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d_kakavouli

Active member
I am headed to Corfu soon in early July and I am so excited! I have never been. I want to sample traditional foods. In most of Greece, some dishes were similar no matter where you go, and then there are some regional specialties.

Are there any regional specialties I should look for in Corfu?
 
Pastitsada is terrific. Traditionally made with rooster (chicken probably more likely) cooked with a special mix of spices in a tomato sauce, served with bucatini & graviera cheese garnish. It’s not unduly spicy but it’s rich & lovely. Can also be served using veal or beef.
Bourdeto is a spicy fish dish made with chunky white fish - usually scorpion fish, juicy & light. The spices include sweet red pepper and hot red pepper, according to taste. Sometimes there’s tomato added. My favourite taverna is Galini in Danilia where theirs is fabulous. Great place where the horta is delicious and the wine from their own vineyard is organic - you genuinely don’t get a hangover, though obviously moderation is recommended
 
Pastitsada is terrific. Traditionally made with rooster (chicken probably more likely) cooked with a special mix of spices in a tomato sauce, served with bucatini & graviera cheese garnish. It’s not unduly spicy but it’s rich & lovely. Can also be served using veal or beef.
Bourdeto is a spicy fish dish made with chunky white fish - usually scorpion fish, juicy & light. The spices include sweet red pepper and hot red pepper, according to taste. Sometimes there’s tomato added. My favourite taverna is Galini in Danilia where theirs is fabulous. Great place where the horta is delicious and the wine from their own vineyard is organic - you genuinely don’t get a hangover, though obviously moderation is recommended
Pastitsada is terrific. Traditionally made with rooster (chicken probably more likely) cooked with a special mix of spices in a tomato sauce, served with bucatini & graviera cheese garnish. It’s not unduly spicy but it’s rich & lovely. Can also be served using veal or beef.
Bourdeto is a spicy fish dish made with chunky white fish - usually scorpion fish, juicy & light. The spices include sweet red pepper and hot red pepper, according to taste. Sometimes there’s tomato added. My favourite taverna is Galini in Danilia where theirs is fabulous. Great place where the horta is delicious and the wine from their own vineyard is organic - you genuinely don’t get a hangover, though obviously moderation is recommended
Corfu is such a beautiful island. It has great beaches, beautiful countryside and very nice architecture. But the food, the food is amazing. Corfu’s cuisine has been influenced by the Venetian, since they were under Venetian rule for a long time. But the influence on its cuisine didn’t stop there. It has influences from British, French, and other Western countries since Corfu was a trading hub. These cultural influences show up a lot in the local cuisine, where traditionally Greek dishes are given a more Westernized or Italian spin to them.

Some of my favorite dishes are,
Pastitsda,
Soffrito
Bouroubourou
Bourdetto
Bianca,
Oh and definitely Pasta Flora

i would love to hear from you what you tried and what your favorite dish was.
Have fun and safe travels.
 
Thank you, everyone. I will keep you all posted! I didn't realize Pasta Flora was so common on Corfu. I will be leaving soon!
 
Wow, these dishes you guys mentioned - like Pastisada - sound slightly different from the typical dishes. I hope I have a chance some day to try these - I'd try to make them (I am sure I can find recipes) - but I want to try the dishes first before I attempt to cook them. There is so much more to Greek cuisine than I have realized.
 

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?

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!

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?

What is your favorite Greek potato dish?

Potatoes show up in so many Greek meals, and I think they are often at their best when they soak up plenty of olive oil, lemon, herbs, and cooking juices.

Greek lemon potatoes are probably the first thing that comes to mind for me. I love when they are roasted until they are soft inside, a little crisp around the edges, and full of lemon and oregano. Potatoes cooked alongside chicken or lamb are also hard to beat because they absorb so much flavor from the pan.

I also enjoy simple boiled potatoes dressed with olive oil, lemon, parsley, and salt, especially with fish or grilled meat.

What Greek potato dish do you make most often? Do you prefer lemon potatoes, potatoes roasted with meat, fried potatoes, or something else? And is there a particular seasoning or family method that makes your version especially good?

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.
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