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ssherie_

Active member
It's the time of year for Stifado! I thought I would share my recipe. I do a lot of different things with it- using different meats, etc. I would love to hear how you guys make it!

- 2 pounds of beef or rabbit, cut into chunks - I only occasionally use lamb but don't really like it.
- 2 pounds of small onions, peeled
- 3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
- 1 cup of dry red wine
- 1 cup of beef or vegetable broth
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Olive oil

Instructions:

1. Before you start, make sure to prepare the onions by peeling them and leaving them whole. This is essential for the texture of the dish.

2. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat up a few tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat.

3. Once the oil is hot, add the meat and brown it evenly on all sides. This will take about 5-7 minutes.

4. Remove the meat from the pot and set it aside.

5. Next, add the onions to the pot and cook them for 4-5 minutes until they start to soften and caramelize. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

6. Add the tomato paste and stir until it's well combined with the onions.

7. Pour in the red wine and beef broth, and stir to combine.

8. Return the meat to the pot, along with the cinnamon stick, bay leaves, dried oregano, and thyme.

9. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

10. Bring the stew to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it cook for about 2-3 hours. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

11. By the end of the cooking time, the meat should be tender and the onions should be almost meltingly soft.

12. Taste the stew and adjust the seasoning as necessary. If the sauce is too thin, you can thicken it up by mixing a tablespoon of cornstarch with a tablespoon of cold water, then pouring it into the stew and stirring to combine.

13. Serve hot with crusty bread, or over rice, pasta, or potatoes.
 
Stifado is truly one of my favorites. This is similar to how my family makes it, but we rarely have access to rabbit so I usually cook it with beef. I either chop an onion, or I use those round, small onion sit I can find them. If I find them fresh, I peel them and maybe halve them, but for the most part I just use a regular onion.
 
Oh it’s definitely stifado season. When I was growing up stifado was a dish made for festive occasions and usually made with rabbit. Now a days rabbit is not the preferred meat use for stifado, but beef is and it come out aaaamazing. Cool it loooow and sloooow and your stifado will come out “loukoumi”
 

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?

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 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?

What herbs do you use when making Greek stuffed zucchini?

I've been thinking about making Greek stuffed zucchini (kolokithakia gemista), and I'm curious about which herbs everyone uses in the filling. I've seen quite a few variations, and it seems like the combination of herbs can really influence the overall flavor of the dish.

Some recipes use plenty of fresh dill and parsley, while others include mint or even a little oregano. I've also noticed that some people add green onions for extra flavor. I'm wondering whether certain herbs are considered more traditional, especially when making stuffed zucchini with rice and ground meat.

Do you use a combination of herbs, or do you prefer to keep the seasoning fairly simple? Does your family have a particular recipe that has been passed down through generations?

I'm especially interested in how the herbs complement the avgolemono sauce. What combination do you think gives Greek stuffed zucchini the best flavor?

Do you make your pastitsio with a thick or thin layer of krema?

I've always preferred my pastitsio with a nice, thick layer of béchamel on top. To me, that's one of the best parts of the dish! I love when the krema is rich, creamy, and thick enough to hold its shape when you cut into the pastitsio.

The problem is that I've been having trouble getting my krema just right. Sometimes it comes out too thin, and other times the texture isn't quite as smooth as I'd like. I've tried adjusting the amount of flour and milk, but I still haven't found the perfect balance.

I'm curious how everyone else makes theirs. Do you prefer a thick layer of béchamel or just enough to cover the pasta? Does your family add eggs or cheese to the mixture?

I'd especially love to hear any tips for making a thick, smooth krema that sets beautifully when baked!
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