1 - 2 of 2 Posts

mj_toronto8

Active member
Feta is the most famous of the Greek cheeses. I love to eat it in Greek salads, I put it in my tiro pita, and I love to eat it all by itself. It is such an important part of Greek cuisine!

It is a brined curd cheese made from sheep’s milk or goat's milk, feta is salty and tangy in taste due to the brining process. The name “feta” comes from the Italian word ‘fette’ meaning slice or slab, referring to the way in which it is formed into its signature block shape.

It's also cool how special it is - it is classified as “Protected Designation of Origin” (PDO) due to its official geographical origin being tied solely to Greece and must be produced using specific traditional methods in order for it to be given this designation

Its flavor profile can range from mild with crunchy crystals formed through aging process to sharp if aged longer than seven months. It often has small eyes or openings throughout its texture which can resemble those found in Swiss Emmentaler or Italian Grana Padano cheese.

What are your favorite ways to use feta cheese?
 

k_tsoukalas

Moderator
Feta is the most famous of the Greek cheeses. I love to eat it in Greek salads, I put it in my tiro pita, and I love to eat it all by itself. It is such an important part of Greek cuisine!

It is a brined curd cheese made from sheep’s milk or goat's milk, feta is salty and tangy in taste due to the brining process. The name “feta” comes from the Italian word ‘fette’ meaning slice or slab, referring to the way in which it is formed into its signature block shape.

It's also cool how special it is - it is classified as “Protected Designation of Origin” (PDO) due to its official geographical origin being tied solely to Greece and must be produced using specific traditional methods in order for it to be given this designation

Its flavor profile can range from mild with crunchy crystals formed through aging process to sharp if aged longer than seven months. It often has small eyes or openings throughout its texture which can resemble those found in Swiss Emmentaler or Italian Grana Padano cheese.

What are your favorite ways to use feta cheese?
This was interesting, thank you! I was just thinking that one thing I would really like to do is visit somewhere in Greece where they make it so I could see the process. I think that would be fascinating.
 

Do Greek really like their lamb well done?

Is it a myth that most Greeks like their lamb well done?

I ask because in my family - we tend to like it medium well or medium. We all feel that well one lamb is too tough!

With lamb shank it is a different story.

We make leg of lamb a lot, as well as lamb souvlaki and lamb chops. Especially with the souvlaki, well done doesn't taste as good to me.

It's hard to gauge how long to cook a leg o lamb, and I find I naturally gravitate towards pieces that are more on the medium side. Are we the exception not the rule?

Favorite Greek desserts to feed a crowd

I have gatherings year round, but I have more of them this time of year! I like to serve other desserts besides melamakarona, so I thought I would compile a list of some of my favorite choices:.

1. Baklava – This famous dessert is made by layering phyllo dough, chopped nuts (usually walnuts), and honey syrup. The crunchy layers of pastry and sweet, sticky filling will make your taste buds dance with delight. Baklava is perfect for serving at a party because it can be cut into small squares, making it easy for guests to enjoy.

2. Galaktoboureko – This dessert is a classic Greek custard pie, made by baking a creamy custard filling between layers of filo pastry. Once cooked, it is soaked in a sweet syrup made from honey and lemon juice. This dessert is best served warm and is perfect for a winter party.

3. Kataifi – This dessert is a close relative of baklava, but instead of using sheets of phyllo dough, it uses shredded phyllo dough that is wrapped around a variety of fillings like nuts or cream. Kadaifi is a perfect dessert because it can be filled with anything you like, making it easy to customize to your tastes.

4. Ekmek Kataifi – This dessert is a modern twist on traditional Greek pastries. Ekmek Kataifi is made from shredded phyllo dough, creamy custard, topped with whipped cream, and garnished with ground pistachios. It is delicious, refreshing, and perfect for a summertime party.

Cooking Greek Cookbook and Baking Baklava Cookbooks On Sale!

See our popular Cooking Greek and Baking Baklava Cookbooks this holiday season!

Cooking Greek Cookbook

Screenshot 2023-11-22 at 1.44.19 PM.png

Buy Cooking Greek Cookbook HERE!

This visually beautiful cookbook contains over 200 pages of flavorful and delicious classic Greek recipes presented in a simple and easy-to-follow manner for all level at-home chefs.

Greek cuisine can seem intimidating, but when presented by chef Pemi it is anxiety free! With a culinary arts degree, experience teaching Greek cooking classes, and thousands of hours in her yiayia’s (grandmother’s) kitchen, chef Pemi brings a unique perspective with her flavor profile, instructions and beautiful full page photos of each dish.

Cooking Greek: A Classic Greek Cookbook for the At-Home Chef, is the perfect cookbook for foodies and makes a great gift for any occasion.

Discover how to cook some of the most popular, authentic Greek recipes including baklava, tiropita (cheese pie), dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), pastitsio (macaroni pie), spanakopita (spinach pie), moussaka (eggplant and ground beef pie), Greek meatballs, loukoumades (Greek donuts), tzatziki( cucumber yogurt dip), souvlaki (meat skewers), galaktoboureko (milk pie), Greek style octopus and many more mouth-watering Greek recipes.

Chef Pemi Kanavos and Tanya Stamoulis of Worldwide Greeks, have created a visually stunning, classic Greek cookbook for all levels of at-home chefs. Pemi Kanavos is a classically-trained pastry chef with a culinary arts degree and a love of feeding people, and sharing her Greek culture and cuisine.

Baking Baklava Cookbook

Screenshot 2023-11-22 at 1.46.43 PM.png

Buy Baking Baklava Cookbook HERE!

This stunning 100-page, 27 recipe, high quality baking cookbook is a perfect handbook for bakers and baklava lovers alike.

The Baking Baklava cookbook pays tribute to baklava, a renowned delicacy treasured in many countries around the world, with simple and easy-to-follow baklava recipes for all skill levels. Also included are over dozen delicious dessert recipes inspired by the flavors and textures of baklava.

People are often intimidated by baking, particularly with a delicate dessert like baklava, but when presented by Chef Pemi it is anxiety free! With a culinary arts degree in pastry, experience teaching cooking classes, and thousands of hours in her kitchen, Chef Pemi brings a unique perspective with her flavor profile, instructions and beautiful full page photos of each dessert.

Baking Baklava: Classic and Inspired Recipes from Around the World, is the perfect cookbook for dessert lovers and makes a great gift for any occasion with 27 traditional and inspired baklava recipes.

Explore baklava recipes from various countries including: Greek Baklava, Persian Baghlava, Turkish Soguk or Cold Baklava, Albanian Bakllave, Syrian Pistachio Lady’s Bracelet Baklava, Azeri Pakhlava, Lebanese Baklava, Armenian Chor Paxlava and Jordanian Warbat Baklava.

Chef Pemi has also created delicious Baklava-inspired recipes paying homage to a classic with modern twists such as: Baklava Cheesecake, Chocolate Hazelnut Baklava, Caramel Apple Baklava Rolls, Caramel Chocolate Peanut Crinkle Baklava, Bacon-Pecan-Cognac Baklava, Baklava Ice Cream Tarts, Chocolate Peanut Butter Baklava and more…

For those with dietary restrictions, Chef Pemi has adapted classic Baklava recipes to include Gluten-Free Baklava, Nut-Free Baklava and Vegan Baklava variations.

Phyllo for savory Greek dishes?

I was looking in the food forum and I saw that someone made a remark that the phyllo in Greece used for sweet desserts like baklava is different than the phyllo used for savory dishes. I did notice while in Greece that the savory phyllo is thicker.

What is really the difference? Is savory phyllo homemade? Does it have different ingredients? Is it thicker on purpose? Finally, do you have a recipe?

I know on Crete some of the savory, handheld pies have a dough that is closer to a turnover dough than it is a phyllo. And yet the dish has the word "pita" in it. It was a greens-based handheld pie with no cheese and was spiced with cumin! The "phyllo" was really thick and I believe the pie was even fried.

Making Ladokouloura at home - recipes I found

I am baking more because of the holidays. I love ladokouloura (kouloura made with olive oil). I usually buy it, but realized I can make it. Here is a recipe I can find. Does it look right? I believe it is slightly different from the video I found. What do you think about these recipes? Which should I try?

- 1 cup olive oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 cups of all purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit.

Combine the wet ingredients (olive oil, sugar, orange juice, and vanilla extract) in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, and cinnamon). Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, stirring the ingredients together to form a dough. Knead the dough until it is smooth and not sticking to your hands.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Shape the cookies and place on the sheet spaced about an inch apart. Place the sheet in the oven and bake the cookies for about 20 minutes. They are done when they are a slight golden brown color.

Sign up for a free account and share your thoughts, photos, questions about Greek food, travel and culture!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Follow Worldwide Greeks:
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Pinterest YouTube
Top