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mastichas09

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I recently had a pastitsio that I thought was delicious, so I asked for the recipe.

I was surprised that there was some tomato sauce in it! My family never did that.

So, I made it according to the recipe, and I loved it - but I am still not 100% sure if I would have liked it better without the tomato sauce (the way my family makes it).

I am curious - how do you guys feel about putting tomato sauce in your pastitsio?
 
Was the tomato sauce on the pasta or just in the meat? I use a small can of tomato paste in the meat, and a bit of cinnamon, but no tomato sauce on pasta.

There are regional variations in just about all Greek cooking. If you enjoy it with tomato sauce, than do it. If you prefer it without, do it that way. The whole purpose of food is for you and your family to enjoy it. LOL.

I assure you no matter how you make it there will be no "pastitsio police" showing up at your door. Enjoy it the way you all like it.
 
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We cook the ground beef in the tomato sauce, but when we are in our village we make our village's version of pastitsio which is completely different than what you'd get in the rest of Greece... it has no ground beef in it or tomato sauce
 
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We cook the ground beef in the tomato sauce, but when we are in our village we make our village's version of pastitsio which is completely different than what you'd get in the rest of Greece... it has no ground beef in it or tomato sauce
How is it different? I am intrigued!
 
Was the tomato sauce on the pasta or just in the meat? I use a small can of tomato paste in the meat, and a bit of cinnamon, but no tomato sauce on pasta.

There are regional variations in just about all Greek cooking. If you enjoy it with tomato sauce, than do it. If you prefer it without, do it that way. The whole purpose of food is for you and your family to enjoy it. LOL.

I assure you no matter how you make it there will be no "pastitsio police" showing up at your door. Enjoy it the way you all like it.
The tomato paste was in the ground meat and there was a little bit of cinnamon flavor in it! I love that you said there will be no pastitsio police hahaha. That hit home, because I have been paranoid that a family member would find out I changed the family recipe a little bit and then yell at me LOL.
 

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.

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?

What is your favorite Greek potato dish?

Potatoes show up in so many Greek meals, and I think they are often at their best when they soak up plenty of olive oil, lemon, herbs, and cooking juices.

Greek lemon potatoes are probably the first thing that comes to mind for me. I love when they are roasted until they are soft inside, a little crisp around the edges, and full of lemon and oregano. Potatoes cooked alongside chicken or lamb are also hard to beat because they absorb so much flavor from the pan.

I also enjoy simple boiled potatoes dressed with olive oil, lemon, parsley, and salt, especially with fish or grilled meat.

What Greek potato dish do you make most often? Do you prefer lemon potatoes, potatoes roasted with meat, fried potatoes, or something else? And is there a particular seasoning or family method that makes your version especially good?

Do you make your pastitsio with a thick or thin layer of krema?

I've always preferred my pastitsio with a nice, thick layer of béchamel on top. To me, that's one of the best parts of the dish! I love when the krema is rich, creamy, and thick enough to hold its shape when you cut into the pastitsio.

The problem is that I've been having trouble getting my krema just right. Sometimes it comes out too thin, and other times the texture isn't quite as smooth as I'd like. I've tried adjusting the amount of flour and milk, but I still haven't found the perfect balance.

I'm curious how everyone else makes theirs. Do you prefer a thick layer of béchamel or just enough to cover the pasta? Does your family add eggs or cheese to the mixture?

I'd especially love to hear any tips for making a thick, smooth krema that sets beautifully when baked!

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?
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