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?
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Spanakorizo, psarosoupa, and stifado!
 
I love stifado, spanakopita, lamb shanks... yummy!
 
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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?

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?

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?

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!

Do You Put Cinnamon in Your Keftedes?

I’m curious how everyone here makes keftedes, especially when it comes to cinnamon. I know some Greek families add a little cinnamon to the meat mixture, while others would never think of putting it in.

In my experience, even a small amount can change the flavor quite a bit. It gives the keftedes a warmer, slightly sweeter spice in the background, but I can also see how it might not be for everyone. I’ve had versions that lean more heavily on oregano, mint, parsley, garlic, and onion instead.

Do you put cinnamon in your keftedes? If you do, how much do you usually use, and was that something your family always did? I’d also be curious to know if it varies depending on what part of Greece your family comes from.

Would love to hear how everyone seasons theirs and what you consider essential for really good keftedes.
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