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voula_slat

Active member
Named because it looks like a log of salami, this is actually an easy and decadent dessert. It’s also called Kormos, I think. These are the ingredients I use:
  • 3 cups crumbled chocolate graham crackers
  • 2 T Cognac
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • Vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup Unsweetened Cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
In a bowl, add the crackers and sprinkle with cognac. Mix the rest of the ingredients to another bowl until combined. Fold in the crackers with a rubber spatula. Spread the mixture over wax paper and shape into a log. Put in freezer for 3 hours. Slice and serve.
 
Named because it looks like a log of salami, this is actually an easy and decadent dessert. It’s also called Kormos, I think. These are the ingredients I use:
  • 3 cups crumbled chocolate graham crackers
  • 2 T Cognac
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • Vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup Unsweetened Cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
In a bowl, add the crackers and sprinkle with cognac. Mix the rest of the ingredients to another bowl until combined. Fold in the crackers with a rubber spatula. Spread the mixture over wax paper and shape into a log. Put in freezer for 3 hours. Slice and serve.
Translation for kormos is tree trunk. I have made this with British tea crackers and it turned out good. The first time I had it was in a small town (Kymini) outside of Thessaloniki.
Here is my recipe: 1/2c sugar, 4TBS coca, 1/2 c coffee, butter, heat on low to melt butter. Add vanilla. Add chopped walnuts to biscuits, pour sauce over biscuits and nut mixture. roll in saran wrap and place in freezer wrapped in foil. Some people roll in coconut flakes or crushed nuts.
 
Translation for kormos is tree trunk. I have made this with British tea crackers and it turned out good. The first time I had it was in a small town (Kymini) outside of Thessaloniki.
Here is my recipe: 1/2c sugar, 4TBS coca, 1/2 c coffee, butter, heat on low to melt butter. Add vanilla. Add chopped walnuts to biscuits, pour sauce over biscuits and nut mixture. roll in saran wrap and place in freezer wrapped in foil. Some people roll in coconut flakes or crushed nuts.
I have never made it, but I plan to make it soon. Maybe I would use something like vanilla wafter cookies for this? I imagine they need to be crunchy. Thank you, both, for sharing you recipes! I never would have thought to add coffee, and I also had no idea Kokomos meant tree trunk.
 
Vanilla wafer cookies work wonderfully. It is more traditional to make it with these cookies. With that being said you can add anything to a good kormo recipe and give it your own twist.
 
Thank you for all the tips! I plan to use vanilla wafer cookies next time - seems like the easiest option and I wasn't quite happy with the chocolate grahams. Thank you!
 

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 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 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.

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!

What Is the Best Way to Serve Taramosalata?

I absolutely love taramosalata and have it pretty regularly at home, but I’m having some people over soon and was wondering about the best way to serve it when entertaining.

Normally I just eat it with some bread or pita, so I don’t really put much thought into presentation. For guests, though, I’d like to make it part of a nice Greek-style spread with a few other things on the table. I was thinking warm pita triangles, crusty bread, maybe some cucumber and other vegetables for dipping, but I’m curious what everyone else usually serves with it.

Do you drizzle a little olive oil over the top or add any kind of garnish? And are there particular meze that you think pair especially well with taramosalata?

I’d love some ideas for making it look a little more special while still keeping everything traditional and simple.
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