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acamp7

Active member
I was thinking that it would be fun to make chocolate baklava. I have made a version of chocolate baklava that involved putting chocolate chips in with the walnuts. It was good but not great. Honestly I was just winging it and I could have messed something up. If anyone has a recipe for this feel free to send it my way!

I bumped into a recipe for chocolate baklava somewhere that called for chocolate phyllo. Is this a thing I can actually buy? If not, is this easy enough to make? I make regular phyllo all the time.

The only problem is, for baklava I like the thin sheets of Phyllo and mine don't come. close. Your thoughts are appreciated.
 
Yes chocolate phyllo dough is a thing as is chocolate puff pastry. I have not found it yet in supermarkets. The truth is your best bet is to make it on your own. Though as you said, homemade phyllo tends to be thicker than store bought phyllo. I say go ahead and make it. Be cautious on how much coco powder you use and when opening them (rolling them out) use coco powder instead of cornstarch. I would love to see photo of it if you do. Share it with us here or privately on my Insta at @PemiKanavos.
If you are to bored of making chocolate phyllo try out our chocolate baklava in our new book “Baking baklava” our syrup is chocolatey to add more chocolate flavor to the baklava!
 
I was thinking that it would be fun to make chocolate baklava. I have made a version of chocolate baklava that involved putting chocolate chips in with the walnuts. It was good but not great. Honestly I was just winging it and I could have messed something up. If anyone has a recipe for this feel free to send it my way!

I bumped into a recipe for chocolate baklava somewhere that called for chocolate phyllo. Is this a thing I can actually buy? If not, is this easy enough to make? I make regular phyllo all the time.

The only problem is, for baklava I like the thin sheets of Phyllo and mine don't come. close. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Seems like you can only buy direct for now

 
I read a tip for making thin phyllo and I wonder if anyone has ever tried this - use a pasta machine - one of those with a crank that flattens the dough.

My concern is that this will overwork the phyllo. But I know it can help get the sheets thinner. I saw it in a cookbook somewhere but I've never personally tried it.

Let us know how things turn out with the chocolate phyllo!
 

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?

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?

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.

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.

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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