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mastichas09

Active member
I am on a healthy eating kick - happens to me every year after the holidays! It feels like a reset, but Greek food is so delicious it puts me in a happy place anyway. I am brainstorming a list of healthy meals.

Grilled Greek Chicken: Marinate boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and oregano before grilling them to perfection. Serve with a side of grilled vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, and peppers.

Greek Salad with Grilled Shrimp: Combine fresh chopped vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, and bell peppers with feta cheese and kalamata olives. Top with grilled shrimp and a homemade vinaigrette made with olive oil and red wine vinegar.

Baked Lemon and Herb Fish: Coat pieces of fish in a mixture made with lemon juice, garlic, and herbs like dill and parsley before baking in the oven.

Lamb Souvlaki with Tzatziki: Skewer pieces of lamb marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and oregano and grill until cooked through. Serve with a side of tzatziki sauce made with Greek yogurt, dill, and cucumbers.

Stuffed Bell Peppers with Ground Turkey: Stuff bell peppers with a mixture of lean ground turkey, brown rice, chopped tomatoes, and herbs like basil and thyme. Bake in the oven until the peppers are tender and the filling is cooked through. Usually it is made with beef, but turkey is healthier.

Greek Chickpea Salad: Combine chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and feta cheese with a dressing made from olive oil and lemon juice. Serve as a side salad or add grilled chicken for a complete meal.

Greek-Style Stuffed Zucchini: Hollow out zucchinis and stuff them with a mixture of ground beef, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and Greek herbs. Bake until the zucchinis are tender and the filling is cooked through, then sprinkle with feta cheese before serving.

Eggplant Moussaka: This hearty casserole is made with layers of eggplant, lean ground beef, tomatoes, and a creamy béchamel sauce. It's a great way to get your daily dose of vegetables and protein in one meal.

Grilled Octopus with Lemon and Olive Oil: While it may sound a bit adventurous, grilled octopus is a classic Greek dish that's packed with flavor and nutrition. Marinate the octopus in a mixture of lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic before grilling on high heat until slightly charred.
 
This a great list! I am on a similar kick, as well. Here is what I came up with:

- Greek Salads - like horiatiki, cabbage salad, etc
- Grilled or baked fish with lemon - I agree on that one
- Horta - this makes me feel so healthy when it's on the table!
- Healthy soups, like tomato soup, chickpea soup, vegetable soup, etc.

Also, I am not sure about moussaka. The béchamel sauce can use a lot of better and cream. Can you leave it out?
 
This a great list! I am on a similar kick, as well. Here is what I came up with:

- Greek Salads - like horiatiki, cabbage salad, etc
- Grilled or baked fish with lemon - I agree on that one
- Horta - this makes me feel so healthy when it's on the table!
- Healthy soups, like tomato soup, chickpea soup, vegetable soup, etc.

Also, I am not sure about moussaka. The béchamel sauce can use a lot of better and cream. Can you leave it out?
I was thinking the same thing. The butter and carbs in the béchamel seem opposite of a healthy diet! I had a friend once make a no-meat moussaka without the béchamel (used that famous meat substitute, I forget the name). It was pretty good, but not the same thing - real moussaka I decided to save as a special occasion food.
 

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 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!

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.

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!

What is the secret to making really good Greek lemon potatoes?

I've been making Greek lemon potatoes for years, and it's one of those dishes I make completely by feel. I don't measure anything, and I never really thought about how I make them because it's all second nature to me.

Recently, I tried teaching someone how to make them. Everything seemed straightforward while we were cooking together, but when they went home and tried making them on their own, all kinds of things went wrong! The potatoes weren't cooking evenly, the texture wasn't quite right, and the lemon flavor didn't come through the way it should.

It made me realize how much I rely on instinct when cooking traditional Greek food. I rarely write down recipes, so explaining every little detail is harder than I expected!

For those who make Greek lemon potatoes regularly, what tips would you give someone who's just learning?
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