1 - 9 of 9 Posts

kosta_karapinotis

Active member
My nieces and nephews are coming to visit and I'd love to make some tasty Greek treats for them! I know they're pretty picky eaters and used to eating chicken nuggets but I want to keep some of the Greek culture alive. For anyone who has kids, what is popular amongst children?
 
Probably one of the more popular Greek foods that's not too strange: gyroi (they might find the tzatziki weird), spanakopita (the spinach might scare them) , tiropita, makaronopita, zamponotiropita, loukanikopita, pastitsio...
 
  • Like
Reactions: dubai_suzie
Probably one of the more popular Greek foods that's not too strange: gyroi (they might find the tzatziki weird), spanakopita (the spinach might scare them) , tiropita, makaronopita, zamponotiropita, loukanikopita, pastitsio...
My nieces and nephews are coming to visit and I'd love to make some tasty Greek treats for them! I know they're pretty picky eaters and used to eating chicken nuggets but I want to keep some of the Greek culture alive. For anyone who has kids, what is popular amongst children?
 
My grands love almost any meat on a stick so I would suggest souvlakia and french fries topped with crumbled Feta. Maybe make a red dipping sauce for the french fries using a Kokkinisto recipe. Also how about Burnt Butter Spaghetti with Greek Mizithra Cheese. Sliced cucumbers with Tzatziki sauce ( call it the Greek version of ranch dressing LOL)
 
  • Like
Reactions: dubai_suzie
Probably one of the more popular Greek foods that's not too strange: gyroi (they might find the tzatziki weird), spanakopita (the spinach might scare them) , tiropita, makaronopita, zamponotiropita, loukanikopita, pastitsio...
Loukanikopita is a huge favorite amongst my sons! I've never made it at home though. I've only seen it at bakeries
 
My grands love almost any meat on a stick so I would suggest souvlakia and french fries topped with crumbled Feta. Maybe make a red dipping sauce for the french fries using a Kokkinisto recipe. Also how about Burnt Butter Spaghetti with Greek Mizithra Cheese. Sliced cucumbers with Tzatziki sauce ( call it the Greek version of ranch dressing LOL)
Yess any type of spaghetti! Maybe with Greek meat sauce too :) What a good idea
 
Pastitsio all the way, or Makaronia with Kima!
 
  • Like
Reactions: greek_ggirl
Probably one of the more popular Greek foods that's not too strange: gyroi (they might find the tzatziki weird), spanakopita (the spinach might scare them) , tiropita, makaronopita, zamponotiropita, loukanikopita, pastitsio...
All of these are things I loved when I was a kid. I also loved keftedes and avgolemono soup.
 

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!

What Greek Foods Do You Start Craving in the Fall?

I've been thinking more about seasonal eating lately, especially from a Greek perspective. Summer Greek food feels so naturally tied to the season with tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, fresh herbs, grilled foods, and plenty of fruit. But once the weather starts cooling down, I find myself wondering what traditional Greek foods really feel like fall.

Are there certain dishes you start making as soon as September or October arrives? I'm thinking of foods like fasolada, giouvetsi, trahana soup, baked dishes, savory pies, and recipes using apples, grapes, walnuts, chestnuts, pumpkin, or other fall ingredients.

I'd especially love to hear about foods that were seasonal in your family rather than dishes you ate year-round. Were there certain meals your yiayia or parents always started making when the weather changed?

What Greek foods make you think, "Okay, fall is officially here"?

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?

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?

Do you put potatoes in your moussaka?

My family has never made moussaka with potatoes, so I always grew up thinking of it as layers of eggplant, meat sauce, and béchamel. Recently, though, I had moussaka at a restaurant that included a layer of potatoes, and I absolutely loved it.

The potatoes gave it a little more substance and seemed to soak up some of the flavors from the meat sauce. It made the whole dish feel even more comforting without taking away from the eggplant.

Now I’m curious about how common this is in Greece and in Greek families. Is adding potatoes considered traditional in certain regions, or is it simply one of those variations that depends on the household?

If you make moussaka at home, do you include potatoes? And if you do, do you use them along with eggplant or in place of some of it?
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