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cubrinj

Active member
I know everyone loves melamakarona during Christmas, but my favorite are kourabedies! They are delicious. I love my family's recipe. I thought I would share:

- 2 sticks butter, at room temperature
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup brandy
- 3 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon of baking powder
- 2 cups of almonds, roasted and chopped
- Additional confectioners' sugar (for dusting)

1: Preheat the oven to 355°F (180°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2: Cream the butter into a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until it is light and fluffy. Add two egg yolks gradually and continue beating.

3: Add confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, and brandy, and beat until creamy and fully incorporated.

4: Add flour and baking powder and mix until the dough becomes soft and silky.

5: Fold chopped almonds into the dough mixture.

6: Take a small piece of dough (approximately 1 tablespoon-sized) and press it into your palm to create a small, round cookie. Place the cookies on the parchment paper-lined baking sheets about 1 inch apart.

7: Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cookies turn golden brown.

8: Remove the cookies from the oven and place them on a wire rack to cool.

9: Once the cookies are completely cool, dust them with a layer of confectioners’ sugar to coat the cookies.

10: Store in an airtight container until you're ready to enjoy them.

greek-shortbread.jpg
 
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Reactions: k_tsoukalas
This is definitely a wonderful recipe. Thanks for sharing!
 
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Kourabedies are so good. My family always made these and baklava for Christmas. She'd give out plates of Greed desserts for gifts!
 

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?

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?

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?

What is your favorite Greek potato dish?

Potatoes show up in so many Greek meals, and I think they are often at their best when they soak up plenty of olive oil, lemon, herbs, and cooking juices.

Greek lemon potatoes are probably the first thing that comes to mind for me. I love when they are roasted until they are soft inside, a little crisp around the edges, and full of lemon and oregano. Potatoes cooked alongside chicken or lamb are also hard to beat because they absorb so much flavor from the pan.

I also enjoy simple boiled potatoes dressed with olive oil, lemon, parsley, and salt, especially with fish or grilled meat.

What Greek potato dish do you make most often? Do you prefer lemon potatoes, potatoes roasted with meat, fried potatoes, or something else? And is there a particular seasoning or family method that makes your version especially good?

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?
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