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paharo45

Active member
At the Greek restaurant where I work, I noticed that some of the patrons come in and ask about which dishes are gluten free dishes. The restaurant does a great job accommodating these customers, but I am curious. What do Gluten Free Greeks do at home? How do they navigate?

Here are some things the restaurant does:

- Using gluten free flour in béchamel (and we have two versions, one with gluten and one without). Then, when people order the likes of moussaka or even pastitsio, it is assembled in a "made to order" fashion in smaller portion to accommodate the gluten free people
- We have a pizza and the customer can order gluten free crust
- We offer gluten free bread - our GF flatbread is popular
- We use GF pasta (orzo, etc) for our gluten free customers
- We offer some rice dishes

But what about for the home cook?
 
I have a gluten free friend and I keep gluten free pasta on hand in case I make a dish and I know she's going to be there. For example, I make a lot of vegetable soups and I tend to share those with friends. I also make sure not to cook anything with gluten simultaneously to preparing dishes I know she is going to eat. For her, she goes out of her way to find gluten free ingredients and foods and she often has to pay more to find the good stuff.
 

How Do You Keep Lamb from Drying Out in the Oven?

I’ve been cooking more traditional Greek food at home lately, and one thing I’m still trying to get right is oven-roasted lamb. I love the flavor, especially with garlic, lemon, oregano, and potatoes, but sometimes the meat comes out a little drier than I’d like.

For those of you who make lamb regularly, how do you keep it tender and juicy in the oven? Do you cover it for part of the cooking time, add water or broth to the pan, or cook it slowly at a lower temperature?

I’m also wondering if the cut makes a big difference. I usually see leg of lamb used, but would shoulder be more forgiving for a long roast?

I’d like to get that really tender Greek-style lamb that practically falls apart. Any tips on temperature, cooking time, marinades, or resting the meat would be appreciated.

Favorite Greek dishes made with zucchini

Zucchini seems to show up in so many Greek dishes, especially during the summer when it’s plentiful and at its best. I’m curious what everyone’s favorite traditional Greek zucchini dishes are.

Kolokithokeftedes are probably one of the first things that come to mind for me. I love how the zucchini works with herbs, feta, and a little crispiness on the outside. I also enjoy zucchini in vegetable dishes like briam, and I know there are plenty of regional recipes that use it in different ways.

What Greek zucchini dishes do you make most often? Do you prefer zucchini fritters, stuffed zucchini, baked dishes, stews, pies, or something else entirely?

I’d especially love to hear about family recipes or regional dishes that aren’t as well known outside Greece. And if you grow zucchini yourself, what do you usually make when you suddenly have more than you know what to do with?

What is your favorite way to make spanakopita?

I’ve noticed there are so many different ways people make it, even within Greek families. Some make it as one large pie in a baking dish, while others prefer individual triangles or even rolled, rope-like shapes. I’m curious which style everyone prefers and whether you think the shape changes the texture at all.

I’m also interested in the filling. Do you use only feta, or do you mix in other cheeses such as ricotta, mizithra, or something else? What about the greens? Is yours mostly spinach, or do you add leeks, scallions, dill, parsley, or other herbs and greens?

And of course, there’s the phyllo. Do you use store-bought or make your own?

I’d love to hear how your family makes spanakopita and whether there is a particular version you consider the “right” one.

Do you put potatoes in your moussaka?

My family has never made moussaka with potatoes, so I always grew up thinking of it as layers of eggplant, meat sauce, and béchamel. Recently, though, I had moussaka at a restaurant that included a layer of potatoes, and I absolutely loved it.

The potatoes gave it a little more substance and seemed to soak up some of the flavors from the meat sauce. It made the whole dish feel even more comforting without taking away from the eggplant.

Now I’m curious about how common this is in Greece and in Greek families. Is adding potatoes considered traditional in certain regions, or is it simply one of those variations that depends on the household?

If you make moussaka at home, do you include potatoes? And if you do, do you use them along with eggplant or in place of some of it?

What to do with garden zucchini?

Every summer, I seem to end up with more zucchini from the garden than I know what to do with! Of course, in Greek cooking there are plenty of good options, but I’m always looking for new ideas once I’ve made the usual favorites a few times.

I tend to use zucchini for kolokithokeftedes, briam, stuffed zucchini, and simple sautéed dishes with olive oil and herbs. I also like adding it to vegetable pies or roasting it alongside potatoes and other summer vegetables. Still, when the garden is producing zucchini constantly, it’s easy to run out of inspiration.

What does everyone else do with an abundance of garden zucchini? Are there traditional Greek recipes you make every summer, especially ones that use a lot at once?

I’d also love ideas for preserving or freezing zucchini in a way that works well for Greek dishes later in the year.
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