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Gluten Free Moussaka?

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blopez34

Active member
I am going to a dinner party where the hostess is gluten free. I thought I would try making this and bring it to her house. What do you guys think of it?

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Do you have tips for working with phyllo?

I have been experimenting with Greek cooking for a few years now and I didn't have the guts to start trying to work with phyllo until recently - I tried to make baklava. I had all kinds of problems and I am hoping you guys have some tips to help me get the hang of it better. Here's a list of the...
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I have made regular moussaka with gluten, so I think I will be okay with this (I am kind of new at cooking Greek food).
 
GreekGirlCooks

GreekGirlCooks

Member
I ate Gluten Free moussaka once and you know what it seemed like to me? That I was essentially eating moussaka topped with mashed potato, almost like a Greek shepherds pie. It was delicious and I didn't mind it, it was just different from what I expected. I think this might be a pretty common textural issue to think about with the GF version of this dish.
 
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blopez34

Active member
I did end up cooking that recipe - it was pretty good but I know what you mean @GreekGirlCooks ... it had a texture I wasn't expecting. It was still good, though - everyone loved it!
 
k_tsoukalas

k_tsoukalas

Moderator
blopez34 said:
I did end up cooking that recipe - it was pretty good but I know what you mean @GreekGirlCooks ... it had a texture I wasn't expecting. It was still good, though - everyone loved it!
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Would you make it again? Thanks for the feedback on the recipe!
 
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Can you make Ek Mek with pumpkin?

I had a pumpkin flavored ek mek once somewhere around American Thanksgiving. It was a Greek restaurant and they had it on special.

Any idea how this would work? I would love to experiment with it.

I know Ek Mek involves whipped cream.

I found a recipe for pumpkin whipped cream. Do you think I can sub this for the whipped cream in a typical ek mek recipe?

1 cup of heavy cream
1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
1/2 tsp of pumpkin spice
1/4 cup of pumpkin puree
1/4 cup of granulated sugar

Basically you beat the whipped cream with the vanilla and pumpkin spice until soft peaks form, then gently beat in the pumpkin puree and granulated sugar until stiff peaks form. I'd make enough for whichever Ek Mek recipe I use.

Are melamakarona and finikia the same thing?

I had thought I never made melamakarona but then when I got the recipe from a friend, it looks exactly like my finikia recipe.

Are they basically the same thing with a different name?

Here is my Finikia recipe and aside from some minor differences, it looks the same as my friend's Melamakarona recipe.

- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup brandy or cognac
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups finely chopped walnuts
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1 cup honey

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves. Mix until the ingredients are evenly distributed.
2. Add the vegetable oil, orange juice, brandy, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Use a hand mixer or a whisk to combine the ingredients until a thick dough forms.
3. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
4. Form the dough into small balls (around 1-2 inches in diameter) and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
5. Bake the cookies for 15-20 minutes, or until they turn golden brown.
6. While the cookies are baking, prepare the honey syrup. In a saucepan, heat the honey over medium heat until it starts to boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the chopped walnuts.
8. Dip the baked cookies in the honey syrup while they're still warm, making sure to coat them evenly. Place the coated cookies on a wire rack to cool.

Exploring the Hotter Side of Greek Spices

I know that traditionally, Greek food doesn't use a lot of spices. But, when I was in Greece, I saw that they are more adventurous than we may have realized. Spices from other cultures have made their way into the cuisine, and chefs experiment. I thought I would make a lost of some of the spices that could possibly be used in Greek cooking.

Paprika

Paprika is a bright red spice made from dried and ground peppers. It's a common ingredient in Greek cuisine, and is used to add smoky, slightly sweet flavor and deep red color to dishes. Paprika can also vary in heat intensity, depending on the type of pepper used, ranging from mild to hot. In Greek cooking, sweet paprika is often used to add flavor to stews, soups, and roasted meats, while hot paprika can be added to dips and sauces for an extra kick of heat.

Cumin

Cumin is a spice with a warm, earthy flavor and a slightly bitter undertone. It's a popular ingredient in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking, and is often used in Greek dishes like moussaka, stuffed peppers, and lentil soup. Cumin has a moderate level of spiciness, and can give dishes a subtle kick of heat while also adding depth of flavor.

Red Pepper Flakes

Red pepper flakes, also known as crushed red pepper, are made from dried, crushed chili peppers. They're commonly used in Greek cuisine to add heat to dishes like pizza, pasta, and grilled meats. Red pepper flakes pack a substantial amount of heat, measuring in at around 30,000 to 50,000 SHU. However, their spicy kick is often balanced by the sweet, fruity flavor of the peppers used.

Harissa

Harissa is a fiery Tunisian hot sauce that's popular throughout North Africa and the Middle East. In Greek cuisine, it's often used as a marinade for grilled meats or fish, or as a dip for bread or vegetables. Made from a blend of chili peppers, garlic, caraway seeds, and other spices, harissa can range from mildly spicy to extremely hot, depending on the brand and recipe. To be honest I didn't really see this much, but when I researched online I found that it is available in Greece.

Making gyros at home

I love gyros and it isn't always realistic for me to go out and find a gyro shop. I only know of one, and it is a bit of a ways away for me.

I found a video that I want you guys to review. I know he isn't Greek, but his method looks pretty solid and he even makes homemade pita! They look good.

Here's the video:

Street corn like in Greece?

One of the things I like to eat on the street in Greece is the street corn. I have been trying to replicate making it at home because I grill all the time.

I can find corn year round, but I admit that it tastes so much better when the corn is in season.

Anyway, when I first started doing this, I didn't boil it first! I am pretty sure they boil the corn first in Greece. Is this true? It's starting to taste a little closer, but I have a few missing pieces.

How do they season it? I favor butter with corn, but when I use it, I admit it doesn't taste "right". Has anyone tried to make the corn at hime and can offer me some advice?

greek-street-corn.jpg
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