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nadellii

Active member
My husband just picked up this amazing pastry from the Greek dessert store and he doesn’t remember the name!! ughhh!! Does anyone know what it’s called? I would love to order it again sometime soon. There’s cream inside and top is covered in almonds. It’s sooooo good. :)

BC6C5613-A0AB-40FA-893F-091703FAFEDD.jpeg
 
To me this looks like bougatsa...this looks SO amazing!!! ????
 
I think it's bougatsa, too. Was it creamy on the inside? I've seen bougatsa mostly with phyllo but in this case it looks like maybe the bougatsa was inside a puff pastry type of thing?
 
My husband just picked up this amazing pastry from the Greek dessert store and he doesn’t remember the name!! ughhh!! Does anyone know what it’s called? I would love to order it again sometime soon. There’s cream inside and top is covered in almonds. It’s sooooo good. :)

View attachment 931
It is a cream puff. In Greek, we call them sou (from the French pâte à choux). It is a light, delicate pastry dough, which is as it is baked, the water in the dough evaporates and the steam creates puffs in the pastry and creates a cavity that is filled with the cream.
The bougatsa on the other hand is pastry cream or some type of Greek cheese that is wrapped in phyllo pastry (in a similar way to spanakopita or tyropita).
 
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It is a cream puff. In Greek, we call them sou (from the French pâte à choux). It is a light, delicate pastry dough, which is as it is baked, the water in the dough evaporates and the steam creates puffs in the pastry and creates a cavity that is filled with the cream.
The bougatsa on the other hand is pastry cream or some type of Greek cheese that is wrapped in phyllo pastry (in a similar way to spanakopita or tyropita).
Very interesting, thanks! Ill make sure to ask for a sou next time I visit a Greek (or French) bakery!
 
Looks like bougatsa to me! One of my favorites
 

Is lamb or beef more traditional for giouvetsi?

I've been looking into traditional Greek giouvetsi recipes lately, and I'm curious about which meat is considered the most traditional. I've seen recipes that use lamb, others that call for beef, and even some that use chicken.

I love the idea of slowly cooking the meat in a rich tomato sauce with orzo until everything becomes tender and flavorful. However, I'm wondering whether lamb or beef would be the more authentic choice.

Is one traditionally preferred in certain regions of Greece? I've read that lamb is often associated with older Greek recipes, but beef seems to be very common in modern versions of giouvetsi.

I'm also curious whether the choice of meat changes the way the dish is prepared. Does lamb require different seasonings or cooking times than beef?

For those familiar with traditional Greek cooking, which version do you prefer, and which would you recommend trying first?

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?

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 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 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?
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