Greek Food - Help?

[KillarneyRose]

Could someone with a knowledge of Greek food please help me remember the name of these dishes? I'd describe them as dips or spreads; served cold.

The first mystery food is yogurt or sour cream with finely chopped cucumber and, I believe, garlic.

Mystery food is mostly, if I recall, mushed up eggplant plus some other stuff.

Mystery food is an orangeish/pinkish color and I think the primary ingredient is fish eggs (or caviar as the fancy folks might say)


I know my descriptions don't sound very appetizing, but they're really yummy. I wanted to find recipes so I could try to make them at home, but I can't do that if I don't know what I'm looking for.

Thanks!

[aurora_borealis]

Tzatziki is what I believe the sauce is.

Babaganoush has eggplant and tahini.

I am lost on the fish eggs one.

Obviously greeklawgirl and Kitso are the experts here.

I have upped my gyro intake at the Pita Pit due to the high volume of UGGs this fall. I don't want the lambs to die in vain.

[valkyrie]

Baba ghanouj is one of the most delicious things, ever. There's a recipe for it here.

[wrigley]

Baba Ghanouj is a favorite of mine.

Aurora Boreallis got tsatziki right.

I think the eggplant dish you're thinking of is moussaka. If not greeklawgirl,kitso, or kdonline can put their nickel spin on it.

I'm not familiar with the fish eggs one. The regions of Greece where my family is from has never made that one, I don't think. Sounds interesting.

Kilarney, here's a website you might like.

http://www.eatgreektonight.com/

There's a page where you can pick out ingredients and it directs you to recipes.

I hope it helps.

[AlphaSigOU]

Gyros, moussaka, dolmathes, souvlaki, avgholemono, spanakopita, baklava, washed down with ouzo and retsina!

[greeklawgirl]

OK, here you go:

The first thing you're talking about is tzatziki, which is a cucumber-yogurt sauce.

The second thing you're talking about is melizanosalata (or baba ganoush in Lebanese). That is eggplant, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic.

The last thing you're talking about is taramosalata, which is fish roe spread with garlic.

All three are delicious spread over warm pita. If you're looking for recipes, I can give you my yiayia's fabulous ones!

[Rudey]

How come greek people steal a lot of middle eastern food?

-Rudey

Mmmm gyros...mmmmmm goats...

[KillarneyRose]

Thank you everyone for your helpful responses! Now I'm really, really craving some Greek food though...

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally posted by Rudey
How come greek people steal a lot of middle eastern food?

I wouldn't say stolen, but adopted from the many cultures that happen to be around. Athens has a sizeable Middle Eastern community. Greece has only been an independent state since 1839; previous to that it was part of the Ottoman Empire, what is now Turkey and the Levant countries (Syria, Lebanon, Israel).

Greeks drink ouzo, Turks drink raki; both are similar liquors. And Maria already explained what a Greek calls melizanosalata is known as baba ganoush in Lebanon.

Now where'd my bottle of ouzo go? Opa!

[aurora_borealis]

Originally posted by NickLc24
Mmmm gyros...mmmmmm goats...

Gyro is lamb meat, feta is goat cheese. Can't eat the goats or no feta!!!

Eat more gyros, don't let the lambs die in vain for hideous footwear!

I'll be having one tonight.

[CatStarESP4]

When I was in college, I ordered dinner from the local Greek-Italian restaurant whenever possible. I would always order pita bread with tzaztiki. I would tear pieces of the pita, dipped each piece into the tzaztiki. Delicious! Whatever was leftover, I would have for breakfast the next day.