1 ½ cups of unsalted butter
• ½ cup of orange juice
• 2 tbsp. of orange zest
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp. of baking powder
• 1 tsp. of baking soda
• 1 tsp. of vanilla essence
• A pinch of salt
• 1 small cake-shaped coin or an almond

Steps:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until it turns light and fluffy.
3. Add the eggs one by one, whisking them adequately into the butter-sugar mixture after each addition.
4. Add the orange zest, orange juice, and vanilla essence while continuously whisking the mixture.
5. In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, then mix thoroughly.
6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, whisking until it forms a smooth batter.
7. Grease a baking dish or pan then pour the batter into it, ensuring it spreads evenly.
8. Insert the coin or almond into the batter randomly.
9. Bake the mixture in the oven for about 45 to 50 minutes until a fork inserted at the center comes out clean.
10. Remove from the oven, allow the cake to cool before cutting the cake.
I would definitely add a little bit of greek cognac in a bit of cinnamon
 
I would definitely add a little bit of greek cognac in a bit of cinnamon
Same! Or some kind of alcohol (not ouzo, something mellower). I've done rakomelo in the past.
 

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?

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?

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.

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 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!
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