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kosta_karapinotis

Active member
I love to use seasonal zucchinis for this recipe! They are usually available in late August :) Add ground beef to a skillet, crumbling with you hand just before placing it in the pan. Stir the meat and the onions together and saute until the meat is cooked all the way through and has been broken up into small pieces. Stir in rice, mint, parsley, salt, and pepper and remove from the heat.

Scoop out the seeds from each of the zucchini halves. Spoon the beef and rice mixture into each of the zucchini halves and lay them back down into the baking dish in a single layer. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and place in the center of the oven. Bake for about 30-40 minutes or until the zucchinis are soft and a little bit crunchy on the outside. I like mine well roasted.

Ingredients...
  • 8 large-sized zucchini, washed, trimmed, and sliced lengthwise
  • 1/3 cup Greek olive oil, plus some for brushing
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/2 cup short grain rice
  • 2 tablespoons chopped, fresh mint
  • 2 tablespoons chopped, fresh parsley
  • Salt, to taste
  • Pepper, to taste
 
I love to use seasonal zucchinis for this recipe! They are usually available in late August :) Add ground beef to a skillet, crumbling with you hand just before placing it in the pan. Stir the meat and the onions together and saute until the meat is cooked all the way through and has been broken up into small pieces. Stir in rice, mint, parsley, salt, and pepper and remove from the heat.

Scoop out the seeds from each of the zucchini halves. Spoon the beef and rice mixture into each of the zucchini halves and lay them back down into the baking dish in a single layer. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and place in the center of the oven. Bake for about 30-40 minutes or until the zucchinis are soft and a little bit crunchy on the outside. I like mine well roasted.

Ingredients...
  • 8 large-sized zucchini, washed, trimmed, and sliced lengthwise
  • 1/3 cup Greek olive oil, plus some for brushing
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/2 cup short grain rice
  • 2 tablespoons chopped, fresh mint
  • 2 tablespoons chopped, fresh parsley
  • Salt, to taste
  • Pepper, to taste
Do you ever add a avgolemono sauce?
 
Do you ever add a avgolemono sauce?
I do sometimes! For me, it depends on if I have any broth left from the cooking process.
 

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!

Greek cooking without a recipe?

I've been thinking about how much traditional Greek cooking relies on instinct rather than following exact recipes. Some of the Greek dishes I learned to make were taught to me by feel, with someone showing me what to do rather than measuring everything out.

I actually enjoy cooking this way, but I've noticed that it can make certain dishes difficult to recreate consistently! Sometimes everything comes together perfectly, and other times I wonder what I did differently.

I'm curious how others approach this. Did you learn Greek cooking by watching your yiayia, mother, or other relatives? Do you measure ingredients, or do you just know when something looks, smells, or tastes right?

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.

What is the secret to making really good Greek lemon potatoes?

I've been making Greek lemon potatoes for years, and it's one of those dishes I make completely by feel. I don't measure anything, and I never really thought about how I make them because it's all second nature to me.

Recently, I tried teaching someone how to make them. Everything seemed straightforward while we were cooking together, but when they went home and tried making them on their own, all kinds of things went wrong! The potatoes weren't cooking evenly, the texture wasn't quite right, and the lemon flavor didn't come through the way it should.

It made me realize how much I rely on instinct when cooking traditional Greek food. I rarely write down recipes, so explaining every little detail is harder than I expected!

For those who make Greek lemon potatoes regularly, what tips would you give someone who's just learning?

What herbs do you use when making Greek stuffed zucchini?

I've been thinking about making Greek stuffed zucchini (kolokithakia gemista), and I'm curious about which herbs everyone uses in the filling. I've seen quite a few variations, and it seems like the combination of herbs can really influence the overall flavor of the dish.

Some recipes use plenty of fresh dill and parsley, while others include mint or even a little oregano. I've also noticed that some people add green onions for extra flavor. I'm wondering whether certain herbs are considered more traditional, especially when making stuffed zucchini with rice and ground meat.

Do you use a combination of herbs, or do you prefer to keep the seasoning fairly simple? Does your family have a particular recipe that has been passed down through generations?

I'm especially interested in how the herbs complement the avgolemono sauce. What combination do you think gives Greek stuffed zucchini the best flavor?
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