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mj_toronto8

Active member
I thought I'd share a simple method for how I make saganaki. I have had different versions of this, I honestly like other versions better, but this is the easiest for me to do!

I slice one of these cheeses thick:

Kefalotyri, Graviera, or, Kefalograviera

Then I dip it in water on each side and coat it in flour that had been seasoned with salt and pepper.

I add olive oil to a small frying pan and set the heat on medium high. When the oil is hot I add the cheese. Basically, I sear it like I would anything else and serve it hot. It's fast and easy and a crowd pleaser - I do this when I have company.

I have never doused it in Ouzo and set it on fire like they do in restaurants, I am legitimately concerned I might burn my hair or something! Should I add this step, though? I could always tie my hair back...
 
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I thought I'd share a simple method for how I make saganaki. I have had different versions of this, I honestly like other versions better, but this is the easiest for me to do!

I slice one of these cheeses thick:

Kefalotyri, Graviera, or, Kefalograviera

Then I dip it in water on each side and coat it in flour that had been seasoned with salt and pepper.

I add olive oil to a small frying pan and set the heat on medium high. When the oil is hot I add the cheese. Basically, I sear it like I would anything else and serve it hot. It's fast and easy and a crowd pleaser - I do this when I have company.

I have never doused it in Ouzo and set it on fire like they do in restaurants, I am legitimately concerned I might burn my hair or something! Should I add this step, though? I could always tie my hair back...
This looks amazing! I will try it!
 
Thank you for sharing. It is an easy recipe but definitely seems like a yummy recipe.
 

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.

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?

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.

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!

How Much Garlic in a Batch of Tzatziki?

How much garlic do you usually put in a batch of tzatziki? I think I may be using a little too much. I usually make mine with about 2 cups of Greek yogurt and 4 cloves of garlic, along with cucumber, olive oil, and the other usual ingredients.

It tastes great when I first make it, but we usually take about three days to finish the batch. By the second or third day, the garlic flavor and smell become really strong. Some people in my household love that and don’t mind it at all, but others think it becomes a bit overpowering. I’m starting to agree that four cloves might be too much, especially since the garlic seems to get stronger as it sits.

What do you all do? How many cloves would you use for about 2 cups of Greek yogurt?
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