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efhernandez_

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Loukanika are so amazing! Greeks really know how to make some of the most juicy and flavourful meat. If anyone has any good restaurants in the Austin, Texas area that they could recommend for some great Greek food and loukanika I would really appreciate it :)
Loukanika-Greek-Sausage-720x480.jpg
 
Loukanika are so amazing! Greeks really know how to make some of the most juicy and flavourful meat. If anyone has any good restaurants in the Austin, Texas area that they could recommend for some great Greek food and loukanika I would really appreciate it :)
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Everyone loves a bit of Greek loukaniko
 
You can also find recipes online on how to make your own! My family used to do this. I love the way everyone has their own recipe. For me, it is the orange peel that really makes it special.
 
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You can also find recipes online on how to make your own! My family used to do this. I love the way everyone has their own recipe. For me, it is the orange peel that really makes it special.
Ive never tried it with orange! I usually use rosemary and thyme
 
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Ive never tried it with orange! I usually use rosemary and thyme
Some of my family I suspect might have roots on Crete, though that information got lost. From what I understand, there are a ton of orange trees on the island, so many of our family dishes involve oranges. I've actually never had it with rosemary for some reason!
 
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Some of my family I suspect might have roots on Crete, though that information got lost. From what I understand, there are a ton of orange trees on the island, so many of our family dishes involve oranges. I've actually never had it with rosemary for some reason!
So sad that so much information like that is lost in Greece. My relative said that a lot of documents got lost because of Turkish occupation. I wonder if that's what happened in your case
 
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So sad that so much information like that is lost in Greece. My relative said that a lot of documents got lost because of Turkish occupation. I wonder if that's what happened in your case
It's possible! I heard the same thing. Many of the records were lost or destroyed. Some burned. Also in the later generations, no one thought to ask the surviving relatives, and now they're gone!
 
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It's possible! I heard the same thing. Many of the records were lost or destroyed. Some burned. Also in the later generations, no one thought to ask the surviving relatives, and now they're gone!
So sad, I have researched and seem some super old interviews of elderly Greek people describing their experiences in Asia Minor. Im glad few have gone out to document Greek history
 
So sad, I have researched and seem some super old interviews of elderly Greek people describing their experiences in Asia Minor. Im glad few have gone out to document Greek history
Same here - I know some families who have roots in Asia Minor and had to move abruptly. Only one of these families thought to film a survivor before she passed talking about what she remembered, and what she remembered her mother talking about.
 
I love the recipe that involves spicing it with orange peels, but I have also had versions that have a dominant fennel or anise flavor, and those are great, as well. I don't always like "heat" in Greek cooking, but my favorite of the Greek sausages are always on the spicier side.
 

Do you make your pastitsio with a thick or thin layer of krema?

I've always preferred my pastitsio with a nice, thick layer of béchamel on top. To me, that's one of the best parts of the dish! I love when the krema is rich, creamy, and thick enough to hold its shape when you cut into the pastitsio.

The problem is that I've been having trouble getting my krema just right. Sometimes it comes out too thin, and other times the texture isn't quite as smooth as I'd like. I've tried adjusting the amount of flour and milk, but I still haven't found the perfect balance.

I'm curious how everyone else makes theirs. Do you prefer a thick layer of béchamel or just enough to cover the pasta? Does your family add eggs or cheese to the mixture?

I'd especially love to hear any tips for making a thick, smooth krema that sets beautifully when baked!

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?

Favorite Greek Cheeses Beyond Feta

Feta gets most of the attention when people talk about Greek cheese, but there are so many other varieties worth trying. I’m curious which Greek cheeses everyone enjoys most beyond feta.

Graviera is one of my favorites because it works so well on a cheese plate, grated over dishes, or just eaten with bread. Kasseri is another one I really like, especially melted. I’ve also been interested in trying more regional cheeses like metsovone, manouri, kefalotyri, and formaela.

Some Greek cheeses seem to be much easier to find outside Greece than others, so I’d also love to know which ones people regularly buy and where they usually find them.

What Greek cheeses do you keep coming back to? Are there certain ones you associate with a particular region, dish, or family tradition? And if someone has mostly eaten feta, which Greek cheese would you recommend they try next?

My Family’s Keftedes Recipe

Keftedes are one of those foods that always remind me of family gatherings. Everyone seems to make them a little differently, but this is the basic version my family has always used.

For about a pound of ground beef, we add one small grated onion, a handful of chopped fresh parsley, a little fresh mint, one egg, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, oregano, and a small splash of red wine vinegar. Sometimes we add a little grated garlic as well.

The important part is mixing everything well and then letting the mixture sit in the refrigerator for a little while before shaping the keftedes. We make them fairly small, roll them lightly in flour, and fry them in olive oil until browned on the outside and cooked through.

We usually serve them with lemon, potatoes, salad, or tzatziki.

How does your family make keftedes? I’m especially curious about which herbs and seasonings everyone uses. Thought I'd share!

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?
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