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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!
 

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?

What is the secret to making really good Greek lemon potatoes?

I've been making Greek lemon potatoes for years, and it's one of those dishes I make completely by feel. I don't measure anything, and I never really thought about how I make them because it's all second nature to me.

Recently, I tried teaching someone how to make them. Everything seemed straightforward while we were cooking together, but when they went home and tried making them on their own, all kinds of things went wrong! The potatoes weren't cooking evenly, the texture wasn't quite right, and the lemon flavor didn't come through the way it should.

It made me realize how much I rely on instinct when cooking traditional Greek food. I rarely write down recipes, so explaining every little detail is harder than I expected!

For those who make Greek lemon potatoes regularly, what tips would you give someone who's just learning?

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.

What Is the Best Way to Serve Taramosalata?

I absolutely love taramosalata and have it pretty regularly at home, but I’m having some people over soon and was wondering about the best way to serve it when entertaining.

Normally I just eat it with some bread or pita, so I don’t really put much thought into presentation. For guests, though, I’d like to make it part of a nice Greek-style spread with a few other things on the table. I was thinking warm pita triangles, crusty bread, maybe some cucumber and other vegetables for dipping, but I’m curious what everyone else usually serves with it.

Do you drizzle a little olive oil over the top or add any kind of garnish? And are there particular meze that you think pair especially well with taramosalata?

I’d love some ideas for making it look a little more special while still keeping everything traditional and simple.

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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