Greek Food, Cooking and Recipe Community

Best Greek Christmas dishes (lets start a list in the thread)!

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seleanor

seleanor

Active member
My personal favorite is roast pork, which is not eaten by all families during Christmas but I would say its quite a few

To-Chirino-Tis-Annas-720x480.jpg
 
This is the one time of year I actually like to eat ham, and of course were have spanakopita, baklava, maybe some tzatziki.... No matter what we serve there are always Greek sides!
 
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lalajess said:
This is the one time of year I actually like to eat ham, and of course were have spanakopita, baklava, maybe some tzatziki.... No matter what we serve there are always Greek sides!
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I went to my Greek friends thanksgiving this year and that's exactly what they did! Turkey with some Greek sides :) so tasty
 
efhernandez_ said:
I went to my Greek friends thanksgiving this year and that's exactly what they did! Turkey with some Greek sides :) so tasty
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That's what Thanksgiving looks like for us. Turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, Greek sides, apple pie, baklava haha. I love it!
 
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One of my favorite Greek food items to eat during the Christmas season is Kourabiedes:

www.greekboston.com

Recipe for Kourabiedes - Greek Sugar Cookies

Learn how to prepare and make the Greek cookies Kourabiedes with this helpful recipe.
www.greekboston.com www.greekboston.com
 
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Worldwide Greeks Editor said:
One of my favorite Greek food items to eat during the Christmas season is Kourabiedes:

www.greekboston.com

Recipe for Kourabiedes - Greek Sugar Cookies

Learn how to prepare and make the Greek cookies Kourabiedes with this helpful recipe.
www.greekboston.com www.greekboston.com
Click to expand...
Kourabedies are delicious - they're my favorite too! For Christmas Day we usually cook a roast or something like that, and serve a combination of Greek and American sides. Spanakopita, fasolakia, usually some kind of pie, like Apple pie, kourabedies, baklava...
 
Oh my gosh, I love kourabedies, too! During Christmas, I put a little almond extract to give it a bit of a holiday flavor. (I love Christmas cookies that have almond flavoring!)
 
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lalajess said:
Oh my gosh, I love kourabedies, too! During Christmas, I put a little almond extract to give it a bit of a holiday flavor. (I love Christmas cookies that have almond flavoring!)
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Is almond extract available at most grocery stores?
 
mastichas09 said:
Is almond extract available at most grocery stores?
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Yes, in the United States it is. It's in the baking aisle near the vanilla extract and all that.
 
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lalajess said:
Yes, in the United States it is. It's in the baking aisle near the vanilla extract and all that.
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Its super easy to find, just have to look for it
 
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JOIN THE DISCUSSION AND READ OTHER GREEK INFO:

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 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.

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?

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!

What is the secret to making really good Greek lemon potatoes?

I've been making Greek lemon potatoes for years, and it's one of those dishes I make completely by feel. I don't measure anything, and I never really thought about how I make them because it's all second nature to me.

Recently, I tried teaching someone how to make them. Everything seemed straightforward while we were cooking together, but when they went home and tried making them on their own, all kinds of things went wrong! The potatoes weren't cooking evenly, the texture wasn't quite right, and the lemon flavor didn't come through the way it should.

It made me realize how much I rely on instinct when cooking traditional Greek food. I rarely write down recipes, so explaining every little detail is harder than I expected!

For those who make Greek lemon potatoes regularly, what tips would you give someone who's just learning?
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