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AlexiaTravels

Active member
I thought I would share my recipe for Zucchini Soup (Kolokythosoupa). I had this in Greece and soon, the Zucchini near me will be ready to eat.

Ingredients:​

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 5 medium zucchini, chopped (about 2 lbs)
  • 1 medium potato, peeled and diced (for creaminess)
  • 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: fresh dill, mint, or basil (chopped)
  • Optional: 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or a splash of cream for richness
  • Garnish: drizzle of olive oil, crumbled feta, or toasted pine nuts

Instructions:​

  1. Sauté aromatics:
    In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and garlic, and sauté until soft and translucent (about 5–7 minutes).
  2. Add vegetables:
    Stir in the chopped zucchini and potato. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Simmer:
    Pour in the broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20–25 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
  4. Blend:
    Use an immersion blender to purée the soup until smooth. (Or let cool slightly and blend in batches in a blender.)
  5. Finish:
    Stir in fresh herbs and optional Greek yogurt or cream if using. Adjust seasoning as needed.
  6. Serve warm:
    Ladle into bowls and garnish with a drizzle of olive oil, feta crumbles, or herbs.
 
Thanks so much for sharing this — kolokythosoupa is such an underrated gem in Greek cooking! I love how simple, fresh, and versatile your recipe is. The addition of potato for creaminess is spot on — it gives the soup a lovely texture without needing much dairy (though the Greek yogurt twist sounds amazing too).

One tip I’ve picked up from my family: adding a little fresh mint at the end really brightens the flavor, especially in summer. Dill works beautifully too for a more traditional vibe.

Can’t wait to try this with zucchini from my garden once they’re ready. Thanks again for the recipe — it's going straight into my summer rotation!
 

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!

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!

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?

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?

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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