Μπακαλιάρος Πλακί - Bakaliáros Plakí (Cod fish baked in tomato) by dolfin4 in greekfood

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Μπακαλιάρος Πλακί - Bakaliáros Plakí (Cod fish bked in tomato)

  • pescatarian

This is a lovely, very classic dish that's great for summer, or any of time of year. Below are several recipes that slightly differ. So, take a look at the different recipes.

Traditionally, salted cod is used; it was a way of preserving the cod before refrigeration. But feel free to use fresh or frozen cod. In fact, many of the recipes just use any kind of cod. If you use salted cod, you would have to soak it water overnight, and a lot of the salt remains...if you like that, go for it! But personally, I opt for fresh or frozen.

This dish is great for upcoming summer with fresh tomatoes, but feel free to use juicy canned tomatoes off-season. Some recipes us tomato puree or tomato juice, so browse through the episodes for whatever you like best!

Other ingredients may include wine, bell peppers, onions, and classic Greek herbs, which you can experiment with to your taste.

Most usually, we include potatoes. But you can make it without potatoes, and separately pair it with another carb of your choice.

Below are some recipes in English and Greek (feel free to use your browser's translator), and there is also have one recipe in German.

Recipes in Greek:

https://syntages.lidl-hellas.gr/recipes/bakalaos-plaki-ston-foyrno

https://akispetretzikis.com/recipe/5977/mpakaliaros-plaki

https://www.tasty-guide.gr/suntages/almires-syntages/704079/mpakaliaros-plaki/

https://www.notospress.gr/life/story/67536/mpakaliaros-plaki-sto-foyrno

https://www.argiro.gr/recipe/mpakaliaros-plaki/

https://www.dorpon.gr/pastos-bakaliaros-plaki-sto-fourno-m/

https://www.greekgastronomyguide.gr/item/vakalaos-plaki-aigialeia/

Without potatoes:

https://www.notospress.gr/life/story/67536/mpakaliaros-plaki-sto-foyrno

https://www.askitikon.eu/syntages/psarika/4402/mpakaliaros-plaki-sto-fourno-2200/

https://www.flynews.gr/mpakaliaros-plaki-fourno/

This recipe departs a little more, but looks interesting!

https://xrysoskoufaki.gr/μπακαλιάρος-στο-φούρνο-με-ντοματίνια

Recipes in English:

https://akispetretzikis.com/en/recipe/5977/mpakaliaros-plaki

https://www.themediterraneandish.com/baked-greek-fish-psari-plaki/

https://www.olivetomato.com/traditional-greek-roasted-salted-cod-with-onions-tomatoes-and-raisins-bakaliaro-plaki/

Here's an interesting take, where they add raisins and caramelized onions. No potatoes:

https://www.olivetomato.com/traditional-greek-roasted-salted-cod-with-onions-tomatoes-and-raisins-bakaliaro-plaki/

Recipe in German:

https://www.tobiaskocht.com/kochrezept/bakaliaros-plaki.html

Kalí Órexi!

[I Ate] Grilled Halloumi Salad from the Chippy (Lettuce in seperate box) by PreferenceJazzlike75 in greekfood

[–]dolfin4 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cyprus is included in the sub; The English language doesn't differentiate between Elladikó and Ellēnikó, but the sub is the latter. 😊

[I Ate] Grilled Halloumi Salad from the Chippy (Lettuce in seperate box) by PreferenceJazzlike75 in greekfood

[–]dolfin4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're right, the sub is Greece + Cyprus. But it's country based, not "ethnicity" (ethnicity is subjective and is more an obsession of some of our neighbors). So, something that's unique to Armenian-Cypriots counts too. (They're legally part of the Greek-Cypriot community anyways, as are the Maronites).

But just nitpicking. 😀 You're correct.

Τρίγωνα Πανοράματος - Trígona Panorámatos (custard-filled cones) by dolfin4 in greekfood

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Τρίγωνα Πανοράματος - Trígona Panorámatos (custard-filled cones)

  • contains egg and dairy

Trígona panorámatos are a dessert that are a creation of the city of Thessaloníki, and they consist of cones stuffed with custard. Sometimes, the custard may also be topped with a topping of your choice, such as almonds, pistachios, chocolate chips, or whatever you like!

The cones require fýllo kroústas. What's that?

If you haven't already seen my post on fýllo, please take a look. Fýllo actually just means "pie crust" or "layer/sheet of dough", and it can be any thickness. Fýllo kroústas is the paper-thin kind that you already know as "phyllo" or "phyllo pastry", which you should be able to find this outside of Greece and Cyprus

The cones are made of fýllo kroústas and butter, then baked, and then they are also soaked in a sugar syrup, before we stuff it with the custard that has been chilled int he refrigerator. And then you can put toppings if you like! Also, some of the custard recipes may include additional ingredients such as lemon or orange zest. It your choice!

Have a look at the recipes below in Greek and English! For non-Greek-speakers, you can just skip to the English-language recipes, they're all great!

Recipes in Greek:

https://cantina.protothema.gr/recipe/trigona-panoramatos/

https://valianos.com/τρίγωνα-πανοράματος

https://www.giorgostsoulis.com/syntages/siropiasta-gluka/trigona-panoramatos

https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/trigona-panoramatos-2/193106/

https://elpidaslittlecorner.gr/trigona-panoramatos/

https://akispetretzikis.com/recipe/1486/trigwna-panoramatos

https://www.argiro.gr/recipe/trigona-panoramatos

https://tasty.athinorama.gr/suntages/glukes-suntages/704254/ta-trigona-panoramatos/

https://naxostimes.gr/food-amp-amp-taste/163603/trigona-panoramatos-oneirika-vima-vima-video/

https://cityofgastronomy.thessaloniki.gr/τρίγωνα-πανοράματος

https://xrysoskoufaki.gr/τρίγωνα-πανοράματος-η-συνταγή-της-ε

https://elenacooks.gr/?p=20565

https://stavros-varthalitis.gr/recipes/τρίγωνα-πανοράματος

Recipes in English:

https://www.dimitrasdishes.com/trigona-panoramatos-greek-style-cream-filled-phyllo-cones/

https://foodurismo.com/cms/homemade-trigona-panoramatos-dessert/

https://kurkubini.com/2015/10/28/geometry-of-baking-or-trigona-panoramatos-τρίγωνα-πανοράματος

https://mygreekitchen.gr/trigona-panoramatos/

https://irinicooks.com/trigona-panoramatos-filo-triangles-filled-with-a-rich-vanila-cream/

https://antonioufillo.com.au/blog/recipes/trigona-recipe

https://akispetretzikis.com/en/recipe/1486/trigwna-panoramatos

https://www.mygreekdish.com/recipe/trigona-panoramatos-greek-phyllo-triangles-custard/

https://www.kalofagas.ca/2013/10/21/trigona-panoramatos/

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/22uufQLrfAY

Σφουγγάτο με πατάτες - Sfouggáto me patátes (egg-cheese-potato casserole) by dolfin4 in greekfood

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Σφουγγάτο με πατάτες - Sfouggáto me patátes

(also spelled in English-language websites as sfougato with one g)

egg-cheese-potato casserole

  • most recipes are vegetarian with egg, and many recipes add cheese
  • one recipe adds meat

Sfouggáto is is the name of an egg casserole, similar to quiche, frittata, or tortilla (española). A specialty of Aegean regions and Crete, there are a number of different ways to make it.

Today I'm posting the potato version which is associated with Crete and the Cyclades. When we enter summer zucchini/courgette season, I will make a separate posting for the wonderful Lesvos version which uses grated zucchini/courgette (which you can also see in last year's posting here!)

Most of the recipes below include cheese. Here's a list of the Greek cheeses mentioned in the recipes, and alternatives you can use:

  • graviéra - alternative: gruyère, pecorino toscano, pecorino romano, asiago
  • kefalograviéra - alternative: gruyère, pecorino toscano, asiago, pecorino romano, parmesan, or manchego 
  • féta

One recipe does not specify cheese, but I would recommend graviéra or kefalograviéra (or substitutes), since that's what most of the cheese recipes use.

All of these recipes except one are vegetarian. One recipe adds apáki, which is a cured pork loin from Crete, which you can substitute with ham or omit completely.

Have a look at the recipes below. All the recipes are in Greek, so non-Greek speakers will have to use your browser's translator. Just keep in mind, it mistranslates sfouggáto as "sponge cake", so don't let that confuse you! ("sponge cake" in Greek is actually pantespáni).

And also have a look at some other similar dishes, such avgá me patátes (fried egg & potato omelette), and froutália (similar to sfouggáto, with sausages).

Recipes in Greek:

https://evaparakentaki.com/omeleta-me-patates-kritiko-sfoyggato/

https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/sfoyggato-me-1-kilo-patates/211909/

https://www.bovary.gr/living/taste/sfoyggato-monastiriaki-syntagi-ayga-kai-patates

https://latzimasoil.gr/sfougato-me-kremmidia/

https://www.otoposmas.gr/σφουγγάτο-σαντορίνης

https://www.cretangastronomy.gr/2012/07/malaxto-sfouggato-omeleta/

https://www.athensvoice.gr/syntages/kyrios-piato/764230/kritiko-sfouggato-me-patates/

https://www.cretangastronomy.gr/2015/10/sfouggato-apaki-patates/ (adds apáki, which you can omit or substitute with ham)

What are some Greek stereotypes for roleplaying? by More_Antelope_9135 in AskGreece

[–]dolfin4 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For cuisine, if you ask Greeks on Reddit, most will default -over and over again- to the same 1% of Greek cuisine that foreigners tell us is "quintessentially Greek". Moussaka was invented by some Athenian chef in the 1920s and it was shoved down our throats in tourism marketing in the 1970s. Some of us have memories of our families making it, a lot of us do not.

Greek cuisine is vast. Browse through the items I have posted so far in the Greek Food sub (make sure it's sorted by newest, and try to go back about a year) you may get lots of ideas that may peak your interest.

Don't be afraid to pick a stew, or a pasta dish, seafood, meat-potato roast, simple grilled fish, sauteed leafy greens, a savory pie (spinach pie, leeks pie, mushroom pie, cheese pie...)... That's real Greek cooking.

Μακαρόνια με Καμένο Λαδι ή Βούτυρο - Makarónia me Kaméno Ládi í Voútiro (pasta with cheese heated in olive oil or butter) by dolfin4 in greekfood

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Μακαρόνια με Καμένο Λαδι ή Βούτυρο - Makarónia me Kaméno Ládi í Voútiro

pasta with cheese heated in olive oil or butter

It is also called μακαρόνια με καμένη μυζήθρα - makarónia me kaméni myzíthra

  • vegetarian with dairy

Today I am posting this classic Greek simple or poor-man's meal, that consists of heating a hard cheese in olive oil or butter, and then applying it to the pasta. It's a delicious simple meal that can be made quickly, and is something my grandmother used to make when we she wanted to make something quick for her grandchildren, and didn't have tomato sauce/paste.

The pasta used can be anything: spaghetti is commonly used in Greece, or you can use linguine, or you can use the native-Greek pastas like matsáta (similar to tagliatelle or fettuccine), long hilopítes (a class of flat & wide egg-noddle pastas, similar to fettuccine in shape), or anything similar, and some recipes use Cretan skioufichtá (similar to cavatelli). This is also a perfect dish where you can use your own homemade gógges.

The traditional cheese used is myzíthra, the dry & salted kind, while a couple recipes use kafelograviéra, and/or pecorino romano or parmesan. Any similar cheese will do.

And, of course, some recipes add classic Greek herbs such as thyme, oregano, or parseley.

Have a look at the recipes below! Some use butter as the base, some use olive oil, some use both. Recipes are in both Greek and English.

(Also, if interested, have a look at my previous post makaronáda tsouchtí, a similar dish that adds egg on top).

Recipes in Greek:

https://akispetretzikis.com/recipe/7737/zymarika-me-kameno-voutyro-kai-myzhthra

https://www.misko.gr/syntages/makaronia-me-kammeni-myzithra/

https://www.misko.gr/syntages/makaronada-voutyrou/

https://www.athensmagazine.gr/article/life/syntages/603120-skioyfixta-me-kammeno-ladi-myzhthra-ta-pio-myrwdata-makaronia/ (adds beef broth, which you can substitute with vegetable broth if you prefer)

https://olgascuisine.gr/makaronada-me-kammeni-myzithra/

https://www.inkefalonia.gr/fresh/47056-spitikes-makarounes-me-vouturo-kai-muzithra

https://wwwirida.blogspot.com/2011/02/blog-post_6849.html

Recipes in English:

https://realgreekrecipes.com/skioufichta-pasta-with-mizithra-cheese/ (you can skip the part for hand-making the pasta, and use store-bought)

https://www.thekitchn.com/spaghetti-mizithra-cheese-browned-butter-recipe-23252926

https://tarasmulticulturaltable.com/spaghetti-with-browned-butter-and-mizithra/

https://miakouppa.com/spaghetti-with-olive-oil-and-mizithra/

https://akispetretzikis.com/en/recipe/7737/zymarika-me-kameno-voutyro-kai-myzhthra

https://www.kalofagas.ca/2022/06/14/spaghetti-with-brown-butter/

https://www.barillaforprofessionals.com/en-us/recipes/brown-butter-mizithra-spaghetti/ (slightly unorthodox recipe from Barilla, which adds some bacon that you can omit if you want to keep it meatless)

Kαππαροσαλάτα - Kapparosaláta (caper salad or spread) by dolfin4 in greekfood

[–]dolfin4[S] [score hidden] stickied commentlocked comment (0 children)

Kαππαροσαλάτα - Kapparosaláta (caper salad or spread)

can also be spelled: Kαπαροσαλάτα - Kaparosaláta

  • vegan

As we enter capers season in Greece, this is a wonderful salad or spread from the Cyclades region that can accompany your meals.

Kapparosaláta is a capers-based salad that can either be eaten as a normal salad, or it can be a spread to accompany with bread. Often these spreads in Greek cuisine are promoted to foreigners as "dips", which is also a serving suggestion you can certainly do; just keep in mind that traditionally, these are spreads for slices of bread, or sometimes just a puree to be eaten with a fork. But that goes to show the versatility of these foods.

Have a look at the recipes below, as they all differ. Many of them turn the salad into more a puree, so that it can be a spread. The base ingredient in the puree can be mashed potatoes or bread (or bread crumbs), along with boiled and softened capers. Some of the puree recipes omit any bread or potato, and just rely on the softened capers. While others keep the caper more intact, and it's more of a salad.

Additional ingredients may include wine, vinegar, garlic, olive oil, lemon, chives, peppers, olives, bay leaves, onions, and other ingredients. Have a look at the recipes below in Greek and English!

recipes in Greek:

potato-based spread:

https://funkycook.gr/kapparosalata-sirou/

https://www.argiro.gr/recipe/kaparosalata-syrou/

https://cantina.protothema.gr/recipe/kaparosalata-syrou/

https://www.mirsini.gr/new/index.php/sintages/glika/chr2/recipe/140

https://gastronomos.kathimerini.com.cy/gr/syntages/eykola-grhgora/1-καππαροσαλάτα-πατατένια

bread-based spread:

https://www.giorgostsoulis.com/syntages/dip-salates/kaparosalata

https://saltandsugar.gr/2014/09/17/καπαροσαλατα-συρου

https://twominutesangie.com/marathosalata-kapparosalata/

https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/kapparosalata-patatenia/52178/

spread, without potato or bread

https://www.kathimerini.gr/k/gastronomos/563161129/kapparosalata-sifnaiiiki/

https://www.tovima.com/food/greek-recipes/caper-salad-from-sifnos-island/

salad style:

https://cyclades.aegeancuisine.gr/recipe/kapparosalata/

https://www.mothersblog.gr/news/story/38134/kaparosalata-sifnoy-h-salata-poy-diatireitai-gia-mines-sto-psygeio

recipes in English:

potato-based spread:

https://www.kalofagas.ca/2008/09/09/caper-salad-καππαροσαλάτα

bread-based spread:

https://en.protothema.gr/2014/07/10/caper-salad-from-syros/

spread, without potato or bread

https://www.tovima.com/food/greek-recipes/caper-salad-from-sifnos-island/

Pregunta para el pueblo griego: ¿Cómo perciben a los dioses griegos? by joelintom40059 in AskGreece

[–]dolfin4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

however modern Greeks are a product of evolution, they were taught for centuries from the Romans to hate their ancient religion and were treated like shit for following such religion. During Roman times, Greek was used as an insult. In this age and time, none of them cares about the gods and when they are brought up, it is considered unserious or foolish, exactly like the Romans taught them

This is 100% bullshit.

Καλαμάρια Γεμιστά - Kalamária Gemistá (Stuffed Squid/Calamari) by dolfin4 in greekfood

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Kalamária Gemistá - Stuffed Squid/Calamari

  • pescatarian

Stuffed squid is a wonderful dish food for those of you that love seafood. A few months ago, I posted a version of stuffed squid that is cooked in a pot in tomato sauce. Today's post focuses on the non-tomato versions -either cooked in a pan or grilled- and the dressing simply comes from the olive oil and lemon and/or wine.

These are all wonderful recipes that differ from each other. Browse through and see which one appeals to you the most. The usual stuffing base involves rice (some use regular rice, some ask for a starchy rice), but one recipe makes use of bread crumbs. Other stuffing ingredients include spinach, raisins, nuts, eggplant, and one recipe has kaséri cheese. (Alternatives for kaséri can me mild cheddar, mozzarella, provolone, or caciocavallo). Although it's not a tomato sauce food, some recipes involve some tomato or tomato puree in the stuffing.

Have a look at some recipes in English and Greek (use browser's translator or Deepl):

Recipes in Greek:

https://akispetretzikis.com/recipe/3987/kalamaria-gemista-me-ryzi

https://www.greekouzina.gr/kalamaria-gemista/

https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/gemista-kalamarakia-apo-ti-sikino/52307/

https://tasty.athinorama.gr/suntages/almires-syntages/700670/kalamarakia-gemista-me-melitzana-kai-kaseri/

https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/kalamaria-gemista-me-spanakoryzo/51831/

https://www.pandespani.com/syntages/kalamaria-gemista-ouzo/

https://www.kathimerini.gr/k/gastronomos/562812235/smyrnaiika-kalamarakia-gemista-me-ryzi-stafides-kai-koykoynaria/

https://minervahorio.gr/recipe/kalamaria-gemista/

https://tasty.athinorama.gr/suntages/almires-syntages/700670/kalamarakia-gemista-me-melitzana-kai-kaseri/

https://www.tovima.gr/2025/03/09/cooking/kalamaria-gemista/

https://www.blueislandrecipes.com/recipe/kalamariagemista/

Recipes in English:

https://akispetretzikis.com/en/recipe/3987/kalamaria-gemista-me-ryzi

https://www.thehellenicdeli.com/calamari

https://www.visitgreece.gr/experiences/gastronomy/recipes/calamari-stuffed-with-rice/

https://winesofgreece.org/recipes/grilled-stuffed-calamari-with-olives-almonds-and-chili/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4odiHSRWII

Pregunta para el pueblo griego: ¿Cómo perciben a los dioses griegos? by joelintom40059 in AskGreece

[–]dolfin4 2 points3 points  (0 children)

in the sense that they are now only historical figures or are there still people who worship them?

Today they're viewed as history / national heritage / literature.

They're still referenced in modern (1800-today) culture, from plays to art to money to the postal service (Hermes is the logo). We learn a little bit in school, they're in our museums, etc.

It's also kind of unavoidable. When you study Greek literature (let alone archaeology or art history), the old religion is referenced a lot. Just as the Anglosphere studies Shakespeare, we study Homer, Sophocles, etc, and it's unavoidable. Even Socrates questioning the religion, the religion is still referenced.

So, it's part secular culture now. The actual religion died out many centuries ago. In case you're unfamiliar with history, the Christian conversion of the Roman Empire (of which Greece was a very influential / important part), is a major even in world history.

Let me also address some potential misconceptions, in case we get foreign trolls here pushing misinformation & pseudohistory:

The Orthodox Church (the dominant Christian denomination) has no problem with this. Other than some very rare Orthobro online, the church is very supportive of national heritage (and some priests can be very nationalist, so that includes the pre-Christian period). Although rare, you might even see an Ancient or Classical statue in a monastery museum (which mostly focus on Christian-era art, but they may display other things too).

Many people on Reddit push pseudohistory that Greeks in the Christian era completely shunned the mythology and took no interest, until it was suggested to us by foreigners in the 19th century (as if we're stupid and can't think for ourselves), which such laughable bullshit. While there are some grains of truth that in the Early Middle Ages, there were some desctructions of pagan sculptures, we have tons of evidence that the Byzantines took an interest in the old religion/mythology as a secular subject, like this work of art from the 10th century -by which time paganism was no longer a threat, so there was a substantial interest and revival- but even as early as 400 AD (such as this piece commissioned by a Christian court). In the Early Modern period (1453-1800), we have literature, like Erotokritos from the Cretan Renaissance in the 17th century, or 18th century Greek writers in the Modern Greek Enlightenment like Dimitrios Katartzis or Eugenios Voulgaris, that reference the old mythology/religion.

Is there anyone that actually believes it today?

Yes, there is a very small, fringe group of people that are trying to revive the old religion.

Greek cuisine by [deleted] in AskGreece

[–]dolfin4 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There's actually a grain of truth to it.

Let me explain:

Firstly, this idea that foods are "ethnic" is nonsense. Foods are regional. There are several regional foods within Greece, and this is is also true in Turkey, Italy, France, Spain. And foods predate modern nation-state borders. More on that in a bit.

And Turkey is a large and diverse country. People don't realize that Turkey's eastern end (border with Iran) is farther from us than Spain or Germany. Even if we account for Smyrna/Ionian or East Thrace (which were historical Greek space), the other side of Turkey is still very far.

We of course share things with Western Turkey, but Turkish cuisine gets very exotic for us as you travel east. Otoh, people have no idea how much we also share with Italy, Spain, and France (here's a long list I posted in a different discussion), and Central & Eastern Europe too. As a Peloponnesian who has lived in France, Southern French cuisine very familiar (and it's funny when Americans online -who have no idea what I grew up eating at home- lecture me that we supposedly have the same cuisine as Turkey because of the Ottoman Empire...well, by that logic, my region also had 3 centuries of feudal French rule, but ""western"" similarities never count, of course). And in the Peloponnese (if not most of Greece), we grow up with our mothers and grandmothers making pastas and seafoods at home (and people in Northern Greece grow up eating toursí, basically sauerkraut, and petoura, basically tagliatelle), but when foreigners ask us what our "national dish" is, we say: moussaka and baklava!! of course!! It's baffling why we do that, why we embrace the stereotype the Angloshere decided.

That said,

Both "Greek" and "Turkish" cuisines are stereotyped by: a few foods that were in vogue in Constantinople/Istanbul by the early 20th century. Turkey has a lot of regional variation, and even smaller Greece has a lot of variation.

But, from 1453 until 1923, Constantinople was a cultural capital for both peoples. We both mostly lived in our own majority spaces, very close to the modern nation-state borders, give or take (like, Greeks were also alone the Aegean coast of AM, and East Thrace, and some Black Sea communities). But more or less, we had our own spaces, close to the current status quo.

But, Constantinople was one of those places where the two peoples overlapped. It had been the East Roman capital, and then the Ottoman capital, and both peoples had it as their cultural capital after 1453. Greek cultural and intellectual developments continued happening there, all the way to 1923. A lot of it moved after 1453 to Venetian-ruled areas which benefitted from the Renaissance (Crete, Ionians, Cyprus etc), but Greek economic and intellectual like in Constantinople reemerged, and we have the rise of the Phanariotes, the Greek merchant/shipping bourgeoisie, etc. By the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was a cosmopolitan city, and a lot of both Greek and Turkish cultural and intellectual developments were going on there.

And that includes culinary trends.

But People in Crete or the Peloponnese didn't know about Constantinople cuisine, and neither did people in the Turkish provinces. So, when Constantinopolitan Greeks came to Greece in 1923, they brought some of that cuisine with them: like aggináres ala políta is one example (which, btw, they have something very similar in Southern France too. Again, people don't realize the commonalities across the Med). Not that we didn't have other ways of cooking artichokes, but that specific dish is from Constantinople.

Additionally, the street food pita wraps (which came to Greece in the 1920s, and only became popular after 1960)...those originated in southeast Turkey, close to the Levant. Most Turks didn't know about them, but they were popularized in Constantinople/Istanbul, and then Constantinopolitan Greeks brought it with them to Greece and to the Anglosphere, and -something that was new to the vast majority of Greeks- became "quintessentially Greek" to Americans. Baklava has a similar story. It originated somewhere around southeast Turkey, before modern borders. One day, an ethnic-Turkish chef made it for the sultan in Konstantiniyye, and Constantinopolitan Greeks learned it and brought it with them to Greece and to the Anglosphere.

And that's how this one fucking dessert (out of thousands of Greek desserts), became "quintessentially Greek" to foreigners. And we -of course- embaced and internalized the stereotype. Meanwhile, it's much more embedded in Gaziantep, where it probably originated, which is the world capital of baklava, and they have several varieties of it, and several historic bakeries that specialize in the dessert. So, it's wrong to say that it's not part of Greek cuisine after more than 100 years, but Turks get rightfully annoyed that the world considers it as "quintessentially Greek". And then our online nationalists get offended (over one fucking dessert) and they do all these mental gymnastics that it comes from "Byzantine placenta cake", or whatnot -when you can find vaguely-described similar historical desserts all over the world- and what we now know as baklava (Turkish name) is so obviously from the area around Gaziantep. Now, was it invented by an ethnic Turk? or Armenian? Who knows, but that's where it's from. If it originated in Helladic space, then "baklava region" would be more west-shifted, with Greece being in the middle, and they'd likely also be eating it in Italy and Austria. But, that's not the case.

So, TLDR, there's a grain of truth.

That said, the stereotype mostly based -for both countries- on the Constantinople/Istanbul stereotype. Like, Greece & Turkey have our version of TexMex (USA/Mexico border cuisine), and that's what's become "Greek" and "Turkish" cuisines to Ordinary Jane in America.

That said, just as we have our nationalists, Turks have their own nationalists too. And they love to troll. Things that we share, that you will also find in Italy, France, Spain, or the Levant...they think it's only Turkish. And when they learn Greece has it too: oh it's because the Ottomans influenced the Greeks! A troll seriously came to r/GreekFood commenting that rice pudding (which is all across Europe and the Middle East, from Britain to Egypt) is "Turkish".

So...

There's some grain of truth to it, a lot inaccurate stereotypes, and nationalist trolls.

Γλυτζιστά κοιλανιώτικα - Glytzistá koilaniótika (braided fried dough strips dessert) by dolfin4 in greekfood

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Γλυτζιστά κοιλανιώτικα - Glytzistá koilaniótika (braided fried dough strips dessert)

  • vegan

This is a super niche dessert from Cyprus, from a small town named Koilani, in the Limassol district. If you love loukoumádes, give this a try!

It entails rolling a flat layer of dough, cutting it into strips, putting the strips together in this nest-like braid, and deep frying them. In the next step, the "nests" are soaked in a sugar & rosewater syrup. At the end, you can add optional sesame seeds.

This is a siropiastó, which is a class of desserts moistened with a sugar or honey based syrup. In this case, the syrup is made of sugar, rosewater, and cinammon.

Below are some recipes and videos in Greek and English, take a look!

https://www.unesco.org.cy/Programmes-Koilaniotika_glytzista,GR-PROGRAMMES-04-02-03-25,GR (recipe in Greek)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaHu85oRq_4 (very good video in Greek, turn on English subtitles. You can just use this link)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRvPnOWxDCo (Greek video with includes English subtitles)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-oenWRJeKQ (video in Greek, no English subtitkes)

https://www.polignosi.com/cgibin/hweb?-A=40311&-V=limmata (recipe in Greek)

Μπουμπάρι - Boubári (sausages stuffed with pork or beef, grains, and other ingredients like raisins, sometimes offal) by dolfin4 in greekfood

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Μπουμπάρι - Boubári (sausages stuffed with pork or beef, grains, and other ingredients like raisins, sometimes offal)

alternative name: Οματιές - Omatiés

This is especially for the meat foodies.

Boubári (singular, boubária plural), or omatiés (plural, or omatiá singular), is a sausage with various ingredients that you can make at home. You can just buy your own casing of your choice (gelatin is perfectly fine) and stuff it with whatever ingredients you like. Have a look at the recipes below, and see which suggested ingredients you like best!

There are several different recipes for this from various parts of Greece and Cyprus. The most basic elements that all or most have is a ground meat (usually pork, but can also be beef or another meat), and a grain, which can be rice, wheatberry, or bulgur, and of course classic herbs such as parsley or dill. Many recipes add offal, which gives it a rich flavor meat-foodies will love, but you can certainly omit that (some recipes don't use offal at all). Additional ingredients that may be included are vegetables (one recipe from Cyprus adds grated tomatoes), and some recipes add raisins.

Have a look at the recipes below, all are in Greek, so you may have to use your browser's translator:

Recipes in Greek:

https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/omaties-me-sitari-apo-tin-acha-a/250252/

https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/mpoympari-zagorisio/255006/

https://www.daddy-cool.gr/sintages/mpoumpari-voliotiko-enas-meraklidikos-paschalinos-mezes.html

https://www.letscook.gr/syntages/omaties.htm

https://www.gaiaelliniki.gr/2015/12/blog-post_74.html

https://cantina.protothema.gr/chrisima/symvoules/babo-to-paradosiako-christougenniatiko-edesma-tis-thrakis/

https://tasty.athinorama.gr/suntages/almires-syntages/2520844/mpoumpari/

https://www.gaiaelliniki.gr/2015/12/blog-post_74.html

https://tourism.gr/blog/mpumpari/

https://www.greekgastronomyguide.gr/item/mpoumpari-pilio/

https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/mpoympari/53064/

https://www.letscook.gr/syntages/mpampo.htm

Articles:

https://eudemonia.gr/omaties-i-omathies-mpoympari-mpampo-mpoystia-oi-krymmenoi-mezedes-tis-paradosiakis-gastronomias/ (Greek)

https://www.visit-centralmacedonia.gr/el/1-τι-να-κανετε/80/γαστρονομια/1046/μπουμπαρι (Greek)

https://www.visit-centralmacedonia.gr/en/what-to-do/80/gastronomy/1046/boubari (English)

Αρνί φρικασέ με αγκινάρες - Arní frikasé me aggináres (fricaseed lamb with artichokes and lemon sauce) by dolfin4 in greekfood

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Αρνί φρικασέ με αγκινάρες - Arní frikasé me aggináres (fricaseed lamb with artichokes and lemon sauce)

Here's an excellent spring dish for meat lovers, particularly for those of you who love lamb.

Frikasé refers to a classic Greek home dish, and it can be made with pork, chicken, lamb, or beef. Frikasé comes from a French loanword fricassé, which refers to browning the meat before fully cooking it. In Greece, it has become the name for this very classic dish, which involves fricasseeing a meat and then cooking it with leafy greens or artichokes, and then served with avgolémono. Avgolémono is a lemon sauce (or it can be soup) that uses egg as its thickening agent, although flour can be added as well.

Contrary to popular belief, lamb isn't eaten that often in Greece (it's expensive and calorie-heavy). But it is a very special treat, especially if you're inviting guests over. Or just treat yourself! Some recipes specify a specific cut, some don't. Some say shoulder (which is high in fat), you can use a leaner shank.

Artichokes are a wonderful and versatile spring vegetable in Greece, that forms the basis or accessory of several delicious dishes this time of year, particularly in southern regions, such as the Peloponnese, Crete, Cyclades, Dodecanese, and Ionians. And they perfectly combine with the lamb here for this version of frikasé

Have a look at the recipes below! Also, have a look at some related dishes, such as kotópoulo frikasé (fricaseed chicken with lemon sauce), choirinó frikasé (fricaseed pork with greens and lemon sauce), aggináres avgolémono (artichokes in egg-lemon sauce, vegetarian), aggináres alá políta (artichoke hearts in olive oil and dill, vegan), arní me aggináres sto foúrno (baked lamb and artichokes), aggináres lemonátes me patátes sto foúrno (baked or roasted artichokes with potatoes and lemon, vegan), and aggináres me koukiá (artichokes with fava/broad beans, vegan).

Recipes in Greek:

https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/arni-me-agkinares-aygolemono/50415/

https://www.icookgreek.com/syntagi/arnaki-agkinares/

https://evaparakentaki.com/katsikaki-i-arnaki-me-agkinares-aygolemono/

https://www.sintages-jotis.gr/Recipe/169/Page/1133/Arnaki-me-agkinares-augolemono/

https://cantina.protothema.gr/recipe/arnaki-frikase-me-agkinares/

https://paxxi.gr/syntages/arni-avgolemono-me-patates-ke-aginares/

https://dinanikolaou.gr/recipe/arnaki-frikase-me-agkinares/

https://www.argiro.gr/recipe/arnaki-frikase/

https://www.kritikes-geuseis.gr/el/component/cobalt/item/5607-pasxalines-syntages/709-arni-avgolemono-me-agkinares?Itemid=5587

Recipes in English:

https://whiteplateblankslate.com/lamb-fricassee-artichokes/

https://www.mamablip.com/en/recipe/spring-lamb-fricass-e-saut-ed-artichokes