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dpappas87

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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?
 
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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.
 
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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.
 
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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.
 

Roundup of Easy Recipes to Start Cooking Greek Food

I know a lot of people who want to start cooking Greek food but are intimidated. I want to help them out by brainstorming a list of "easy win" foods to get started making.

Here's what I have - do you have anything to add?

  • Greek Village Salad (Horiatiki)
  • Tzatziki
  • Greek Lemon Chicken
  • Greek Lemon Potatoes
  • Souvlaki
  • Greek yogurt with honey and walnuts
  • Grilled Halloumi cheese
  • Fasolakia
  • Briam
  • Greek style lamb chops

What are the most famous Greek cheeses?

I've recently embarked on a culinary quest to explore the rich and diverse world of Greek cheeses. From the tangy feta found in traditional Greek salads to the sizzling delights of halloumi, Greece's cheese culture seems incredibly vast and flavorful. 🇬🇷

I'm reaching out to this knowledgeable community to ask: What are the most famous Greek cheeses that you've tried or heard of?

Are there any particular varieties that are a must-try or any hidden gems that rarely escape the borders of Greece? And if you have any delicious recipes or pairings to share, I'd love to hear about those too!

Stuffed grape leaves - how much filling?

I haven't made stuffed grape leaves in a while and I have some questions.

First of all, I am having a hard time judging how much filling to put in each leaf? I have a friend who helped me and tried to explain. She'd put a teaspoon of filling in the leaf, then add or subtract more after looking at it. She's quick rolling, and I have no idea how she knows how much filling.

And she really couldn't explain it - just said that you have to look at it and it's by feel. It sounds like my yiayia and she's younger than me! I told her that and she just shrugged. She tried to talk me through it as we were rolling together but it seemed so random to me.

No Meat Dolmades (Stuffed Grape Leaves) Recipe

It has taken me a long time to get vegetarian dolmades to the point where I enjoy them. Here is my recipe. It uses a lot of oil, so strict fasters shouldn't eat them. But most people aren't super strict so I would even say these are good for lent!

Ingredients:​

  • 1 jar of grape leaves (about 60-70 leaves)
  • 1 cup short-grain rice
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh dill
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/4 cup olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
  • Juice of 2 lemons
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Water

Instructions:​

  1. Prepare the Grape Leaves:
    • If using grape leaves preserved in brine, rinse them well under cold water to remove excess salt. If using fresh grape leaves, blanch them in boiling water for about 1 minute, then drain and rinse with cold water. Trim off any stems.
  2. Prepare the Filling:
    • In a large bowl, combine the rice, chopped onion, minced garlic, chopped dill, chopped mint, chopped parsley, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine.
  3. Fill and Roll the Grape Leaves:
    • Place a grape leaf flat on a clean work surface, shiny side down, with the stem end facing you. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the rice filling onto the center of the leaf, near the stem end.
    • Fold the bottom of the leaf over the filling, then fold in the sides, and roll tightly into a small cylinder.
    • Repeat with the remaining grape leaves and filling, arranging the rolled dolmades seam-side down in a large pot or deep skillet, packing them snugly together.
  4. Cook the Dolmades:
    • Once all the dolmades are rolled and packed in the pot, drizzle with a little olive oil and lemon juice.
    • Pour enough water into the pot to just cover the dolmades.
    • Place a heatproof plate or lid directly on top of the dolmades to keep them submerged during cooking.
    • Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer gently for about 45-60 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and the grape leaves are tender.

Can you make your own rusks?

I love Cretan Dakos!
There's something about the combination of the crunchy rusk soaked with the juice of ripe tomatoes, topped with fresh cheese and olive oil, that has me hooked!

However, given that I live in an area where it's challenging to find authentic Cretan rusks, I'm contemplating on whether I can bake my own at home. I'm curious if anyone here has attempted to make rusks suitable for dakos from scratch.

I know I can order then online. I tried this, and they didn't survive the shipping too well.
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