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mastichas09

Active member
This is the old school way to make melomakarona! You need to make something called "ash water." In Greek its called stahtonero or alisiva. You make this by boiling water with homemade ashes from burning wood. There are some recipes that I have found online but unfortunately they are all in Greek. This is one of the most detailed ones, it explains everything! Here are the ingredients below in Greek....

Υλικά
(Μετράμε με ποτήρι νερού των 200 ml)

4 ποτήρια νερού ελαιόλαδο ελαφρύ (700 γρ)
2 ποτήρια του νερού ζάχαρη (450 γρ)
1 ποτήρι του νερού αλισίβα (220 γρ)
1 ποτήρι χυμό πορτοκάλι (22ο γρ)
1 κρασοπότηρο κονιάκ (140 γρ)
1,5 κουταλάκι γαρύφαλλο τριμμένο
3 κουταλάκια κανέλλα
ξύσμα από δύο πορτοκάλια
2 κουταλιές της σούπας σόδα
2 κιλά αλεύρι για όλες τις χρήσεις ή
(εγώ βάζω 800 γρ. κίτρινο χωριάτικο και 1200 γρ για όλες τις χρήσεις)


Σιρόπι
1 κιλό μέλι
1 ποτήρι ζάχαρη
3 ποτήρια νερό

Link: http://mariplateau.blogspot.com/2011/12/blog-post_20.html
 

Gemista: meat or no meat?

I’ve been thinking about gemista lately, especially with Lent going on and all the fasting days we have throughout the year. It feels like one of those dishes that really works both ways.

Sometimes I actually prefer it without meat—the rice, herbs, olive oil, and vegetables come together in such a clean, flavorful way. Other times, though, I really enjoy it with meat, especially when it’s baked long enough for everything to blend together.

I grew up seeing it made both ways, so to me it never felt like one “right” version. It just depends on the mood, the season, or even who’s cooking.

I’m curious how others feel about this. Do you have a strong preference for meat or no meat? Or do you switch between the two depending on the time of year or occasion?

How to prepare saganaki properly?

I love ordering saganaki whenever I’m out, it’s one of those dishes I automatically go for if it’s on the menu. There’s just something about that crispy outside with the warm, melty center that’s hard to beat. I’ve never actually tried making it at home, though, and I’m not really sure where to start.

I know it’s typically made with a firm cheese, but I’ve seen different types mentioned and don’t know which one works best. I’ve also heard the cooking method matters a lot—pan-fried vs flamed, flour or no flour, etc.

For those of you who make it regularly, what’s the proper way to prepare saganaki so it comes out like it does in a restaurant?

Calamari: Fried or Grilled?

Calamari is one of those dishes I’ll almost always order if I see it on a menu, but I’ve realized I go back and forth on how I like it prepared.

Fried calamari is probably the classic way. I love it served with skordalia! When it’s done well, it’s hard to beat. \

I’ve also had grilled calamari that was incredibly tender, lightly charred, and dressed simply with olive oil, lemon, and herbs, and that feels like a completely different experience.

I’m curious - which do you prefer?

What’s a Typical Breakfast in Greece Today?

I’ve noticed that when people talk about Greek food, breakfast doesn’t come up as much as lunch or dinner. But from my own experience in Greece, mornings have always had their own rhythm, even if the food itself is pretty simple.

For me, it’s usually coffee first, and then something small like bread, toast, or a quick stop at the bakery for something like koulouri. It never feels like a heavy or overly structured meal, more just enough to start the day.

I’m curious how this compares for others. When you’re in Greece, or when you were growing up in a Greek household, what did breakfast actually look like on a typical day?

How much garlic is too much in tzatziki?

When I grill Greek-style, I usually serve everything with tzatziki on the side, souvlaki, chicken, even just some bread and vegetables. For me, it’s not really optional. It kind of ties the whole plate together.

That said, I’ve noticed everyone seems to have a different tolerance for garlic. Some tzatziki is nice and balanced, while other times it’s so strong it completely takes over everything else on the plate.

I tend to like a good amount of garlic, but I’ve definitely had versions where it felt like a bit much, especially if it’s sitting overnight and the flavor gets stronger.

Curious where everyone else lands on this. Do you go heavy on the garlic, or do you keep it more subtle? And do you adjust depending on what you’re serving it with?
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