1 - 7 of 7 Posts

dpappas87

Active member
When I cook Greek dessert recipes, I tend to use whatever honey I have in the house. I've never really thought about it. Now, I am wondering if everything will taste better if I take the time to track down some Greek honey. Do you guys notice much of a difference? I am getting ready to start my holiday baking and I will be doing at least melamakarona and baklava, both of which I believe I need honey for?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hash
In my experience if it isn't Greek honey, I tend to find local, unfiltered, raw sources. So, I go out of my way to find a farm. To me, the local honey tastes the best - unless I can find honey from Greece, which is on another level.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dpappas87 and Hash
  • Like
Reactions: dpappas87 and Hash
When I cook Greek dessert recipes, I tend to use whatever honey I have in the house. I've never really thought about it. Now, I am wondering if everything will taste better if I take the time to track down some Greek honey. Do you guys notice much of a difference? I am getting ready to start my holiday baking and I will be doing at least melamakarona and baklava, both of which I believe I need honey for?
Greek honey is very different to all the honeys I have tasted from different countries.....we have a Royal organic honey farm here where the bees ?? are really nurtured and taken care of ....can taste all the different flowers ?? from where the bees have been traveling.... They can travel long distances....The honey from Crete and Peloponnese are the best!...... Greek honey is much thicker and strong in taste.... ideal for your baking.... Please send us some baklava to taste!....?.... Kalley Mera from Thailand!
 
Greek honey is very different to all the honeys I have tasted from different countries.....we have a Royal organic honey farm here where the bees ?? are really nurtured and taken care of ....can taste all the different flowers ?? from where the bees have been traveling.... They can travel long distances....The honey from Crete and Peloponnese are the best!...... Greek honey is much thicker and strong in taste.... ideal for your baking.... Please send us some baklava to taste!....?.... Kalley Mera from Thailand!
I totally agree- Greek honey really is special and it is worth it to find some. If you can't find Greek honey locally you can buy it online. I can even buy it on Amazon sometimes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dpappas87
Thank you all for chiming in! I decided not to tempt it - if I can't find Greek honey locally I will just buy it online.
 
It is ok if you can’t find greek honey for your greek pastries. Even though it might taste better for you and I since we have been accustomed eating and baking with it, you can definitely substitute any other good local honey.
 

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!

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?

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!

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?
Sign up for a free account and share your thoughts, photos, questions about Greek food, travel and culture!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top