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redsoxdw_

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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.
 

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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!
 

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?

How does your family season dolmades?

I’ve been thinking about how much dolmades can vary from one family to another, especially when it comes to seasoning. Even when the basic ingredients are similar, the flavor can be completely different depending on which herbs and spices are used.

How does your family season dolmades? Do you use mostly dill and parsley, or do you add mint as well? I’ve also seen recipes that include green onions, oregano, or even a little cinnamon, especially when meat is part of the filling.

I’m curious whether you season the rice mixture pretty heavily before rolling the grape leaves or keep it simple and let the lemon and olive oil provide most of the flavor. Does your family add lemon juice directly to the filling, or only during cooking and serving?

I’d especially love to hear about any regional or family traditions. What gives your dolmades their distinctive flavor?

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?

Favorite Greek Cheeses Beyond Feta

Feta gets most of the attention when people talk about Greek cheese, but there are so many other varieties worth trying. I’m curious which Greek cheeses everyone enjoys most beyond feta.

Graviera is one of my favorites because it works so well on a cheese plate, grated over dishes, or just eaten with bread. Kasseri is another one I really like, especially melted. I’ve also been interested in trying more regional cheeses like metsovone, manouri, kefalotyri, and formaela.

Some Greek cheeses seem to be much easier to find outside Greece than others, so I’d also love to know which ones people regularly buy and where they usually find them.

What Greek cheeses do you keep coming back to? Are there certain ones you associate with a particular region, dish, or family tradition? And if someone has mostly eaten feta, which Greek cheese would you recommend they try next?

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?
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