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dimi_pat

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I've seen so many different recipe variations of tzatziki, and I really don't know what's most traditional and authentic. I have noticed that many restaurants in the United States add dill to the sauce, but that it's not super common in Greece. Does anyone know what is more traditional? Is the dill version from a specific region in Greece? I like the sauce with and without it, but I am just curious.
 
I don't really like dill so I never make my tzatziki with it. I know a lot of Greeks in the US who love dill and they put it in everything!
 
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I don't really like dill so I never make my tzatziki with it. I know a lot of Greeks in the US who love dill and they put it in everything!
I personally like both versions. But I have never seen it with dill in Greece. Not sure why though.
 
My family do not garlic. My tzatziki consists of Greek yoghurt, mint, olive oil and salt. Dill is used in Greek salad, lamb baking.
At the end of the day, oregano, rosemary and dill re the popular erbs of choice in Greek cooking. How you use them is personal taste. Patisqua
 
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My family do not garlic. My tzatziki consists of Greek yoghurt, mint, olive oil and salt. Dill is used in Greek salad, lamb baking.
At the end of the day, oregano, rosemary and dill re the popular erbs of choice in Greek cooking. How you use them is personal taste. Patisqua
I've never thought of not adding tzatziki! It will save my breath for sure!
 
I've never thought of not adding tzatziki! It will save my breath for sure!
Try it. My sister is allergic to garlic. We're the only Greek house in the world that doesn't have onions and garlic in the house.
 
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Try it. My sister is allergic to garlic. We're the only Greek house in the world that doesn't have onions and garlic in the house.
That is a shame! Do you find that the food tastes just as good?
 
Does dill grow well in Greece? I noticed here that Dill tends to struggle when it's hot out. I've had it both with and without dill and they're both good - just different. I don't make it with dill because it is not easy for me to find, and I also have never had it in Greece with dill.
 

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!

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?

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?

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 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.
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