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seleanor

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Beans are so healthy and versatile, and there are so many Greek recipes where beans are the star of the dish! These are my top recipes, but I'm sure there are many more that I do not know of. Please add more in the the thread!!

- Gigantes (baked white beans with tomato sauce)
-Fava bean spread (boiled and mashed fava beans with lemon and olive oil)
-Fakes (simple lentil soup with onions and tomatoes, garnished with vinegar and olive oil)
 
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Fasolada
 
Beans are so healthy and versatile, and there are so many Greek recipes where beans are the star of the dish! These are my top recipes, but I'm sure there are many more that I do not know of. Please add more in the the thread!!

- Gigantes (baked white beans with tomato sauce)
-Fava bean spread (boiled and mashed fava beans with lemon and olive oil)
-Fakes (simple lentil soup with onions and tomatoes, garnished with vinegar and olive oil)
Thank you for writting about these wonderful bean dishes. What I remember in Greece, extra big lima beans were used for "Giantes" which means in English giants. From my expierence in Greece, fava is made with yellow split peas and cooked and prepared as you write. I think fava beans are called koukia in Greece and have to be shelled when you buy them fresh from the farmers market. What I remember about preparing them was you had to boil them for a long time and then you had to dump the water because it was toxic? Then re-boil them. But I'm not sure about that. I do remember eating them with local olive oil and fresh squeezed local lemons. A gastronomic heaven
 
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Thank you for writting about these wonderful bean dishes. What I remember in Greece, extra big lima beans were used for "Giantes" which means in English giants. From my expierence in Greece, fava is made with yellow split peas and cooked and prepared as you write. I think fava beans are called koukia in Greece and have to be shelled when you buy them fresh from the farmers market. What I remember about preparing them was you had to boil them for a long time and then you had to dump the water because it was toxic? Then re-boil them. But I'm not sure about that. I do remember eating them with local olive oil and fresh squeezed local lemons. A gastronomic heaven
Yes exactly, when making lentils you need to boil them for a few minutes first, dump out the water, rinse them, and then start cooking them again.
 
Beans are so healthy and versatile, and there are so many Greek recipes where beans are the star of the dish! These are my top recipes, but I'm sure there are many more that I do not know of. Please add more in the the thread!!

- Gigantes (baked white beans with tomato sauce)
-Fava bean spread (boiled and mashed fava beans with lemon and olive oil)
-Fakes (simple lentil soup with onions and tomatoes, garnished with vinegar and olive oil)
I love all of these! Sooo good. A lot of my family "Fava" recipes for some reason use yellow split peas. I know that they aren't the same thing... Maybe it was an issue of availability of ingredients back when they came over... almost 100 years ago now.
 

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?

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?

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!

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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