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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.
 

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?

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!

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?

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!
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