Greek Food, Cooking and Recipe Community

What are some traditional winter Greek dishes?

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GreekGirlCooks

GreekGirlCooks

Active member
In the United States, food is readily available year round because the produce often comes from all over.

Avgolemono Soup
Avgolemono soup is a creamy and comforting dish that’s perfect for a cold day. It’s made with chicken broth, rice, and a mix of eggs and lemon juice, which creates a creamy texture. It's my favorite year round but I love it in the winter!

Moussaka
Moussaka is one of the most famous Greek dishes, and for good reason. It’s a layered casserole made with eggplant, ground beef or lamb, tomato sauce, and béchamel sauce. I tend to make this on special occasions and because it needs the oven, it's more like a winter thing for me.

Fasolada
Fasolada is a simple and hearty soup made with white beans, vegetables, and herbs. It’s a staple in Greek households during the winter months, and it’s often served as a main dish. I make this a lot in the winter.

Kleftiko
Kleftiko is a delicious and tender meat dish that’s slow-cooked in parchment paper. It’s usually made with lamb, but can also be made with beef or pork. I have a family member who makes this at Christmas and I look forward to it.

What winter dishes do you like?
 
GreekGirlCooks said:
In the United States, food is readily available year round because the produce often comes from all over.

Avgolemono Soup
Avgolemono soup is a creamy and comforting dish that’s perfect for a cold day. It’s made with chicken broth, rice, and a mix of eggs and lemon juice, which creates a creamy texture. It's my favorite year round but I love it in the winter!

Moussaka
Moussaka is one of the most famous Greek dishes, and for good reason. It’s a layered casserole made with eggplant, ground beef or lamb, tomato sauce, and béchamel sauce. I tend to make this on special occasions and because it needs the oven, it's more like a winter thing for me.

Fasolada
Fasolada is a simple and hearty soup made with white beans, vegetables, and herbs. It’s a staple in Greek households during the winter months, and it’s often served as a main dish. I make this a lot in the winter.

Kleftiko
Kleftiko is a delicious and tender meat dish that’s slow-cooked in parchment paper. It’s usually made with lamb, but can also be made with beef or pork. I have a family member who makes this at Christmas and I look forward to it.

What winter dishes do you like?
Click to expand...
Spanakorizo, psarosoupa, and stifado!
 
I love stifado, spanakopita, lamb shanks... yummy!
 
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Greek Foods for a Graduation Party?

A friend’s daughter is graduating this spring, and I’ve been helping plan the graduation party. Since their family loves Greek food, we’re thinking about incorporating some traditional Greek dishes into the menu. The challenge is that many of the guests aren’t Greek, so we want foods that are both authentic and crowd-friendly.

Right now, we’re considering things like spanakopita, souvlaki, Greek salad, and maybe a dessert table with baklava and other desserts (likely American desserts like brownies). We’re expecting around 50 people, so we also need dishes that are relatively easy to serve at a larger gathering.

For those who have hosted parties or catered Greek events, what foods were the biggest hits? The gathering will probably be outside. I have my own opinions, such as I like to run the grill and make enough souvlaki for everyone, but I am not sure that will be well received.

Healthy and Light Greek-Style Dinners

Now that summer is here and the temperatures have really started climbing, I've noticed myself craving lighter meals and rethinking some of my usual dinner choices. Foods that sounded comforting a few months ago suddenly feel a bit too heavy when it's 90 degrees outside.

I've always loved Greek food because so much of it naturally incorporates fresh vegetables, olive oil, herbs, seafood, and simple ingredients. Lately I've been making more Greek salads, grilled fish, and vegetable-based dishes, but I'm looking for additional ideas.

What are your favorite healthy and lighter Greek-style dinners during the hotter months? Are there traditional summer dishes that Greek families commonly make when the weather gets really warm? I'd especially love suggestions that don't require a lot of oven time, since I'm trying to keep the kitchen cool as well.

Looking forward to hearing what everyone enjoys during the summer!

Ways Greeks Preserve Fruit?

On my last trip to Greece, I noticed there were so many different ways fruit was preserved. I brought home a few jars of spoon sweets, some fruit preserves, and even a few products I'd never seen before. It made me realize that preserving fruit seems to be much more of a tradition there than it is where I live.

I'm curious how common it is for people in Greece or Greek families to make these at home today. Are spoon sweets, jams, and preserves still something many households prepare themselves, or do most people buy them now? Are there certain fruits that are especially popular depending on the season or region?

I'd also love to hear about family recipes or traditions. Did your parents or grandparents preserve fruit every year? If so, what did they make, and do you still carry on the tradition? I'd love to learn more about this wonderful part of Greek food culture.

Tips for Making Homemade Loukaniko?

I’ve been thinking about trying to make homemade loukaniko, and I’m finally ready to give it a shot. I have a KitchenAid mixer with the meat grinder and sausage stuffing attachments, so I think I have the equipment I need. Now I just need to figure out how to get the flavors right!

I absolutely love loukaniko grilled, especially when it gets a little charred on the outside and stays juicy inside. For those of you who make your own, what seasonings and proportions do you use? I know recipes can vary quite a bit depending on the region and family tradition. I’m especially curious about orange peel, garlic, oregano, fennel, and other spices.

Any tips on the best meat-to-fat ratio, casing size, or grilling method would also be appreciated. I’d love to get as close as possible to traditional Greek flavor!

What's the secret to great moussaka?

I've been cooking more traditional Greek meals lately, and I've really started to appreciate ladera dishes. There's something so comforting about vegetables slowly cooked in olive oil, tomatoes, herbs, and simple ingredients. They may not be flashy, but they're some of the most satisfying meals in Greek cuisine.

I'm curious, which ladera dish is your favorite? Briam, fasolakia, bamies, gigantes, arakas, imam bayildi, or something else? Is there a family recipe that stands out, or maybe a regional variation you grew up with?

I'd also love to hear how you serve it. Do you pair it with feta, crusty bread, olives, or something different? And if you have any tips for getting that rich, slow-cooked flavor, I'd love to hear those too.

Looking forward to hearing everyone's favorites and maybe finding a few new dishes to add to my rotation!
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