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nadellii

Active member
I am trying to eat healthy so I bought some chickpeas and the other ingredients for my favorite soup. It came out amazing. This is the recipe I used:

Ingredients:
- 1 cup dried chickpeas, soaked overnight
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 4 cups vegetable broth or water
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Lemon wedges, fresh parsley, and olive oil for serving

Instructions:
1. Drain and rinse the soaked chickpeas and set them aside.
2. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat some olive oil over medium heat.
3. Add chopped onions and sauté for 2-3 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
4. Add minced garlic and continue to sauté for another minute.
5. Add tomato paste, bay leaves, dried oregano, ground cumin, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes, and cook for a minute or until fragrant.
6. Add the soaked chickpeas and vegetable broth or water to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for approximately 1 hour or until the chickpeas are tender.
7. Once the chickpeas are cooked, remove the bay leaves, and blend half of the soup in a blender or with an immersion blender to create a creamy consistency.
8. Return the blended soup to the pot and stir to combine. Add salt and black pepper to taste.
9. Let the soup simmer for another 5-10 minutes until heated through.
10. Serve the soup hot, garnished with a drizzle of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice, and some fresh parsley.
 
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I am trying to eat healthy so I bought some chickpeas and the other ingredients for my favorite soup. It came out amazing. This is the recipe I used:

Ingredients:
- 1 cup dried chickpeas, soaked overnight
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 4 cups vegetable broth or water
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Lemon wedges, fresh parsley, and olive oil for serving

Instructions:
1. Drain and rinse the soaked chickpeas and set them aside.
2. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat some olive oil over medium heat.
3. Add chopped onions and sauté for 2-3 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
4. Add minced garlic and continue to sauté for another minute.
5. Add tomato paste, bay leaves, dried oregano, ground cumin, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes, and cook for a minute or until fragrant.
6. Add the soaked chickpeas and vegetable broth or water to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for approximately 1 hour or until the chickpeas are tender.
7. Once the chickpeas are cooked, remove the bay leaves, and blend half of the soup in a blender or with an immersion blender to create a creamy consistency.
8. Return the blended soup to the pot and stir to combine. Add salt and black pepper to taste.
9. Let the soup simmer for another 5-10 minutes until heated through.
10. Serve the soup hot, garnished with a drizzle of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice, and some fresh parsley.
Love the sound of this, healthy, fresh and vegan, exactly what I need ?
 
Love the sound of this, healthy, fresh and vegan, exactly what I need ?
I know, same. I love chickpeas - it's my favorite legume. I made something like this once kind of by accident. I was prepping to make a white bean soup (fasolada) and realized that when I soaked the beans, they got all messed up - the skins came off, etc. I don't know how that happened, but the onion was already sautéing and the other ingredients were prepped. I had some canned chickpeas and used that instead. It was delicious! In eyeballing this recipe, it is very similar to what I ended up doing.
 
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Thanks guys! I forgot to mention that I substitute canned chickpeas (about 2 cans) when I decide at the last minute I want the soup. Soaking the beans only works for me if I plan ahead and I don't always.
 

Do you make Greek lentil soup with vinegar

I’ve always made fakes with a splash of vinegar, either stirred into the pot near the end or added individually at the table. To me, that little bit of acidity is part of what makes the soup taste right, especially with the earthy lentils, olive oil, onion, garlic, and bay leaf.

But I have a Greek friend who makes hers very differently. She doesn’t use vinegar at all and instead adds quite a lot of tomato product, so her version is much redder and more tomato-forward than mine.

Now I’m curious about what is considered more traditional in Greek cooking. Is vinegar usually a standard part of fakes, or is it more of a regional or family preference? Are tomato-heavy versions just as traditional?

How do you make yours, and what did your family serve growing up?

Do You Put Cinnamon in Your Keftedes?

I’m curious how everyone here makes keftedes, especially when it comes to cinnamon. I know some Greek families add a little cinnamon to the meat mixture, while others would never think of putting it in.

In my experience, even a small amount can change the flavor quite a bit. It gives the keftedes a warmer, slightly sweeter spice in the background, but I can also see how it might not be for everyone. I’ve had versions that lean more heavily on oregano, mint, parsley, garlic, and onion instead.

Do you put cinnamon in your keftedes? If you do, how much do you usually use, and was that something your family always did? I’d also be curious to know if it varies depending on what part of Greece your family comes from.

Would love to hear how everyone seasons theirs and what you consider essential for really good keftedes.

Is lamb or beef more traditional for giouvetsi?

I've been looking into traditional Greek giouvetsi recipes lately, and I'm curious about which meat is considered the most traditional. I've seen recipes that use lamb, others that call for beef, and even some that use chicken.

I love the idea of slowly cooking the meat in a rich tomato sauce with orzo until everything becomes tender and flavorful. However, I'm wondering whether lamb or beef would be the more authentic choice.

Is one traditionally preferred in certain regions of Greece? I've read that lamb is often associated with older Greek recipes, but beef seems to be very common in modern versions of giouvetsi.

I'm also curious whether the choice of meat changes the way the dish is prepared. Does lamb require different seasonings or cooking times than beef?

For those familiar with traditional Greek cooking, which version do you prefer, and which would you recommend trying first?

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?

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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