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mastichas09

Active member
What do Greeks do better than cheese? Cheesecake!! I love classic Greek cheesecake with fresh cheese, and its great for guests! This is how you make it

Ingredients:
  • 1 prepared, store-bought, graham cracker pie crust (use a deep dish pie plate)
  • 2 cups plain cream cheese
  • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Greek honey
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup crushed walnuts, to garnish

Add the cream cheese, yogurt, vanilla, confectioner’s sugar, and honey to a food processor. Pulse until smooth and well combined. Add the whipping cream and pulse until the mixture is thick and fluffy. Pour the mixture into the pie crust and chill for at least two hours before eating. Sprinkle with crushed walnuts just before serving.

greek-cheesecake-720x480.jpg
 
Hi mastichas90, that sounds absolutely delicious. Interesting that you make the filling in the food processor, I always find it doesn't quite come out right when I do it that way... I prefer to do it by hand, since I think it makes for an airier and creamier texture. I found this recipe online earlier this year and it's never let me down, simple as it is... anyway I'm definitely going to try to make your Greek delicacy using it next time! Thanks.
 
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Hi mastichas90, that sounds absolutely delicious. Interesting that you make the filling in the food processor, I always find it doesn't quite come out right when I do it that way... I prefer to do it by hand, since I think it makes for an airier and creamier texture.
You must have strong hands ahaha! I will try that out, thanks for the tip! :)
 
This cheesecake is light and has a bit of a zing from the yogurt. It is decadent without going overboard. Love the idea of sprinkling it with walnuts!
 

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 potatoes in your moussaka?

My family has never made moussaka with potatoes, so I always grew up thinking of it as layers of eggplant, meat sauce, and béchamel. Recently, though, I had moussaka at a restaurant that included a layer of potatoes, and I absolutely loved it.

The potatoes gave it a little more substance and seemed to soak up some of the flavors from the meat sauce. It made the whole dish feel even more comforting without taking away from the eggplant.

Now I’m curious about how common this is in Greece and in Greek families. Is adding potatoes considered traditional in certain regions, or is it simply one of those variations that depends on the household?

If you make moussaka at home, do you include potatoes? And if you do, do you use them along with eggplant or in place of some of it?

Do you make your pastitsio with a thick or thin layer of krema?

I've always preferred my pastitsio with a nice, thick layer of béchamel on top. To me, that's one of the best parts of the dish! I love when the krema is rich, creamy, and thick enough to hold its shape when you cut into the pastitsio.

The problem is that I've been having trouble getting my krema just right. Sometimes it comes out too thin, and other times the texture isn't quite as smooth as I'd like. I've tried adjusting the amount of flour and milk, but I still haven't found the perfect balance.

I'm curious how everyone else makes theirs. Do you prefer a thick layer of béchamel or just enough to cover the pasta? Does your family add eggs or cheese to the mixture?

I'd especially love to hear any tips for making a thick, smooth krema that sets beautifully when baked!

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?

What Greek Foods Do You Start Craving in the Fall?

I've been thinking more about seasonal eating lately, especially from a Greek perspective. Summer Greek food feels so naturally tied to the season with tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, fresh herbs, grilled foods, and plenty of fruit. But once the weather starts cooling down, I find myself wondering what traditional Greek foods really feel like fall.

Are there certain dishes you start making as soon as September or October arrives? I'm thinking of foods like fasolada, giouvetsi, trahana soup, baked dishes, savory pies, and recipes using apples, grapes, walnuts, chestnuts, pumpkin, or other fall ingredients.

I'd especially love to hear about foods that were seasonal in your family rather than dishes you ate year-round. Were there certain meals your yiayia or parents always started making when the weather changed?

What Greek foods make you think, "Okay, fall is officially here"?
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