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axariotisxy

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What do you guys prefer? Dolmadakia with or without meat?

dolmadakia.jpg
 
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With meat always!! That's how my family has always made it and that's how I prefer it :) I've noticed that outside of Greece, many Greek restaurants have dolmadakia without meat which I find a bit strange
 
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With meat. I have had the other in a salad. I make mine with meat topped with a avgolemono sause over it.
Avgolemono is the best! I love it on lahanodolmades too
 
I’m a meat eater but prefer Dolmadakia without meat. I live in the UK and grow my own vines, especially for making Dolmadakia. I normally use rice, finely chopped pine nuts, finely chopped dried fruit (for example, raisins), oregano, lemon juice, a little garlic. It works for me and my friends seem to love them!??
 
My Aunt Sofia is from the island of Kassos. Her dolmadakia are the best. Meat, rice, lemons, arigani and grapevine leaves. Each dolmadaki is the size of a teaspoon. Placed in saucepan, lots of lemon, water, plate on top, low heat.
This is how I think she makes them. Aunt Sofia is 90 and not very forthcoming with her recipes. Our loss.
 
I prefer dolmadakia with meat and avgolemono. It is my son's favorite dish and my wife cooks it often.
 
Definitely with the meat, but I admire a good vegan version that has been made well. When making at home, I only ever use the standard meat and rice filling. I season mine with onion, salt, pepper, and spearmint. Delicious! That reminds me - it is getting to be that time of year here in New England to pick the grape leaves!
 

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?

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?

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 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.

Do You Put Cinnamon in Your Keftedes?

I’m curious how everyone here makes keftedes, especially when it comes to cinnamon. I know some Greek families add a little cinnamon to the meat mixture, while others would never think of putting it in.

In my experience, even a small amount can change the flavor quite a bit. It gives the keftedes a warmer, slightly sweeter spice in the background, but I can also see how it might not be for everyone. I’ve had versions that lean more heavily on oregano, mint, parsley, garlic, and onion instead.

Do you put cinnamon in your keftedes? If you do, how much do you usually use, and was that something your family always did? I’d also be curious to know if it varies depending on what part of Greece your family comes from.

Would love to hear how everyone seasons theirs and what you consider essential for really good keftedes.
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