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Original poster

Greek feast

67 replies

TemporaryName123 · 14/01/2025 17:01

Hi all,

I’m hosting 7 friends in a few weeks, and I always do a ‘theme’ (I’ve previously done tapas, Italian etc). This time it’s Greek!

I’m thinking….

Slow roast Greek lamb (served shredded in a large dish, with a touch of pomegranate mollases stirred through just before serving, not strictly Greek but game changing!)

Lemon and garlic Greek potatoes (might deep fry these before serving for extra crispiness!)

Greek salad

Loaded Greek Dipping Oil

Homemade Hummus & Tzatsiki

Toasted pitta wedges

Is there anything missing? Anything you’d leave out/add?

TIA

OP posts:
Original poster
TemporaryName123 · 14/01/2025 17:59

PinkCherryPie · 14/01/2025 17:18

What about Portokalopita with ice cream?

I have genuinely never heard of this! Runs to google!

OP posts:
Original poster
TemporaryName123 · 14/01/2025 18:00

Movinghouseatlast · 14/01/2025 17:18

I've just made a Greek Orange Cake which was lovely. Serve it with a little Greek yoghurt. If you Google the recipe comes up.

Or peaches poached in Metaxa.

OMG this sounds amazing! Actually recently have made Emily English’s orange cake and was loving the orange cake vibes so this could be a winner!

OP posts:
Original poster
TemporaryName123 · 14/01/2025 18:00

Words · 14/01/2025 17:26

I once made spanakopita from Vefa's kitchen cook book- apparently the bible of Greek cuisine.

It took hours, and hours and hours of work.

End result was nice but not worth the effort.( and I rarely say that about food)

Oh this is so good to know! Might serve that one!

OP posts:
Original poster
TemporaryName123 · 14/01/2025 18:01

CharlotteStreetW1 · 14/01/2025 17:34

I do a light dessert which is soft fruit (I usually do raspberries), topped with equal parts Greek yoghurt and whipped double cream mixed together. Sprinkle dark brown sugar over the top.

Not authentic obviously but I would say "in the spirit" and not too heavy after all the savoury deliciousness 😋

Oh, this sounds lovely! Maybe raspberry and peach together with this could be good

OP posts:
Original poster
TemporaryName123 · 14/01/2025 18:02

Words · 14/01/2025 17:30

Don't give yourself too much work though. Olives are a good shout. Concentrate on doing a few dishes superbly well.

Do you have a source for retsina?

Oh what’s retsina?

OP posts:
MsRinky · 14/01/2025 18:04

This baklava cheesecake is to die for. I made it for a do and now everyone requests it for their birthdays.

www.theguardian.com/food/2024/apr/21/sticky-aubergine-tart-sea-bass-pistachio-pesto-baklava-cheesecake-greekish-recipes-georgina-hayden

LDpuppy · 14/01/2025 18:08

Movinghouseatlast · 14/01/2025 17:18

I've just made a Greek Orange Cake which was lovely. Serve it with a little Greek yoghurt. If you Google the recipe comes up.

Or peaches poached in Metaxa.

Orange cake - you HAVE to make orange cake!!!!

Words · 14/01/2025 18:09

Retsina is a traditional Greek wine.

Haven't seen or drunk it in years.

It's a love or hate taste.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe · 14/01/2025 18:11

Greek rice? I had that once in a restaurant, it was delicious. I have no idea what was in it but, just perfect.

Your menu looks lovely, OP. I will give that orange cake a go I think.

ZenNudist · 14/01/2025 18:13

All sounds delicious. You could do the halloumi in a bake. Roast the med veg with oregano and then add the halloumi on the top towards the end and grill

MeltingSky · 14/01/2025 18:21

I love Greek food. Can't wait to try the recipes in the links posted.

KnickerFolder · 14/01/2025 18:35

Portokalopita is… orange cake! 😂

Are you going to serve everything as a mezze?

Some different suggestions:

I prefer tyropita to spanakopita. Cheese pies rather than spinach and cheese. Both are very simple if you use ready made filo pastry.

I love Santorini fava - like hummus made with split peas.

Don’t forget taramasalata! The Greek version of baba ghanoush is melitzanosalata.

Giant butter beans in tomato sauce.

Kalamari or baby octopus would be nice.

I would do half rosemary roast potatoes and half lemon and garlic potatoes. Maybe cook some oven baked bifteki (meatballs) with the lemon and garlic potatoes if you don’t have any veggies.

Pudding ideas (or to serve with Greek coffee)

Loukomades (little doughnut balls with honey)
Baklava
Grape jelly sprinkled with almonds
Halva
Lokum (Turkish delight)
Almond shortbread
Figs
Watermelon

The previous suggestions of halloumi, stuffed vegetables or vine leaves and lots of crudités for the dips would be lovely. And Portokalopita!

murasaki · 14/01/2025 18:35

Retsina is a context drink for me, it's lovely on a sunny day in Greece, but i can't get on with it back home.

KnickerFolder · 14/01/2025 18:39

Retsina is white or rose wine flavoured with pine resin. Some supermarkets stock it.

Original poster
TemporaryName123 · 14/01/2025 21:01

KnickerFolder · 14/01/2025 18:35

Portokalopita is… orange cake! 😂

Are you going to serve everything as a mezze?

Some different suggestions:

I prefer tyropita to spanakopita. Cheese pies rather than spinach and cheese. Both are very simple if you use ready made filo pastry.

I love Santorini fava - like hummus made with split peas.

Don’t forget taramasalata! The Greek version of baba ghanoush is melitzanosalata.

Giant butter beans in tomato sauce.

Kalamari or baby octopus would be nice.

I would do half rosemary roast potatoes and half lemon and garlic potatoes. Maybe cook some oven baked bifteki (meatballs) with the lemon and garlic potatoes if you don’t have any veggies.

Pudding ideas (or to serve with Greek coffee)

Loukomades (little doughnut balls with honey)
Baklava
Grape jelly sprinkled with almonds
Halva
Lokum (Turkish delight)
Almond shortbread
Figs
Watermelon

The previous suggestions of halloumi, stuffed vegetables or vine leaves and lots of crudités for the dips would be lovely. And Portokalopita!

Are you Greek?! You sound like you know your stuff!! Actually love the idea of a wee sharing board with baklava, figs and some of the other elements you mentioned above! Gosh, this is such a good thread!!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
TemporaryName123 · 14/01/2025 21:02

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe · 14/01/2025 18:11

Greek rice? I had that once in a restaurant, it was delicious. I have no idea what was in it but, just perfect.

Your menu looks lovely, OP. I will give that orange cake a go I think.

Thank you! The Greek rice sounds intriguing!

OP posts:
Original poster
TemporaryName123 · 14/01/2025 21:05

MsRinky · 14/01/2025 18:04

This baklava cheesecake is to die for. I made it for a do and now everyone requests it for their birthdays.

www.theguardian.com/food/2024/apr/21/sticky-aubergine-tart-sea-bass-pistachio-pesto-baklava-cheesecake-greekish-recipes-georgina-hayden

Oh…my…god. That cheesecake is everything! Does it take ages to make?

OP posts:
Wavescrashingonthebeach · 14/01/2025 21:09

Dolmades (stuffed vine leaves)
Plaki (greek butter beans in tomato sauce)
A nice aubergine dish
OLIVES - ALL THE OLIVES!!

Sounds like you are already cooking enough so the above items can be purchased ready made. If you run you might still get some from your local Lidl as they recently had Greek week!

Oh and baklava. Oh yes!

SpaceOP · 14/01/2025 21:09

Spanakopita isn't so hard really. I use the Felicity Cloake version from the Guardian as a base. And it can be done in advance. I do individual ones shaped like samoosas which work well and can be airfried as you need them but I like the idea on here of slightly pre-cooking and freezing a whole one.

I'd agree that you need some olives etc. For dessert just baklava and coffee myself. Proper greek coffee is my preference but you need the coffee and the little pot etc.

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 14/01/2025 21:10

The mezze bits make great starters while everyone waiting for the main. Sounds a wonderful evening.

ODFOx · 14/01/2025 21:12

Whipped feta, augergine paste ( I can't remember the name: similar to baba ganoush but more chunky and more parsley
Tabouleh (if you're adding pomegranate to the lamb you may as well grasp the nettle) with all the mint and parsley you can chop.
Don't fry the potatoes, but roast them to crispness in lamb fat before adding additional lemon before serving.

CaraCameleon · 14/01/2025 21:12

I LOVE Greek food. Please keep the recipes coming!

ODFOx · 14/01/2025 21:14

After a heavy lamb meal a bowl of mixed halved grapes and mint leaves with yogurt and honey to spoon over is light and delicious.

Grapesandcheseseplease · 14/01/2025 21:16

Courgette and feta fritters are delicious and can be prepared in advance. This recipe is delicious Kolokithokioftedes.

If you want to do the halloumi slightly differently, wrap it in filo pastry, fry it, then top with honey and sesame seeds. Tastes amazing but ideally needs to be served hot.

Greek Zucchini Patties with Feta and Herbs - Kolokithokeftedes | Olive Tomato | Vegetarian recipes, Mediterranean diet recipes dinners, Greek recipes

These unbelievable delicious traditional Greek zucchini patties are made with plenty of herbs and feta and are so easy to make.

https://pin.it/6dMqgecty

soupmaker · 14/01/2025 21:20

Where is the tomato salad? I just do sliced tomatoes sprinkled with a bit of salt, Greek olive oil, fresh oregano and lemon juice. I add red onion that's been sliced thinly and marinated in red wine vinegar for 15 minutes.