Recipes list for Greek holiday cooking

[blopez34]

I want to experiment making some traditional Greek dishes over the holidays. While I am learning how to cook Greek foods, I am also getting to know the culture. So, what do people typical cook during this time of year? I have done some research and made a quick list:

** There's a Greek "stuffing" type of thing that involves chestnuts to serve at Thanksgiving - I am having a tough time tracking down a recipe

** Melamakarona - the Greek Christmas cookie

** Other Greek desserts seem pretty common this time of year, too - baklava, koulourakia, kourabedies

** Braised lamb shank - Greeks in the United States, from what I can tell, tend to cook Turkey - but this lamb shank recipe has come up as an option for Christmas dinner

Did I miss anything? I was thinking of making the Melemakarona cookies, and maybe learning how to make lamb shake and that "stuffing" (if I can find the recipe). I will do some other things if I have time, but these are the main ones.

 

[GreekGirlCooks]

This looks like a good list. My family doesn't do lamb shank at Christmas. We love to serve spanakopita and then we actually do something different each ear. Sometimes we roast a turkey, other times we do a beef roast. So for the main dish like that, we don't always feature a Greek dish - but sometimes we do. It's different every time.

 

[PemiKanavos]

Growning up in Greece, we would make pork for Xmas, and there would always be a side of tzatziki and roasted potatoes, tiropitakia and spanakopita. Melomakarona are a must for Xmas, and also kourambiethes. Our new cookbook has some simple yet great recipes if you wanted to check it out. It’s a good guide for any cook looking to learn greek food.

 

[Tpebop]

Last Christmas I cooked a gammon joint with mustard & honey in slow cooker.It was good I will do the same this year.I celebrate Chrismas not Xmas.

 

[k_tsoukalas]

Last Christmas I cooked a gammon joint with mustard & honey in slow cooker.It was good I will do the same this year.I celebrate Chrismas not Xmas.

Fun fact: The X stands for "Xristos" or Χριστός- As in, the Greek word for Christ. The X became a habit back in the days when Greek Christians had to hide their beliefs from the Ottoman occupation. It's a misunderstanding in the English/American culture that saying "X-Mas" takes Christ out of Christmas ... when in reality it comes from an abbreviation from the Greek word for Christ.

 

[blopez34]

Wow! Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I think I might try to make pork this year and have a traditional Greek dinner table.