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dpappas87

Active member
I have heard this called many names - Briam and "Tourlou Tourlou" being two of them. Either way, I make this a ton at lent and I just recently had a great combination. I make it different each time. Here was my favorite combination in recent history:
  • 3 plum tomatoes
  • 2 potatoes
  • 2 zucchini
  • artichoke hearts (1 can of quartered hearts)
  • Green beans
  • One onion, chopped
  • Oregano
  • Tomato paste mixed with water
I sprayed a baking dish with cooking spray then tossed in the chopped vegetables. (I chop them kind of chunky, except I left the beans whole). I topped the dish with oregano and the tomato paste/ water mix. I covered it and baked it for an hour on 350.
 
I have heard this called many names - Briam and "Tourlou Tourlou" being two of them. Either way, I make this a ton at lent and I just recently had a great combination. I make it different each time. Here was my favorite combination in recent history:
  • 3 plum tomatoes
  • 2 potatoes
  • 2 zucchini
  • artichoke hearts (1 can of quartered hearts)
  • Green beans
  • One onion, chopped
  • Oregano
  • Tomato paste mixed with water
I sprayed a baking dish with cooking spray then tossed in the chopped vegetables. (I chop them kind of chunky, except I left the beans whole). I topped the dish with oregano and the tomato paste/ water mix. I covered it and baked it for an hour on 350.
No. No oregano in Greek roasted vegetables. Have never used it or heard of using it. My GO church festival always sold out of the vegetables before festival ended. People said they return annually for vegetables because they are so good, and we never had oregano in them.
 
No. No oregano in Greek roasted vegetables. Have never used it or heard of using it. My GO church festival always sold out of the vegetables before festival ended. People said they return annually for vegetables because they are so good, and we never had oregano in them.
You know, I know what you mean. I put oregano for some reason but it's more because I always put it in everything - I think I might try to make it without it. Out of curiosity, what do you use for herbs in this type of a dish?
 

How does your family season dolmades?

I’ve been thinking about how much dolmades can vary from one family to another, especially when it comes to seasoning. Even when the basic ingredients are similar, the flavor can be completely different depending on which herbs and spices are used.

How does your family season dolmades? Do you use mostly dill and parsley, or do you add mint as well? I’ve also seen recipes that include green onions, oregano, or even a little cinnamon, especially when meat is part of the filling.

I’m curious whether you season the rice mixture pretty heavily before rolling the grape leaves or keep it simple and let the lemon and olive oil provide most of the flavor. Does your family add lemon juice directly to the filling, or only during cooking and serving?

I’d especially love to hear about any regional or family traditions. What gives your dolmades their distinctive flavor?

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.

What herbs do you use when making Greek stuffed zucchini?

I've been thinking about making Greek stuffed zucchini (kolokithakia gemista), and I'm curious about which herbs everyone uses in the filling. I've seen quite a few variations, and it seems like the combination of herbs can really influence the overall flavor of the dish.

Some recipes use plenty of fresh dill and parsley, while others include mint or even a little oregano. I've also noticed that some people add green onions for extra flavor. I'm wondering whether certain herbs are considered more traditional, especially when making stuffed zucchini with rice and ground meat.

Do you use a combination of herbs, or do you prefer to keep the seasoning fairly simple? Does your family have a particular recipe that has been passed down through generations?

I'm especially interested in how the herbs complement the avgolemono sauce. What combination do you think gives Greek stuffed zucchini the best flavor?

Do you put potatoes in your briam?

I've noticed that there are quite a few variations of briam, especially when it comes to which vegetables people include. One ingredient I'm particularly curious about is potatoes. Do you always put potatoes in your briam, or do you prefer making it without them?

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?

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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