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francescool

Active member
Ive been craving this for so long! I just need to find a good butcher shop in my area and ill be all set. You need 1 whole lamb (30-35lbs) that will be marinated overnight in ladolemono (olive oil, lemon, oregano, salt, pepper). Prepare your workspace by cutting some contractor bags open and placing them flat on a sturdy table. Place the lamb on the spit. To secure the lamb, tie the legs to the spit using thick strong wire or U clips. You will also need to attach the spine of the lamb to the skewer by cutting 2 incisions into the lamb and using the U clips, or wire, to attach the spine to the skewer. Generously baste the whole lamb, inside and out, with the latholemono. Wrap the lamb up using the contractor bags and store overnight in a cold area or on ice. Prepare the rotisserie, or Souvla, by placing the wood charcoal in a pile right in the center. This will help the wood charcoal light better. Once the flame has died down, spread out the coal to both sides of the grill. Place the lamb on the highest rung of the souvla. The purpose of this is to slowly warm up the lamb. After about a half an hour you can lower it to be closer to the flame. Let the lamb slow roast, basting with the ladolemono every half hour or so. The lamb should take about 4-5 hours for an average 30-35lb lamb. Keep an eye on the lamb and raise the skewer higher if the lamb is beginning to burn.

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Thanks for sharing!

Here are a few ways to prepare Greek style lamb (although Lamp on the a spit is my personal favorite!):

 
I only really have roasted lamb like this once a year, but I gotta say that I wish it were more frequent. This is my favorite way to eat lamb!!!
 

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?

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?

Is lamb or beef more traditional for giouvetsi?

I've been looking into traditional Greek giouvetsi recipes lately, and I'm curious about which meat is considered the most traditional. I've seen recipes that use lamb, others that call for beef, and even some that use chicken.

I love the idea of slowly cooking the meat in a rich tomato sauce with orzo until everything becomes tender and flavorful. However, I'm wondering whether lamb or beef would be the more authentic choice.

Is one traditionally preferred in certain regions of Greece? I've read that lamb is often associated with older Greek recipes, but beef seems to be very common in modern versions of giouvetsi.

I'm also curious whether the choice of meat changes the way the dish is prepared. Does lamb require different seasonings or cooking times than beef?

For those familiar with traditional Greek cooking, which version do you prefer, and which would you recommend trying first?

Do you put potatoes in your briam?

I've noticed that there are quite a few variations of briam, especially when it comes to which vegetables people include. One ingredient I'm particularly curious about is potatoes. Do you always put potatoes in your briam, or do you prefer making it without them?

I usually think of briam as a combination of zucchini, eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and plenty of olive oil. I love how the potatoes absorb all those wonderful flavors as everything slowly roasts together in the oven.

However, I've seen recipes that leave the potatoes out entirely and focus more on the summer vegetables. I imagine that makes the dish a little lighter.

I'm also curious whether there are regional differences in how briam is prepared throughout Greece. Does your family have a particular way of making it? And what vegetables do you consider absolutely essential?

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?
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