Looking for Real, Greek Sides

[Chief Longwind Of The North]

This weekend, we will be making lamb meatballs in pita, and tzatziki sauce. I am looking for Greek side dishes that would work with this, preferably from someone who has lived in, or visited Greece, But all suggestions are more than welcome.

Seeeeeya; Chief Longwind of th North

 

[Sue Lau]

I would expect Greek lemon roasted potatoes or rice pilaf, and a salad with Greek vinaigrette or horiatiki.

 

[CraigC]

Saganaki and Dolmades. Didn't have to visit or live in Greece to have made and had theses.

 

[GotGarlic]

Lol, Chief - you know people can learn how to make dishes they didn't grow up with. That's what this forum is all about

Every good Greek gathering starts with a meze platter - a variety of breads, dips, fresh and grilled vegetables, olives and cheese to get the party going. Here are some ideas. The dips can be made a day or two in advance.
https://www.themediterraneandish.com/mezze-how-to-build-the-perfect-mediterranean-party-platter/

Feta baked with cherry tomatoes.
https://www.dimitrasdishes.com/baked-feta-tomatoes-appetizer/

Green beans braised with tomatoes, garlic and onion.
https://www.themediterraneandish.com/greek-green-beans-fasolakia/

Mini Spanakopita (baked phyllo filled with feta and spinach). These can be made in advance and frozen, then baked the day of the dinner.
https://www.mygreekdish.com/recipe/...ecipe-spanakopitakia-greek-spinach-triangles/

Greek salad
https://www.mygreekdish.com/recipe/greek-feta-salad/

Baklava is, of course, the iconic Greek dessert, but here is a refreshing alternative.
https://www.sugarsaltmagic.com/orange-semolina-cake/

 

[dragnlaw]

Ohhh goodness by golly... GG! those are wonderful links - Thank You!

and Craig, I've made Dolmades before - love them, although my attempt was a little under perfect! but I also managed to eat the whole batch! LOL

and never heard of Saganaki but now have some more recipes to try! Great!

 

[GotGarlic]

Ohhh goodness by golly... GG! those are wonderful links - Thank You!

and Craig, I've made Dolmades before - love them, although my attempt was a little under perfect! but I also managed to eat the whole batch! LOL

and never heard of Saganaki but now have some more recipes to try! Great!

You're welcome! I love Greek and other Mediterranean food, I collect recipes, like most of us do lol

Saganaki is fun to make. Just be careful not to use too much booze or the flames will fly high! [emoji16]

 

[msmofet]

Spanakopita

 

[Chief Longwind Of The North]

Great ideas given. I looked at them. and except for spanakopita, they are great (spinach is not something I can eat, due to diet restrictions). I used to love it though.

And yes, I have been one to say, for years, just because you weren't born there, doesn't mean you can't make the food properly. I trust DC members way more than most bloggers. My daughter will be making the meal, and requested that if possible, the recipes should be given by a Greek, in Grecian. So that's why I asked for that.

Thank you. I have bookmarked the recipes.

Seeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North

 

[summer57]

Tiropita, or Greek cheese triangles, is a great option if you can't tolerate the spinach (or other greens) in Spanokopita.

I love Tiropita, and luckily, I can get the right kind of cheese -- kefalotyri -- here in Vancouver.

This recipe is a good one, and suggests substitutions for kefalotyri, though the right cheese really makes a difference.

Here's the link, and once made, these freeze very well:

https://www.carolinescooking.com/tiropita-greek-cheese-pastries/

 

[summer57]

For dessert -- I love ek mek (like a custard) and also kourabedies, which is similar to Vanilakiperfl (Austrian crescent shortbread).


Link to a version of kourabedies:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/10012/kourabiedes-i/


and ek mek:
https://www.realgreekrecipes.com/ekmek-kataifi/

 

[GotGarlic]

Great ideas given. I looked at them. and except for spanakopita, they are great (spinach is not something I can eat, due to diet restrictions). I used to love it though.

And yes, I have been one to say, for years, just because you weren't born there, doesn't mean you can't make the food properly. I trust DC members way more than most bloggers. My daughter will be making the meal, and requested that if possible, the recipes should be given by a Greek, in Grecian. So that's why I asked for that.

Thank you. I have bookmarked the recipes.

Seeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North

Tell her that a friend of mine, who has Greek relatives and visited their regularly when he was growing up, loved the Greek dinner I made for him A couple of the recipes I gave you were from blogs written by people who live in Greece.

 

[Chief Longwind Of The North]

Tell her that a friend of mine, who has Greek relatives and visited their regularly when he was growing up, loved the Greek dinner I made for him A couple of the recipes I gave you were from blogs written by people who live in Greece.

GG, Like Andy, you are a very trusted source. I hope I'm perceived the same way. I walk among true culinary giants here on DC.

Seeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North

 

[Andy M.]

I have to smile when I look at these recipes. Many of them are very similar to the foods I grew up with in my Armenian home.

Bakalva vs. paklava; dolmades vs. dolma; fasolakia vs. fasoulia; also, pilaf and meze. There's more.


I guess the Greeks had a better publicist!

 

[GotGarlic]

GG, Like Andy, you are a very trusted source. I hope I'm perceived the same way. I walk among true culinary giants here on DC.[emoji2]

Seeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North

Thank you, Chief. You certainly are a knowledgeable, trusted source of all kinds of information.

 

[GotGarlic]

I have to smile when I look at these recipes. Many of them are very similar to the foods I grew up with in my Armenian home.

Bakalva vs. paklava; dolmades vs. dolma; fasolakia vs. fasoulia; also, pilaf and meze. There's more.


I guess the Greeks had a better publicist! [emoji38]

Better even than the Turks! [emoji16] When I visited Turkey, our tour guide in Istanbul told us that many of the foods found around and near the Mediterranean originated with the Ottoman Empire. The cooks accompanying the armies brought their techniques and adapted their recipes with native ingredients. For example, stuffed grape leaves in the warmer areas became stuffed cabbage leaves in the colder areas. I found it fascinating.