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Which Greek dishes did you love as a kid?

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nadellii

nadellii

Active member
I’m planning a big Greek family gathering soon and there will be a lot of kids there—some of them pretty picky eaters! It got me thinking about what I used to love as a kid growing up in a Greek household.

Honestly, I was a super picky eater back then (hard to believe now!), but there were still a few dishes I always wanted seconds of. I remember loving things like koulourakia, fried meatballs (keftedakia), and avgolemono soup. Simple, comforting, and easy to eat.

Now I’m wondering, which Greek dishes did you love as a kid? I’d love to serve a few things at the gathering that will be hits with the younger crowd but still feel authentically Greek. Bonus points if they’re easy to prep ahead or good for a buffet-style setup.
 
What a fun idea! I love that you’re keeping the gathering rooted in Greek tradition while thinking of the little ones. As a kid, my absolute favorites were tiropitakia (cheese-filled phyllo triangles), it's easy to eat, no weird textures, and always a crowd-pleaser. Spanakopitakia were a close second if you keep the spinach-to-cheese ratio more kid-friendly.

Keftedakia, like you mentioned, are always a hit, serve them with a side of ketchup or tzatziki for dipping. Another good one: pastitsio! It’s like Greek lasagna and usually goes over well with picky eaters, especially if you go light on the spices.

For something sweet, besides koulourakia, try loukoumades or rizogalo (Greek rice pudding). They feel like dessert but aren’t too over-the-top.
 
nadellii said:
I’m planning a big Greek family gathering soon and there will be a lot of kids there—some of them pretty picky eaters! It got me thinking about what I used to love as a kid growing up in a Greek household.

Honestly, I was a super picky eater back then (hard to believe now!), but there were still a few dishes I always wanted seconds of. I remember loving things like koulourakia, fried meatballs (keftedakia), and avgolemono soup. Simple, comforting, and easy to eat.

Now I’m wondering, which Greek dishes did you love as a kid? I’d love to serve a few things at the gathering that will be hits with the younger crowd but still feel authentically Greek. Bonus points if they’re easy to prep ahead or good for a buffet-style setup.
Click to expand...
Oh my favorite was and is Menestra! YiaYia would always make that when I would be home for a visit- I never had to request it , she just knew! Still love it to this day -of course I have many favorites but that by far was my favorite growing up- perfect comfort food!
 
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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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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