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GreekGirlCooks

Active member
I just got back from Greece and one thing I noticed, which I didn't realize about Greece, is that there were a fair amount of pasta dishes on the menu.

As a kid, we didn't eat a lot of pasta. All we did was make a Greek-style meat sauce with spaghetti, pastitsio, and a pasta dish that involves an egg that I believe came from some family members that were from the Peloponnese.

What else do people make? I see a lot of Italian inspired pasta dishes. Are they any traditionally Greek dishes.
 
All the typical Italian pasta dishes I would see on menus occasionally. There are also some Greek pasta dishes I love:

- Pasta sauce made with Greek yogurt. It looks and tastes a bit like Alfredo, but a little tangier.
- Pasta dish made with olive oil, fried egg, and grated cheese. I think this dish may have come from somewhere in the Peloponnese. My family has roots there and we made it all the time.
- Greek meat sauce with a thinner tomato sauce than the Italian version, and spiced with some cinnamon!
- Pastitsio - the baked meat and macaroni dish - sometimes called Greek Lasagna, but it isn't really that
 
All the typical Italian pasta dishes I would see on menus occasionally. There are also some Greek pasta dishes I love:

- Pasta sauce made with Greek yogurt. It looks and tastes a bit like Alfredo, but a little tangier.
- Pasta dish made with olive oil, fried egg, and grated cheese. I think this dish may have come from somewhere in the Peloponnese. My family has roots there and we made it all the time.
- Greek meat sauce with a thinner tomato sauce than the Italian version, and spiced with some cinnamon!
- Pastitsio - the baked meat and macaroni dish - sometimes called Greek Lasagna, but it isn't really that
Oh my yeeesss, the pasta with the fried egg hails from the region of mani and it is called Tzouxti.
It is a simple dish that the ladies from Mani would make because they were to busy working the fields that they needed some quick easy and affordable (since meat back in the day was a luxury).
 
Oh my yeeesss, the pasta with the fried egg hails from the region of mani and it is called Tzouxti.
It is a simple dish that the ladies from Mani would make because they were to busy working the fields that they needed some quick easy and affordable (since meat back in the day was a luxury).
That's fascinating I never knew the dish name was called Tzouchti - for my pappou and dad it was comfort food - I always suspected that side of the family was from Mani but we never talked about it for some reason.
 

What is the secret to making really good Greek lemon potatoes?

I've been making Greek lemon potatoes for years, and it's one of those dishes I make completely by feel. I don't measure anything, and I never really thought about how I make them because it's all second nature to me.

Recently, I tried teaching someone how to make them. Everything seemed straightforward while we were cooking together, but when they went home and tried making them on their own, all kinds of things went wrong! The potatoes weren't cooking evenly, the texture wasn't quite right, and the lemon flavor didn't come through the way it should.

It made me realize how much I rely on instinct when cooking traditional Greek food. I rarely write down recipes, so explaining every little detail is harder than I expected!

For those who make Greek lemon potatoes regularly, what tips would you give someone who's just learning?

Greek cooking without a recipe?

I've been thinking about how much traditional Greek cooking relies on instinct rather than following exact recipes. Some of the Greek dishes I learned to make were taught to me by feel, with someone showing me what to do rather than measuring everything out.

I actually enjoy cooking this way, but I've noticed that it can make certain dishes difficult to recreate consistently! Sometimes everything comes together perfectly, and other times I wonder what I did differently.

I'm curious how others approach this. Did you learn Greek cooking by watching your yiayia, mother, or other relatives? Do you measure ingredients, or do you just know when something looks, smells, or tastes right?

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?

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?

What Is the Best Way to Serve Taramosalata?

I absolutely love taramosalata and have it pretty regularly at home, but I’m having some people over soon and was wondering about the best way to serve it when entertaining.

Normally I just eat it with some bread or pita, so I don’t really put much thought into presentation. For guests, though, I’d like to make it part of a nice Greek-style spread with a few other things on the table. I was thinking warm pita triangles, crusty bread, maybe some cucumber and other vegetables for dipping, but I’m curious what everyone else usually serves with it.

Do you drizzle a little olive oil over the top or add any kind of garnish? And are there particular meze that you think pair especially well with taramosalata?

I’d love some ideas for making it look a little more special while still keeping everything traditional and simple.
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