The breads of Greece

[Maya's Mama]

Hello Chefs!
I came across an article today which was very informative on the different types of greek breads. Take a look at the link below. Let me know... beyond the typical pita, what sorts of greek breads have you made? or would like to try to make?

http://www.krinos.com/articles/breads_of_Greece.pdf

[duonyte]

I have made tsoureki, and I'm sure I've made paximadia from one of Evelyn's recipes, just cannot find it. I also made something called lagunos or something like that, which I found in a book - a Greek cookery or a bread book. Supposedly also traditional although a Greek-heritage friend I asked about it was not aware of it.

I've also made these, which are probably not traditional but hopefully in the spirit!
Sourdough Feta Dill Bread (Bread Machine)
Greek Olive Bread

[MarrieAnn]

This olive bread is very tasty but is made almost in every country in Europe, so I'm not sure how greek is this recipe.

[evelyn/athens]

duonyte wrote:
I have made tsoureki, and I'm sure I've made paximadia from one of Evelyn's recipes, just cannot find it. I also made something called lagunos or something like that, which I found in a book - a Greek cookery or a bread book. Supposedly also traditional although a Greek-heritage friend I asked about it was not aware of it.

I've also made these, which are probably not traditional but hopefully in the spirit!
Sourdough Feta Dill Bread (Bread Machine)
Greek Olive Bread

'Lagana' is a flat bread that you traditionally buy in Greece on Ash (or Shrove) Monday (Kathara Deftera). It is on that day that kites are flown throughout the country and delicious Lenten goodies are served to accompany the Lagana - like all manner of seafood, especially kalamari, taramosalata, gigantes (a kind of baked bean), dolmadakia yialantzi (stuffed with rice), olives, halvah and pickles, being the most common. They are usually enjoyed at a picnic (so you can get more time flying your kite) if the weather is good, which it usually is - this is Greece after all, and probably the ONLY thing we can count on any more is our fabulous weather.

This year, Kathara Deftera falls on March 18. You can read more about it here.

[evelyn/athens]

duonyte, are you sure it wasn't koulourakia you made from one of my recipes? I don't have a recipe posted for paximathia.

[duonyte]

Right pastry, wrong chef! Paximathakia Portokaliou or Orange Sesame Biscotti (Greece)

Thanks about the information about lagana - very interesting. I am sure that the source I used, whatever it was, did not provide that information - that's the kind of stuff I tend to remember. As to my Greek-heritage friend not recognizing it - well, she's not very religious !

(I did not realize that there was such a difference in dates between Western and Orthodox Easter this year - our Lent starts next week, Feb. 13).