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nm1999

Active member
Everything is better when you add wine

Here are the ingredients
  • 1/4 cup Greek olive oil
  • 3 slices pancetta, diced
  • One whole chicken (about 4 pounds), cut in 6 pieces
  • 2 large onions, chopped
  • 3 carrots, peeled and cut into 4 pieces
  • 1 fennel bulb, fronds removed and chopped
  • 2 cups whole, small mushrooms – washed and trimmed (optional)
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup sweet red wine, such as Mavrodaphne
  • 1 cup dry red wine
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Water, as needed
  • 3 tablespoons chopped, fresh parsley
Heres how to make it
Add the oil to a dutch oven and heat over medium for 30 seconds. Add the pancetta and saute for 1 minute. Add the chicken and sear on on side for 5 minutes. Turn the pieces over and sear for another 5 minutes. Sear the chicken pieces in batches if they don’t fit in the pan at once. Remove the chicken fro the pan and set aside.

Add the onions, carrots, and fennel and saute over medium heat for 5 minutes. If using mushrooms, add them and saute for 1 minute. After that, add the garlic and saute for one minute. Add the chicken back to the pan and add the sweet wine, dried wine, red pepper flakes, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, and salt. If the mixture doesn’t cover the chicken, add a little water until it does.

Cover the pan and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once it does, reduce the heat to low to simmer the stew for 45 minutes. Turn the chicken pieces over, return the lid to the pan, and then simmer the stew for another 45 minutes.

Remove the chicken and vegetables from the pan, leaving the liquid behind. With the pan uncovered, bring the liquid to a boil and then drop it to a simmer. Let it cook for about five minutes or until the sauce thickens slightly. Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables and then sprinkle with the fresh parsley just before serving.
 

Can you make your own rusks?

I love Cretan Dakos!
There's something about the combination of the crunchy rusk soaked with the juice of ripe tomatoes, topped with fresh cheese and olive oil, that has me hooked!

However, given that I live in an area where it's challenging to find authentic Cretan rusks, I'm contemplating on whether I can bake my own at home. I'm curious if anyone here has attempted to make rusks suitable for dakos from scratch.

I know I can order then online. I tried this, and they didn't survive the shipping too well.

No Meat Dolmades (Stuffed Grape Leaves) Recipe

It has taken me a long time to get vegetarian dolmades to the point where I enjoy them. Here is my recipe. It uses a lot of oil, so strict fasters shouldn't eat them. But most people aren't super strict so I would even say these are good for lent!

Ingredients:​

  • 1 jar of grape leaves (about 60-70 leaves)
  • 1 cup short-grain rice
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh dill
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/4 cup olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
  • Juice of 2 lemons
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Water

Instructions:​

  1. Prepare the Grape Leaves:
    • If using grape leaves preserved in brine, rinse them well under cold water to remove excess salt. If using fresh grape leaves, blanch them in boiling water for about 1 minute, then drain and rinse with cold water. Trim off any stems.
  2. Prepare the Filling:
    • In a large bowl, combine the rice, chopped onion, minced garlic, chopped dill, chopped mint, chopped parsley, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine.
  3. Fill and Roll the Grape Leaves:
    • Place a grape leaf flat on a clean work surface, shiny side down, with the stem end facing you. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the rice filling onto the center of the leaf, near the stem end.
    • Fold the bottom of the leaf over the filling, then fold in the sides, and roll tightly into a small cylinder.
    • Repeat with the remaining grape leaves and filling, arranging the rolled dolmades seam-side down in a large pot or deep skillet, packing them snugly together.
  4. Cook the Dolmades:
    • Once all the dolmades are rolled and packed in the pot, drizzle with a little olive oil and lemon juice.
    • Pour enough water into the pot to just cover the dolmades.
    • Place a heatproof plate or lid directly on top of the dolmades to keep them submerged during cooking.
    • Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer gently for about 45-60 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and the grape leaves are tender.

Enjoying Cooking with Greek Honey

One of the things I love most about Greek honey is its versatility. You can use it in so many different ways in the kitchen. I've drizzled it over Greek yogurt for breakfast, mixed it into salad dressings for a touch of sweetness, and even used it as a glaze for roasted vegetables. The depth of flavor it adds to dishes is truly remarkable.

But perhaps my favorite way to use Greek honey is in baking. It adds a wonderful depth of flavor to cakes, cookies, and pastries. I recently made a batch of baklava using Greek honey, and it was a game-changer. The honey soaked into the layers of phyllo dough, creating a sweet and sticky treat that was absolutely irresistible.

I go out of my way to buy it - if I can't find it locally, I get it online. When I go to Greece, I get some in Greece, too.

What do you love to use Greek honey for?

greek-honey.jpg

How to learn about different regional cuisines in Greece?

I have learned so much about Greek cuisine by being on this forum! I know that there are standard recipes that everyone seems to cook.

For example, you can get souvlaki all over. Everyone seems to serve a village salad with slight variations. Most regions seem to make moussaka. There are tons of others.

I have also noticed that each region has their own specialties. How do you go about learning about them?

greek-salad.jpg

Getting souvlaki tender?

How do you make tender Greek souvlaki? I've attempted various recipes, marinated for different durations, and experimented with both high and low cooking temps, but I seem to be missing the mark for that mouth-watering tenderness commonly found in authentic Greek souvlaki.

Has anyone found a particular method or ingredient that makes a significant difference in achieving that ideal tenderness?

I use ladolemono, a marinate it overnight in ziplock baggies (after I cut the meat in cubes) and then I add them to the skewers and cook them on the grill. I typically use chicken.
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