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What is the best Greek food to make for kids?

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kosta_karapinotis

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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...
 
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ellinasgolfer0320 said:
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...
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kosta_karapinotis said:
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?
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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)
 
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ellinasgolfer0320 said:
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...
Click to expand...
Loukanikopita is a huge favorite amongst my sons! I've never made it at home though. I've only seen it at bakeries
 
KarenKariotis1 said:
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)
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Yess any type of spaghetti! Maybe with Greek meat sauce too :) What a good idea
 
Pastitsio all the way, or Makaronia with Kima!
 
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ellinasgolfer0320 said:
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...
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All of these are things I loved when I was a kid. I also loved keftedes and avgolemono soup.
 
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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.

Do You Make Avgolemono Thick or Brothy?

I usually prefer avgolemono somewhere in the middle. I don’t like it so thick that it feels almost like a cream soup, but I also don’t want it completely thin and brothy. For me, the best version has enough egg and lemon to give the broth some body while still keeping it light.

A lot probably depends on what kind of avgolemono you’re making, too. In chicken soup, I like it a little more brothy because I want the rice or orzo and chicken to still stand out. With something like lahanodolmades, I don’t mind the avgolemono sauce being thicker because it is coating the food rather than serving as the soup itself.

The lemon level matters just as much as the thickness. I like enough lemon to make it bright and noticeable, but not so much that it overwhelms everything else. I think balance is really the key.

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?

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?

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!
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