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dpappas87

Active member
The last time I made tzatziki, I forgot to do this and the texture was very off. So this is a friendly reminder to all of you who make this. I wish I took pics because it was so gross!

I usually chop or grate the cucumbers and then add them to a strainer with some salt and let them drain out. Then I put them in a towel and squeeze the rest of the juice out. I cut corners and just did the strainer part. It wasn't enough.

How do you all prep your cucumbers for tzatziki?
 
The last time I made tzatziki, I forgot to do this and the texture was very off. So this is a friendly reminder to all of you who make this. I wish I took pics because it was so gross!

I usually chop or grate the cucumbers and then add them to a strainer with some salt and let them drain out. Then I put them in a towel and squeeze the rest of the juice out. I cut corners and just did the strainer part. It wasn't enough.

How do you all prep your cucumbers for tzatziki?
I didn’t know about salting them, I just grate them, put them in a tea towel and squeeze them as hard as I can. I save the juice to drink, it’s nice with a drop of gin cocktail 🍸😉
 
Think salting is important as it draws out water and cucumbers are very watery. I peel and seed them and salt to draw out water.
 
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The last time I made tzatziki, I forgot to do this and the texture was very off. So this is a friendly reminder to all of you who make this. I wish I took pics because it was so gross!

I usually chop or grate the cucumbers and then add them to a strainer with some salt and let them drain out. Then I put them in a towel and squeeze the rest of the juice out. I cut corners and just did the strainer part. It wasn't enough.

How do you all prep your cucumbers for tzatziki?
I actually prefer it on the “soupy” side and serve it with croutons, à la Gazpacho.
 
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The


The last time I made tzatziki, I forgot to do this and the texture was very off. So this is a friendly reminder to all of you who make this. I wish I took pics because it was so gross!

I usually chop or grate the cucumbers and then add them to a strainer with some salt and let them drain out. Then I put them in a towel and squeeze the rest of the juice out. I cut corners and just did the strainer part. It wasn't enough.

How do you all prep your cucumbers for tzatziki?

Both these methods of extracting the water from the cucumber is great. The objective here is the extract as much of the moisture, from the cucumber so it won’t dilute the rich thick greek yogurt. On the other hand you don’t want your greek yogurt to be to to thick either. But you can play around with the thickness of your yogurt (as well as taste) with the addition of olive oil and vinegar and with how much you strained your cucumber.
With that being said, I use the method of grating and squeezing the cucumber ant not salting. I feel that I have more control over the amount of salt that ends up in the tsatsiki.
I know lots of people that like their tzatziki being on the thinner consistency, and I had tzatziki where the yogurt was so thick that it was like you were eating frosting. My preference is somewhere in between.
 
The last time I made tzatziki, I forgot to do this and the texture was very off. So this is a friendly reminder to all of you who make this. I wish I took pics because it was so gross!

I usually chop or grate the cucumbers and then add them to a strainer with some salt and let them drain out. Then I put them in a towel and squeeze the rest of the juice out. I cut corners and just did the strainer part. It wasn't enough.

How do you all prep your cucumbers for tzatziki?
I salt them and put them in a towel and squeeze them out. I put the juice in a cup and add it to smoothies.
 
I wanted to chime in to say that I have been taking the extra step of prepping the cucumbers and I am so much happier with the results! Thanks guys.
 

Easy Dakos Recipe

I went to Crete and I loved Dakos so much I learned how to make it. Here's my recipe. It just makes one. A tip - find the freshest ingredients possible!
  • 1 barley rusk (Cretan dakos rusks)
  • 1 large ripe tomatoes, grated or very finely chopped
  • 50g feta cheese, crumbled (about 1/2 cup crumbled)
  • Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
  • Fresh oregano or thyme, finely chopped
  • Olives and capers, to garnish
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions​

  1. Briefly soaking the barley rusk in water. They should be moistened but not soggy. Shake off any excess water and place each rusk on a serving plate.
  2. Spoon the grated tomatoes over the rusk, ensuring it is well covered. The juice from the tomatoes will further soften the rusks and add flavor.
  3. Top the tomatoes with the crumbled feta. You don't really have to measure, even though I gave an amount. Put what you want!
  4. Drizzle a generous amount of extra virgin olive oil over the top. Sprinkle with fresh oregano or thyme, salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Garnish with olives and capers.
  5. Allow the Dakos to sit for a few minutes before serving to enable the flavors to meld together beautifully. Serve as a refreshing appetizer or a light meal.

Food at Greek Weddings?

When it comes to planning a Greek wedding, what Greek food is traditional to serve? I am helping my friend play her wedding and want to gather information.

Could anyone share insights or personal experiences on the traditional Greek foods served at weddings? I'm curious about dishes that are must-haves on the big day, any symbolic meanings behind certain foods, and how the menu reflects Greek culture and traditions.

I remember at my cousin's wedding, they had kourabedies and some sort of traditional Cretan rice pilaf served at weddings (they're Cretan, but the wedding was in the US).

Bougatsa Recipe to Try

I went to Greece and loved the Bougatsa I used to buy on the street. I thought I would share a recipe I found. I have never made it before. Does this look like the real deal? I don't want to dive in, only to realize the recipe was flawed from the beginning.

Ingredients​

For the Custard:​

  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup fine semolina
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Zest of 1 lemon (optional)

For the Assembly:​

  • 1 package (about 1 pound) phyllo dough, thawed
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
  • Ground cinnamon, for dusting

Instructions​

Preparing the Custard:​

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine the milk and half the sugar over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining sugar and semolina. Add the eggs and whisk until the mixture is smooth and pale.
  3. Gradually temper the egg mixture by adding a cup of the warm milk while whisking constantly. Then, slowly pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining milk, whisking continuously.
  4. Cook the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it thickens and coats the back of the spoon (about 10-15 minutes). Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla extract and lemon zest (if using), and set aside to cool slightly. Cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the custard to prevent a skin from forming.

Preparing the Phyllo:​

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  2. Carefully unroll the phyllo dough. Cover the sheets with a damp towel to prevent drying out.
  3. Lay one sheet of phyllo in the prepared dish and brush with melted butter. Repeat this process, layering and buttering each sheet until you have used about half of the phyllo.
  4. Pour the custard over the phyllo layers, spreading evenly.

Assembly and Baking:​

  1. Continue layering and buttering the remaining phyllo sheets on top of the custard.
  2. Using a sharp knife, score the top layers of phyllo into pieces – this will make cutting the bougatsa easier after baking.
  3. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the phyllo is golden brown and crisp.
  4. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes.
  5. Before serving, sift generously with confectioners' sugar and sprinkle with cinnamon to taste.

Best way to make saganaki?

I went to a restaurant the other day and they lit the saganaki on fire! When I make saganaki at home, I don't do that - mainly because my recipe doesn't call for it.

How does one incorporate the fire into creating the dish?

From what I can tell, the restaurant prepares the saganaki and then before they bring it out, I think they douse it in ouzo and let it with a torch on the way to the table.

It's a fun thing to watch. It kind of freaks me out at home - mainly because I would be merely guessing at this point. Any ideas?

Ancient Greek recipes still in the cuisine today?

I'm reaching out to you guys to ask about ancient Greek recipes that have stood the test of time and are still part of modern Greek food. Are there specific dishes, ingredients, or cooking methods that have remained unchanged? Or perhaps, are there modern adaptations of ancient recipes that highlight the continuity and evolution of Greek culinary practices?

Understanding the continuity and evolution of these recipes could offer is a fascinating thing. I think I heard that some versions of baklava may have existed in Ancient Greece, as well as some of the dishes that involve lentils, that kind of thing.
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