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nadellii

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I usually use the same recipe all the time - the one my mother showed me. But the other day, I didn't have enough of one of the ingredients (she uses cottage cheese and I didn't have enough) so to substitute I used a little soft goat cheese that I had in he fridge. It was yummy! It got me thinking that I don't always need to use the same recipe, right? I can do different things? I am curious the ingredients in your filling (you don't need to give me proportions, I am just curious what you use). I use cottage cheese and imported feta (except that one time where I had to use some goat cheese).
 
I usually use the same recipe all the time - the one my mother showed me. But the other day, I didn't have enough of one of the ingredients (she uses cottage cheese and I didn't have enough) so to substitute I used a little soft goat cheese that I had in he fridge. It was yummy! It got me thinking that I don't always need to use the same recipe, right? I can do different things? I am curious the ingredients in your filling (you don't need to give me proportions, I am just curious what you use). I use cottage cheese and imported feta (except that one time where I had to use some goat cheese).
I wonder if the soft goat cheese added a different flavor! I feel like there's wiggle room with tiro pita... as long as the overall amounts are the same, I bet it will taste great!
 
I usually use the same recipe all the time - the one my mother showed me. But the other day, I didn't have enough of one of the ingredients (she uses cottage cheese and I didn't have enough) so to substitute I used a little soft goat cheese that I had in he fridge. It was yummy! It got me thinking that I don't always need to use the same recipe, right? I can do different things? I am curious the ingredients in your filling (you don't need to give me proportions, I am just curious what you use). I use cottage cheese and imported feta (except that one time where I had to use some goat cheese).
There is definitely room to experiment. Traditional tiropita is all about feta being the main star. That dosent mean that there aren’t versions of of tiropita with other cheeses. For instance, there is kasseropita (Kasseri cheese a Greek cheese that is a springy-textured, stringy cheese). I usually sub Gruyère cheese when I can’t find it.
 
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There is definitely room to experiment. Traditional tiropita is all about feta being the main star. That dosent mean that there aren’t versions of of tiropita with other cheeses. For instance, there is kasseropita (Kasseri cheese a Greek cheese that is a springy-textured, stringy cheese). I usually sub Gruyère cheese when I can’t find it.
I never thought to sub gruyere cheese! That's a good tip, I will keep that in mind. Could you make tiropita with feta only? I didn't realize!
 
My mother always used a combination of Farmers cheese and Feta, it was always delicious!
 
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My mother always used a combination of Farmers cheese and Feta, it was always delicious!
Interesting, what is farmer's cheese? I might try this.
 
farmers cheese is similar to a cottage cheese but it's smooth and firmer so it holds up well and is a different texture. It blends well with other cheeses.
 

Do You Make Avgolemono Thick or Brothy?

I usually prefer avgolemono somewhere in the middle. I don’t like it so thick that it feels almost like a cream soup, but I also don’t want it completely thin and brothy. For me, the best version has enough egg and lemon to give the broth some body while still keeping it light.

A lot probably depends on what kind of avgolemono you’re making, too. In chicken soup, I like it a little more brothy because I want the rice or orzo and chicken to still stand out. With something like lahanodolmades, I don’t mind the avgolemono sauce being thicker because it is coating the food rather than serving as the soup itself.

The lemon level matters just as much as the thickness. I like enough lemon to make it bright and noticeable, but not so much that it overwhelms everything else. I think balance is really the key.

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?

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?

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?
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