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blopez34

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Meeting local Greek farmers is one of the best ways to experience Greek culture and eat and try the native Greek food. Wherever you visit in Greece, you can ask around from the locals and find out where the farms are. Most people in Greece are very friendly and kind and will be willing to show you around and offer you some vegetables or olives to try.


 
In my experience Mytilene and Crete are the best islands for farm-to-table enthusiasts, but this advice is correct…just ask a local and even in the most touristed areas, you’ll find restaurants that feature local produce.

In Chania, Crete I highly recommend Dounias (just beyond the Therisso Gorge - about 45 minutes outside the city). If Stelios isn’t too busy he’ll give you a tour of his farm, but at the very least, you’ll see the daily dishes being cooked up in clay pots over open fire. Reservations are recommended for this casual, but very popular place!
 
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In my experience Mytilene and Crete are the best islands for farm-to-table enthusiasts, but this advice is correct…just ask a local and even in the most touristed areas, you’ll find restaurants that feature local produce.

In Chania, Crete I highly recommend Dounias (just beyond the Therisso Gorge - about 45 minutes outside the city). If Stelios isn’t too busy he’ll give you a tour of his farm, but at the very least, you’ll see the daily dishes being cooked up in clay pots over open fire. Reservations are recommended for this casual, but very popular place!
Agreed, Crete is the place to be. It has some of the most advanced yet traditional agriculture in all of Greece.
 
Meeting local Greek farmers is one of the best ways to experience Greek culture and eat and try the native Greek food. Wherever you visit in Greece, you can ask around from the locals and find out where the farms are. Most people in Greece are very friendly and kind and will be willing to show you around and offer you some vegetables or olives to try.


Agreed, this has been my experience in Greece, particularly on Crete because I visited a lot of farms while there. Did a Raki tasting at a farm and we pretty much had dinner there during the tasting, they had a nice spread of traditional Cretan foods to try while we were tasting. Plus, I noticed that Greeks don't seem to want people to drink without food - they always bring food over even at cafes and bars, even if I just ordered a drink. I remember my sis and I ordered cocktails at a cafe and they brought over loukoumades on the house.
 

How Much Garlic in a Batch of Tzatziki?

How much garlic do you usually put in a batch of tzatziki? I think I may be using a little too much. I usually make mine with about 2 cups of Greek yogurt and 4 cloves of garlic, along with cucumber, olive oil, and the other usual ingredients.

It tastes great when I first make it, but we usually take about three days to finish the batch. By the second or third day, the garlic flavor and smell become really strong. Some people in my household love that and don’t mind it at all, but others think it becomes a bit overpowering. I’m starting to agree that four cloves might be too much, especially since the garlic seems to get stronger as it sits.

What do you all do? How many cloves would you use for about 2 cups of Greek yogurt?

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!

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 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?

How does your family season dolmades?

I’ve been thinking about how much dolmades can vary from one family to another, especially when it comes to seasoning. Even when the basic ingredients are similar, the flavor can be completely different depending on which herbs and spices are used.

How does your family season dolmades? Do you use mostly dill and parsley, or do you add mint as well? I’ve also seen recipes that include green onions, oregano, or even a little cinnamon, especially when meat is part of the filling.

I’m curious whether you season the rice mixture pretty heavily before rolling the grape leaves or keep it simple and let the lemon and olive oil provide most of the flavor. Does your family add lemon juice directly to the filling, or only during cooking and serving?

I’d especially love to hear about any regional or family traditions. What gives your dolmades their distinctive flavor?
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