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kcixcy

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I've always preferred spanakopita with the thicker dough, and not phyllo. How can I make this at home?
 
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You can use any homemade phyllo recipe that you have! I've seen versions with yogurt, others with just water. The key is to roll it out to the thickness that you want. On Crete, they make more of the turnover style like the recipe shared above from akispetretzikis. When I make a light, flaky version my recipe is very similar to this one: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/259481/homemade-phyllo-or-filo-dough/
 
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You can use any homemade phyllo recipe that you have! I've seen versions with yogurt, others with just water. The key is to roll it out to the thickness that you want. On Crete, they make more of the turnover style like the recipe shared above from akispetretzikis. When I make a light, flaky version my recipe is very similar to this one: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/259481/homemade-phyllo-or-filo-dough/
I love the turnover style, especially with sesame seeds on top
 
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I love the turnover style, especially with sesame seeds on top
Agreed, it's delicious and different! It's also very east to make at home.
 
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You can even buy "country phyllo" in some places. This store bought phyllo tries to mimic homemade dough a little more. I am not sure where to find it, maybe at a Greek store? I haven't found it near me in a long time.
 
You can even buy "country phyllo" in some places. This store bought phyllo tries to mimic homemade dough a little more. I am not sure where to find it, maybe at a Greek store? I haven't found it near me in a long time.
I didn't realize it was possible to find the thick phyllo in stores! Very interesting.
 
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I didn't realize it was possible to find the thick phyllo in stores! Very interesting.
Yes it totally is! Hard to find though, so I buy extra when I do
 

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!

How does your family season dolmades?

I’ve been thinking about how much dolmades can vary from one family to another, especially when it comes to seasoning. Even when the basic ingredients are similar, the flavor can be completely different depending on which herbs and spices are used.

How does your family season dolmades? Do you use mostly dill and parsley, or do you add mint as well? I’ve also seen recipes that include green onions, oregano, or even a little cinnamon, especially when meat is part of the filling.

I’m curious whether you season the rice mixture pretty heavily before rolling the grape leaves or keep it simple and let the lemon and olive oil provide most of the flavor. Does your family add lemon juice directly to the filling, or only during cooking and serving?

I’d especially love to hear about any regional or family traditions. What gives your dolmades their distinctive flavor?

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?

What Greek Foods Do You Start Craving in the Fall?

I've been thinking more about seasonal eating lately, especially from a Greek perspective. Summer Greek food feels so naturally tied to the season with tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, fresh herbs, grilled foods, and plenty of fruit. But once the weather starts cooling down, I find myself wondering what traditional Greek foods really feel like fall.

Are there certain dishes you start making as soon as September or October arrives? I'm thinking of foods like fasolada, giouvetsi, trahana soup, baked dishes, savory pies, and recipes using apples, grapes, walnuts, chestnuts, pumpkin, or other fall ingredients.

I'd especially love to hear about foods that were seasonal in your family rather than dishes you ate year-round. Were there certain meals your yiayia or parents always started making when the weather changed?

What Greek foods make you think, "Okay, fall is officially here"?
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