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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”
 

Do You Put Cinnamon in Your Keftedes?

I’m curious how everyone here makes keftedes, especially when it comes to cinnamon. I know some Greek families add a little cinnamon to the meat mixture, while others would never think of putting it in.

In my experience, even a small amount can change the flavor quite a bit. It gives the keftedes a warmer, slightly sweeter spice in the background, but I can also see how it might not be for everyone. I’ve had versions that lean more heavily on oregano, mint, parsley, garlic, and onion instead.

Do you put cinnamon in your keftedes? If you do, how much do you usually use, and was that something your family always did? I’d also be curious to know if it varies depending on what part of Greece your family comes from.

Would love to hear how everyone seasons theirs and what you consider essential for really good keftedes.

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!

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?

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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