1 - 4 of 4 Posts

mastichas09

Active member
I’ve recently been interested in experimenting with Greek baking using olive oil, and I love the unique texture and depth of flavor it brings. I’ve noticed that some traditional Greek baked goods, like Lado Kouloura (olive oil cookies), rely entirely on olive oil rather than butter. I’m really interested in learning about more Greek desserts and breads that use olive oil as the primary fat.

Are there any other traditional Greek baked goods that exclusively use olive oil? I’d love to try out authentic recipes that highlight this staple ingredient. Also, do you have any tips on how olive oil affects texture and flavor compared to butter?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Voula
I’ve recently been interested in experimenting with Greek baking using olive oil, and I love the unique texture and depth of flavor it brings. I’ve noticed that some traditional Greek baked goods, like Lado Kouloura (olive oil cookies), rely entirely on olive oil rather than butter. I’m really interested in learning about more Greek desserts and breads that use olive oil as the primary fat.

Are there any other traditional Greek baked goods that exclusively use olive oil? I’d love to try out authentic recipes that highlight this staple ingredient. Also, do you have any tips on how olive oil affects texture and flavor compared to butter?
Hi! I have lots of authentic Greek recipes on my blog, some of which use olive oil as the main ingredient. Olive oil is great in baking, especially if it's light. Check out some of my recipes and let me know if you have any specific questions - I'd be happy to help!
 
  • Like
Reactions: k_tsoukalas
Greek baking with olive oil is such a rewarding experience! There are plenty of traditional Greek baked goods that use olive oil as the primary fat, giving them a wonderfully moist texture and a rich, slightly fruity depth. Some must-try options include Fanouropita, a spiced, olive oil-based cake often made in honor of Saint Fanourios, and Lagana, a sesame-crusted flatbread typically baked for Clean Monday. Revithopita, a chickpea-based bread from the islands, also relies on olive oil for its characteristic soft yet dense texture.

Compared to butter, olive oil creates a more tender crumb in cakes and keeps baked goods moist for longer. It also adds a subtle earthiness that enhances spices, citrus, and nuts—common flavors in Greek baking. For the best results, use a mild, high-quality extra virgin olive oil to complement rather than overpower the flavors.
 
Hi! I have lots of authentic Greek recipes on my blog, some of which use olive oil as the main ingredient. Olive oil is great in baking, especially if it's light. Check out some of my recipes and let me know if you have any specific questions - I'd be happy to help!
Love this! Thank you for sharing with us...
 

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?

Favorite Greek Cheeses Beyond Feta

Feta gets most of the attention when people talk about Greek cheese, but there are so many other varieties worth trying. I’m curious which Greek cheeses everyone enjoys most beyond feta.

Graviera is one of my favorites because it works so well on a cheese plate, grated over dishes, or just eaten with bread. Kasseri is another one I really like, especially melted. I’ve also been interested in trying more regional cheeses like metsovone, manouri, kefalotyri, and formaela.

Some Greek cheeses seem to be much easier to find outside Greece than others, so I’d also love to know which ones people regularly buy and where they usually find them.

What Greek cheeses do you keep coming back to? Are there certain ones you associate with a particular region, dish, or family tradition? And if someone has mostly eaten feta, which Greek cheese would you recommend they try next?

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 herbs do you use when making Greek stuffed zucchini?

I've been thinking about making Greek stuffed zucchini (kolokithakia gemista), and I'm curious about which herbs everyone uses in the filling. I've seen quite a few variations, and it seems like the combination of herbs can really influence the overall flavor of the dish.

Some recipes use plenty of fresh dill and parsley, while others include mint or even a little oregano. I've also noticed that some people add green onions for extra flavor. I'm wondering whether certain herbs are considered more traditional, especially when making stuffed zucchini with rice and ground meat.

Do you use a combination of herbs, or do you prefer to keep the seasoning fairly simple? Does your family have a particular recipe that has been passed down through generations?

I'm especially interested in how the herbs complement the avgolemono sauce. What combination do you think gives Greek stuffed zucchini the best flavor?

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?
Sign up for a free account and share your thoughts, photos, questions about Greek food, travel and culture!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top