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mj_toronto8

Active member
I love cooking Greek food and do it often, but let’s be honest, some of our favorite dishes take forever to prepare. Between layering, slow simmering, and fresh chopping, it’s not always realistic on a busy weeknight. I’m starting to think about meal prepping Greek-style, but I’m not sure where to begin.

What traditional dishes work well for prepping ahead? I’m hoping for healthy options—think veggies, legumes, lean meats, maybe even Lenten dishes. Can you freeze moussaka or fasolada? Do you pre-roll dolmades and just steam them later? How do you store horta or prep spanakopita in advance without it getting soggy?

I’d love to hear what works for you, like batch cooking ideas, tips for storing or reheating, or any Greek dishes that get betterafter a day or two!
 
Totally hear you. Greek food is delicious but not exactly “30-minute meals!” I’ve found a good rhythm by batch cooking some traditional dishes that hold up really well. Fasolada is fantastic for meal prep, it freezes beautifully, and the flavor deepens after a day or two. Same with lentil soup (fakes) and chickpea stew (revithia). Just portion and freeze.

Spanakopita is great if you assemble it ahead and freeze before baking—straight into the oven from frozen works well and avoids sogginess. Moussaka also freezes well fully cooked, just reheat covered to retain moisture.

Dolmades? I pre-roll and steam them all at once, then refrigerate. They keep for several days and are great cold or at room temp.

For veggies, horta lasts a few days in the fridge, drizzle with olive oil and lemon just before serving to keep it fresh.

It’s totally doable, Greek food can definitely meet meal prep life!
 

What’s the correct way to eat fava?

I’ve had fava quite a few times over the years and realized I may not actually know the “correct” way to eat it…

Sometimes it’s served really simply with olive oil, onion, capers, and lemon. Other times people seem to treat it more like a dip and eat it with bread, while I’ve also seen it served alongside seafood or other small dishes.

So now I’m curious, is there a traditional way people in Greece would eat fava, or does it depend on the region and family?

Do you mix everything together? Eat the toppings separately? Warm or room temperature? Bread or no bread?

Most common Greek soups people make at home?

I’ve been thinking lately about how many soups are part of everyday Greek home cooking, especially compared to restaurant menus. Most people know avgolemono, but I’m curious what soups Greeks actually make regularly at home.

Growing up, I remember hearing about fasolada and lentil soup a lot, and I’ve also seen trahana mentioned in conversations online. It made me wonder what the “standard” soups are in different parts of Greece or in Greek families abroad.

What are the most common Greek soups people still cook today? Are they mostly winter foods, or are there lighter soups people make year-round? Also, are there any soups that are considered especially traditional for holidays, fasting periods, or village cooking?

Would love to hear what soups were common in your family growing up, or what you still make now.

Most misunderstood Greek dish outside of Greece?

I've noticed that some Greek dishes seem to have a very different reputation outside of Greece than they do within Greece itself. Sometimes a food becomes known through restaurants abroad, but the version people encounter isn't necessarily how it is traditionally made or how Greeks actually think about it.

For example, I've met people who think moussaka is something Greeks eat all the time, while others assume Greek food is mostly gyros, souvlaki, and Greek salad. Then there are dishes that seem almost unknown outside of Greece despite being common in Greek homes.

It made me wonder: what do you think is the most misunderstood Greek dish outside of Greece?

Is there a dish that people consistently get wrong, whether it's the ingredients, preparation, history, or how often it's actually eaten? I'd love to hear examples from different regions, family traditions, or experiences introducing Greek food to non-Greeks.

Favorite Food You've Eaten in Greece?

I've been fortunate enough to travel around Greece a few times, and whenever people ask me what my favorite food was, I never seem to have a simple answer.

Some of the most memorable meals I've had weren't at famous restaurants at all. They were at small, family-run tavernas in villages where the menu was short, the ingredients were local, and everything tasted homemade. In many cases, I couldn't even tell you exactly what made the meal so special—it was just fresh, authentic, and unforgettable.

One evening in a mountain village, I had a simple plate of lamb, potatoes, and a village salad that I still think about years later. Sometimes the simplest meals end up being the best.

I'm curious about everyone else's experiences. What is the best food you've eaten in Greece? Was it a specific dish, a restaurant, a family recipe, or a meal connected to a special memory?

Sharing Greek Food with Friends - Recommendations?

I’m having a few friends over for dinner soon, and none of them are Greek, so I thought it would be fun to make a full Greek-style meal for them. I grew up with Greek food, so a lot of dishes feel “normal” to me, but now I’m realizing I’m not sure what works best for people who didn’t grow up eating it.

I definitely want to include a few traditional dishes, but I also don’t want to overwhelm everyone with too many things at once. I was thinking maybe spanakopita, souvlaki, Greek salad, rice, and some kind of dessert like baklava or galaktoboureko. I’m also wondering if there are certain dishes that tend to be crowd favorites with people who are newer to Greek food.

What meals or combinations have worked well for you when introducing Greek food to non-Greek friends? Any suggestions for appetizers, sides, or desserts would be appreciated too.
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