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Easy Saganaki Recipe

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mj_toronto8

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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mj_toronto8 said:
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...
Click to expand...
This looks amazing! I will try it!
 
Thank you for sharing. It is an easy recipe but definitely seems like a yummy recipe.
 
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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?

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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.

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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.

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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 secret to making really good Greek lemon potatoes?

I've been making Greek lemon potatoes for years, and it's one of those dishes I make completely by feel. I don't measure anything, and I never really thought about how I make them because it's all second nature to me.

Recently, I tried teaching someone how to make them. Everything seemed straightforward while we were cooking together, but when they went home and tried making them on their own, all kinds of things went wrong! The potatoes weren't cooking evenly, the texture wasn't quite right, and the lemon flavor didn't come through the way it should.

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For those who make Greek lemon potatoes regularly, what tips would you give someone who's just learning?
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