Can You Think of Any Greek Dishes with Mushrooms?

[paharo45]

So, I am still learning my way around Greek cuisine. I love mushrooms and I have yet to find any Greek dishes that include mushrooms. I know that they are found in Greece and you can buy mushrooms in the markets. I saw a segment on TV (I don't remember where) about a mushroom farmer in Greece, and I know people regularly forage for mushrooms in the wild.

What do people in Greece usually do with these mushrooms? I can't really find much online. Do people substitute it for meat? Cook it with meat? Put them in salads?

 

[PemiKanavos]

Hi Paharo45

Mushrooms have been part of our Ancient Greek history. They used them in a mystical ancient festival called the Eleusinian Mysteries, religious rites were held for a cult for the goddesses Demeter. Hippocrates taught his students the medicinal properties as well as the poisonous properties of the native to region mushrooms.
In cooking, mushroooms have no been largely used in the traditional recipes.
That’s not to say that Greeks don’t use mushrooms. In the Northen parts of Greece where the mushrooms grow in abundance, there are several regional dishes like Manitaria Giahni or Manitaria frikasse (egg lemon sauce). They fry them with garlic and saffron, they grill them, put them in the pita and also in fasolada.

 

[k_tsoukalas]

I did not realize that mushrooms were even part of the ancient traditions in Greece until recently. I never learned how to cook any Greek dishes with mushrooms, but we all love them in my household. Pemi, I will try some of your suggestions!

 

[paharo45]

Agreed, these are some helpful suggestions. I have some friends who might have come from northern Greece because I have noticed that they do make a dish now and then that includes mushrooms. I think it might be the dish with the egg and lemon sauce! I would love to make it some day.