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GreekGirlCooks

Active member
I love making Briam the time of year. I thought I'd share a recipe. Sometimes I skip the eggplant and add an extra zucchini.

Ingredients:​

  • 2 large potatoes, thinly sliced
  • 2 zucchinis, sliced into rounds
  • 1 eggplant, cut into half-moons
  • 2 bell peppers, sliced
  • 4 ripe tomatoes, grated or blended
  • 1 large onion, thinly sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions:​

  1. Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F).
  2. In a large baking dish, mix all the vegetables.
  3. In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, tomato paste, grated tomatoes, garlic, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper. Pour over vegetables and toss well.
  4. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
  5. Remove foil, stir, and bake uncovered for another 15 minutes until tender and slightly caramelized.
 
That sounds like a delicious Briam recipe—perfect for this time of year! I love how versatile Briam is, and I totally get skipping the eggplant for more zucchini. Sometimes, I swap in sweet potatoes for a bit of extra depth and natural sweetness.

Another variation I enjoy is adding feta towards the end of baking—it melts slightly and adds a salty contrast to the roasted veggies. If you like a bit of crunch, sprinkling toasted pine nuts or a handful of coarse breadcrumbs in the last 10 minutes can be a great touch.

For extra flavor, I sometimes roast everything uncovered a little longer for more caramelization, or I add a splash of red wine vinegar before serving for brightness.

Your recipe is such a great base—thanks for sharing!
 

What Is the Best Way to Serve Taramosalata?

I absolutely love taramosalata and have it pretty regularly at home, but I’m having some people over soon and was wondering about the best way to serve it when entertaining.

Normally I just eat it with some bread or pita, so I don’t really put much thought into presentation. For guests, though, I’d like to make it part of a nice Greek-style spread with a few other things on the table. I was thinking warm pita triangles, crusty bread, maybe some cucumber and other vegetables for dipping, but I’m curious what everyone else usually serves with it.

Do you drizzle a little olive oil over the top or add any kind of garnish? And are there particular meze that you think pair especially well with taramosalata?

I’d love some ideas for making it look a little more special while still keeping everything traditional and simple.

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?

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 Greek lentil soup with vinegar

I’ve always made fakes with a splash of vinegar, either stirred into the pot near the end or added individually at the table. To me, that little bit of acidity is part of what makes the soup taste right, especially with the earthy lentils, olive oil, onion, garlic, and bay leaf.

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.

Now I’m curious about what is considered more traditional in Greek cooking. Is vinegar usually a standard part of fakes, or is it more of a regional or family preference? Are tomato-heavy versions just as traditional?

How do you make yours, and what did your family serve growing up?

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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