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acamp7

Active member
I was thinking that it would be fun to make chocolate baklava. I have made a version of chocolate baklava that involved putting chocolate chips in with the walnuts. It was good but not great. Honestly I was just winging it and I could have messed something up. If anyone has a recipe for this feel free to send it my way!

I bumped into a recipe for chocolate baklava somewhere that called for chocolate phyllo. Is this a thing I can actually buy? If not, is this easy enough to make? I make regular phyllo all the time.

The only problem is, for baklava I like the thin sheets of Phyllo and mine don't come. close. Your thoughts are appreciated.
 
Yes chocolate phyllo dough is a thing as is chocolate puff pastry. I have not found it yet in supermarkets. The truth is your best bet is to make it on your own. Though as you said, homemade phyllo tends to be thicker than store bought phyllo. I say go ahead and make it. Be cautious on how much coco powder you use and when opening them (rolling them out) use coco powder instead of cornstarch. I would love to see photo of it if you do. Share it with us here or privately on my Insta at @PemiKanavos.
If you are to bored of making chocolate phyllo try out our chocolate baklava in our new book “Baking baklava” our syrup is chocolatey to add more chocolate flavor to the baklava!
 
I was thinking that it would be fun to make chocolate baklava. I have made a version of chocolate baklava that involved putting chocolate chips in with the walnuts. It was good but not great. Honestly I was just winging it and I could have messed something up. If anyone has a recipe for this feel free to send it my way!

I bumped into a recipe for chocolate baklava somewhere that called for chocolate phyllo. Is this a thing I can actually buy? If not, is this easy enough to make? I make regular phyllo all the time.

The only problem is, for baklava I like the thin sheets of Phyllo and mine don't come. close. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Seems like you can only buy direct for now

 
I read a tip for making thin phyllo and I wonder if anyone has ever tried this - use a pasta machine - one of those with a crank that flattens the dough.

My concern is that this will overwork the phyllo. But I know it can help get the sheets thinner. I saw it in a cookbook somewhere but I've never personally tried it.

Let us know how things turn out with the chocolate phyllo!
 

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 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 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?

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?

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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