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Healthier Greek Dessert Ideas?

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acamp7

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I love dessert but I just spent the past month overindulging. I don't want to give up dessert, but I also don't want to eat heavier desserts right now, like baklava and cake. I am looking for some ideas and I will share some that I have:
  • Though I think of this as breakfast, the yogurt, honey, and walnut thing makes a nice dessert.
  • If I want a cookie, I think koulourakia might be a good choice, or better yet, ladokoulourakia - I seem to be able to stop at 1 or so
  • Halva - I can satisfy my sweet tooth and a sliver is just enough
  • Greek sesame cookies - does anyone have a recipe?
I am open to ideas!
 
acamp7 said:
I love dessert but I just spent the past month overindulging. I don't want to give up dessert, but I also don't want to eat heavier desserts right now, like baklava and cake. I am looking for some ideas and I will share some that I have:
  • Though I think of this as breakfast, the yogurt, honey, and walnut thing makes a nice dessert.
  • If I want a cookie, I think koulourakia might be a good choice, or better yet, ladokoulourakia - I seem to be able to stop at 1 or so
  • Halva - I can satisfy my sweet tooth and a sliver is just enough
  • Greek sesame cookies - does anyone have a recipe?
I am open to ideas!
Click to expand...
Hi acamp7
I to love desserts, and I have narrowed a few down as “healthier”. Pasteli, which pairs excellent with coffee, Fanouropita, moustokouloura. -Pemi
 
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acamp7 said:
I love dessert but I just spent the past month overindulging. I don't want to give up dessert, but I also don't want to eat heavier desserts right now, like baklava and cake. I am looking for some ideas and I will share some that I have:
  • Though I think of this as breakfast, the yogurt, honey, and walnut thing makes a nice dessert.
  • If I want a cookie, I think koulourakia might be a good choice, or better yet, ladokoulourakia - I seem to be able to stop at 1 or so
  • Halva - I can satisfy my sweet tooth and a sliver is just enough
  • Greek sesame cookies - does anyone have a recipe?
I am open to ideas!
Click to expand...
I would suggest Greek spoon sweets. They are a great choice because they are preservative-free, no butter etc and you only need a teaspoon to feel satiated. And you can use in yogurt, for breakfast and much more.
 
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These are all some great suggestions... thank you so much to you both for chiming in! I can't wait to try some of these recipes.
 
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I like the idea of thinking of some desserts as "healthier". For me, I know this sounds pretty basic, but sometimes eating some fruit, dried fruit, or yogurt with honey satisfied my sweet tooth well enough.
 
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JOIN THE DISCUSSION AND READ OTHER GREEK INFO:

Do You Put Cinnamon in Your Keftedes?

I’m curious how everyone here makes keftedes, especially when it comes to cinnamon. I know some Greek families add a little cinnamon to the meat mixture, while others would never think of putting it in.

In my experience, even a small amount can change the flavor quite a bit. It gives the keftedes a warmer, slightly sweeter spice in the background, but I can also see how it might not be for everyone. I’ve had versions that lean more heavily on oregano, mint, parsley, garlic, and onion instead.

Do you put cinnamon in your keftedes? If you do, how much do you usually use, and was that something your family always did? I’d also be curious to know if it varies depending on what part of Greece your family comes from.

Would love to hear how everyone seasons theirs and what you consider essential for really good keftedes.

How does your family season dolmades?

I’ve been thinking about how much dolmades can vary from one family to another, especially when it comes to seasoning. Even when the basic ingredients are similar, the flavor can be completely different depending on which herbs and spices are used.

How does your family season dolmades? Do you use mostly dill and parsley, or do you add mint as well? I’ve also seen recipes that include green onions, oregano, or even a little cinnamon, especially when meat is part of the filling.

I’m curious whether you season the rice mixture pretty heavily before rolling the grape leaves or keep it simple and let the lemon and olive oil provide most of the flavor. Does your family add lemon juice directly to the filling, or only during cooking and serving?

I’d especially love to hear about any regional or family traditions. What gives your dolmades their distinctive flavor?

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?

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?

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!
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