1 - 4 of 4 Posts

redsoxdw_

Active member
It's often challenging to find all the cheeses I want outside of Greece. I love Greek cheese, and my love for it extends well past feta cheese, though a great feta is one of my favorites. I thought I would make a list of my favorite Greek cheeses that I love to use in cooking (and eat by themselves) that I can more easily find outside of Greece.

1. Feta Cheese: Let's start with the most well-known Greek cheese - Feta. It is one of the most versatile cheeses, and also one of the easiest to find outside of Greece. Feta crumbles effortlessly and has a tangy, salty flavor that pairs excellently with salads, sandwiches, and pasta dishes. Use Feta in your cooking to add an extra layer of texture and flavor.

2. Kefalotyri Cheese: Kefalotyri is a hard cheese made from sheep's milk. It has a nutty and salty taste that resembles Pecorino Romano. Kefalotyri is commonly used in Greek dishes like Saganaki, where it is fried and served with a squeeze of lemon. Use it as a substitute for Parmesan or Pecorino in your Italian-inspired dishes.

3. Halloumi Cheese: Another popular Greek cheese is Halloumi, a semi-hard cheese made from sheep's milk. It has a unique texture that is both firm and chewy. Halloumi is the perfect cheese for grilling as it holds up well under heat without melting. Use it in your next summer BBQ as a vegetarian option or add it to sandwiches and salads for extra flavor. It's technically a Cyprus cheese, but I like it and consider it "Greek" enough.

4. Kasseri Cheese: Kasseri is a soft, yellow cheese that is made from sheep's milk. It has a buttery and slightly tangy taste that pairs well with meats and vegetables. Kasseri is used in Greek cuisine to make a delicious roasted cheese dish called Saganaki me Loukaniko. Try grilling it or melting it for a tasty twist on your favorite melting cheeses like mozzarella or cheddar.

5. Mizithra Cheese: Last but not least, Mizithra is a creamy, fresh cheese that is made from sheep's or goat's milk. It has a mild, slightly sour taste that is similar to ricotta. Mizithra can be used both in sweet and savory dishes and makes an excellent addition to salads and pastries.
 

Attachments

  • feta-cheese.jpg
    feta-cheese.jpg
    700.4 KB · Views: 0
Graviera (great for pastitsio) if you can find it. The French have a similar cheese called gruyere.
 
Graviera (great for pastitsio) if you can find it. The French have a similar cheese called gruyere.
This is one of my favorite cheeses! I am lucky to have a Greek market near me - but I know that not everyone has this luxury. I agree that this one should be added to the list!
 
Yes, graviera is a fabulous cheese, and Gruyère is a fabulous sub if you can’t find graviera!
 

How Much Garlic in a Batch of Tzatziki?

How much garlic do you usually put in a batch of tzatziki? I think I may be using a little too much. I usually make mine with about 2 cups of Greek yogurt and 4 cloves of garlic, along with cucumber, olive oil, and the other usual ingredients.

It tastes great when I first make it, but we usually take about three days to finish the batch. By the second or third day, the garlic flavor and smell become really strong. Some people in my household love that and don’t mind it at all, but others think it becomes a bit overpowering. I’m starting to agree that four cloves might be too much, especially since the garlic seems to get stronger as it sits.

What do you all do? How many cloves would you use for about 2 cups of Greek yogurt?

Do You Make Avgolemono Thick or Brothy?

I usually prefer avgolemono somewhere in the middle. I don’t like it so thick that it feels almost like a cream soup, but I also don’t want it completely thin and brothy. For me, the best version has enough egg and lemon to give the broth some body while still keeping it light.

A lot probably depends on what kind of avgolemono you’re making, too. In chicken soup, I like it a little more brothy because I want the rice or orzo and chicken to still stand out. With something like lahanodolmades, I don’t mind the avgolemono sauce being thicker because it is coating the food rather than serving as the soup itself.

The lemon level matters just as much as the thickness. I like enough lemon to make it bright and noticeable, but not so much that it overwhelms everything else. I think balance is really the key.

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?

Is lamb or beef more traditional for giouvetsi?

I've been looking into traditional Greek giouvetsi recipes lately, and I'm curious about which meat is considered the most traditional. I've seen recipes that use lamb, others that call for beef, and even some that use chicken.

I love the idea of slowly cooking the meat in a rich tomato sauce with orzo until everything becomes tender and flavorful. However, I'm wondering whether lamb or beef would be the more authentic choice.

Is one traditionally preferred in certain regions of Greece? I've read that lamb is often associated with older Greek recipes, but beef seems to be very common in modern versions of giouvetsi.

I'm also curious whether the choice of meat changes the way the dish is prepared. Does lamb require different seasonings or cooking times than beef?

For those familiar with traditional Greek cooking, which version do you prefer, and which would you recommend trying first?

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!
Sign up for a free account and share your thoughts, photos, questions about Greek food, travel and culture!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top