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kcixcy

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I sometimes like when cultures clash....but it can also be a disaster ahahaha! What is your favorite twist on Greek classics? I must say I love lamb gyros from a good Greek diner, from what my Greek friends have told me, they don't eat lamb gyros in Greece
 
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I grew up on authentic Greek food and do not enjoy americanized Greek food about 90% of the time I try it. There was one time I had a panini with olive oil, feta, spinach, and chicken that was Greek inspired and it was pretty good.
 
I grew up on authentic Greek food and do not enjoy americanized Greek food about 90% of the time I try it. There was one time I had a panini with olive oil, feta, spinach, and chicken that was Greek inspired and it was pretty good.
Hmmm that sounds good, like something I would make at LOL. I usually make "Americanized" Greek food at home when I don't have a lot of time. One of my favorite quick recipes is pasta salad with feta, olives, onions and tomatoes. Anything with feta and some tomatoes on top can me "Greekified"
 
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Hmmm that sounds good, like something I would make at LOL. I usually make "Americanized" Greek food at home when I don't have a lot of time. One of my favorite quick recipes is pasta salad with feta, olives, onions and tomatoes. Anything with feta and some tomatoes on top can me "Greekified"
 
I like 'Greekified'!!....That's another new one for us!!....Kallo afto!?.... Kalley Mera from Thailand.....No where on Earth can any one find Greek tomatoes, garlic and onions which taste like they do there!We used to have these wanderful gypsies coming to sell onions and garlic hanging on a string...I used to hang them out side the house..❤️
 
Defining what Greek food really is can be trickier than we might realize. Greek cuisine in the United States, in general, seems to represent what was common in Greece when the families came over from Greece, and this ranges from late 1800's or so to today. These recipes were then handed down through the generations. Meanwhile, the cuisine in Greece changed and evolved and modern Greek cuisine looks much different than those recipes of the past.

My family came to the United States just before World War I, so our family recipes appear to be stuck in that time. I've been to Greece enough time to know that the food in Greece now is different. In my family's case it is less about being "Americanized" for the most part as it is that the recipes and foods are old and possibly from another time in Greece.

Immigrants In the United States have also forced to adapt the foods because Greek ingredients like Mastic and Mahleb, that are key ingredients in many foods, weren't common, so the families maybe started to use vanilla extract and cinnamon instead. I know that my family's "tsoureki" uses cinnamon and orange instead of mahleb because of the difficulties in obtaining ingredients, and the few times I have tried to add mahleb instead, my family was confused and it didn't go over very well. I don't think there is a right or wrong way to experience Greek food because even in Greece, you have regional and familial difference.

I believe the fusion foods we see right now are a good thing. I would rather Greek flavors make their way into other foods than not because it is a flavor profile I know and love!
 

What is your favorite Greek potato dish?

Potatoes show up in so many Greek meals, and I think they are often at their best when they soak up plenty of olive oil, lemon, herbs, and cooking juices.

Greek lemon potatoes are probably the first thing that comes to mind for me. I love when they are roasted until they are soft inside, a little crisp around the edges, and full of lemon and oregano. Potatoes cooked alongside chicken or lamb are also hard to beat because they absorb so much flavor from the pan.

I also enjoy simple boiled potatoes dressed with olive oil, lemon, parsley, and salt, especially with fish or grilled meat.

What Greek potato dish do you make most often? Do you prefer lemon potatoes, potatoes roasted with meat, fried potatoes, or something else? And is there a particular seasoning or family method that makes your version especially good?

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?

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!

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?
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