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These are some of the best Greek comfort foods

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nadellii

nadellii

Active member
Greece has so many comfort foods that are home cooked with love and care. In my personal opinion, some of the best Greek comfort foods are pastitsio and makaronia mai kima. These are traditional Greek dishes that are usually only found in Greek homes and are rarely eaten at tavernas. Pastitsio and makaronia mai kima are also the favorites of many Greek children, including myself, so that’s why I always find myself going back to them. What are your favorite Greek comfort foods?
 
I've never heard of makaronia mai kima, but makaronia me kima is a good one :p... For me it's souvlakia (aka gyros), kalamakia (aka souvlaki).
 
ellinasgolfer0320 said:
I've never heard of makaronia mai kima, but makaronia me kima is a good one :p... For me it's souvlakia (aka gyros), kalamakia (aka souvlaki).
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Obviously didn't grow up as a Greek.
Maybe grown up on hamburgers and hotdogs only
 
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francescool said:
I thought they were directly translating each letter: μαι --> mai, meaning "with"
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No, μαι = είμαι, and you will sometimes see it written as μαι if the word before it ends in a vowel. For example θα είμαι (I will be) -> θα 'μαι. So writing "makaronia mai kima" reads like "spaghetti I am ground beef"

The word for "with" in Greek is "με" (me) or "μαζί" (mazi) depending on what you want to say.

Υποτίθεται ότι θα έτρωγα δύο σουβλάκια με τζατζίκι και πατάτες, αλλά δεν είχα καιρό. - I was supposed to eat two gyros with tzaziki and potatoes, but I didn't have time. (souvlaki = gyros to an Athenian)

Θες να πας στο εμπορικό κέντρο μαζί μου; - do you want to go to the mall with me?
 
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ellinasgolfer0320 said:
No, μαι = είμαι, and you will sometimes see it written as μαι if the word before it ends in a vowel. For example θα είμαι (I will be) -> θα 'μαι. So writing "makaronia mai kima" reads like "spaghetti I am ground beef"

The word for "with" in Greek is "με" (me) or "μαζί" (mazi) depending on what you want to say.

Υποτίθεται ότι θα έτρωγα δύο σουβλάκια με τζατζίκι και πατάτες, αλλά δεν είχα καιρό. - I was supposed to eat two gyros with tzaziki and potatoes, but I didn't have time. (souvlaki = gyros to an Athenian)

Θες να πας στο εμπορικό κέντρο μαζί μου; - do you want to go to the mall with me?
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Great explanation!
 
greek_ggirl said:
Great explanation!
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Thanks. I have taught Greek and I've taught English (both for fun). You gotta keep things simple and provide explanations for everything.
 
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ellinasgolfer0320 said:
Thanks. I have taught Greek and I've taught English (both for fun). You gotta keep things simple and provide explanations for everything.
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Where did you teach Greek? At a local Greek school?
 
efhernandez_ said:
Where did you teach Greek? At a local Greek school?
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No, I taught Greek in my city, and sometimes I did it online with people who spoke Spanish but wanted to learn Greek (I saw this as a way to improve my Spanish. I.e. you teach me Spanish and ill teach you Greek). It was all for free, especially the online classes.
 
Lucky it was for free, your Greek grammar and the use of Greek words, not the best.
 
Blue & White said:
Lucky it was for free, your Greek grammar and the use of Greek words, not the best.
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Μάλιστα... εφόσον τα ελληνικά σου είναι τέλεια, πες μου εσύ τον σωστό τρόπο να πω την πρόταση.
 
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nadellii said:
Greece has so many comfort foods that are home cooked with love and care. In my personal opinion, some of the best Greek comfort foods are pastitsio and makaronia mai kima. These are traditional Greek dishes that are usually only found in Greek homes and are rarely eaten at tavernas. Pastitsio and makaronia mai kima are also the favorites of many Greek children, including myself, so that’s why I always find myself going back to them. What are your favorite Greek comfort foods?
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I totally agree, Greece does have some of the best comfort foods! Makaronia me kima is one of my personal favorites. I also love Avgolemono soupa, and spaghetti made with a sauce made of Greek yogurt, cheese, garlic...
 
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GreekGirlCooks said:
I totally agree, Greece does have some of the best comfort foods! Makaronia me kima is one of my personal favorites. I also love Avgolemono soupa, and spaghetti made with a sauce made of Greek yogurt, cheese, garlic...
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Avgolemono is a classic! It's the best food when youre sick as well
 
acamp7 said:
Avgolemono is a classic! It's the best food when youre sick as well
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I totally agree! I tend to want it most when I am not feeling well.
 
I love Avgolemono when I am sick, as well, and other Greek soups. For me, soup is the perfect comfort food.
 
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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.

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!

What is your favorite Greek potato dish?

Potatoes show up in so many Greek meals, and I think they are often at their best when they soak up plenty of olive oil, lemon, herbs, and cooking juices.

Greek lemon potatoes are probably the first thing that comes to mind for me. I love when they are roasted until they are soft inside, a little crisp around the edges, and full of lemon and oregano. Potatoes cooked alongside chicken or lamb are also hard to beat because they absorb so much flavor from the pan.

I also enjoy simple boiled potatoes dressed with olive oil, lemon, parsley, and salt, especially with fish or grilled meat.

What Greek potato dish do you make most often? Do you prefer lemon potatoes, potatoes roasted with meat, fried potatoes, or something else? And is there a particular seasoning or family method that makes your version especially good?

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!

Is lamb or beef more traditional for giouvetsi?

I've been looking into traditional Greek giouvetsi recipes lately, and I'm curious about which meat is considered the most traditional. I've seen recipes that use lamb, others that call for beef, and even some that use chicken.

I love the idea of slowly cooking the meat in a rich tomato sauce with orzo until everything becomes tender and flavorful. However, I'm wondering whether lamb or beef would be the more authentic choice.

Is one traditionally preferred in certain regions of Greece? I've read that lamb is often associated with older Greek recipes, but beef seems to be very common in modern versions of giouvetsi.

I'm also curious whether the choice of meat changes the way the dish is prepared. Does lamb require different seasonings or cooking times than beef?

For those familiar with traditional Greek cooking, which version do you prefer, and which would you recommend trying first?
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