If you have been to a Greek restaurant before, then you have probably seen the sudden flash of fire followed by an “OPA!” as the waiter serves a hot plate of saganaki cheese at a nearby table.
Ever thought how it would be to enjoy that same freshly-fried saganaki in the comfort of your own home?
Greek blogger, author and food personality Tassos Antoniou has you covered with a fast, amazingly delicious recipe that is easy to follow even for novice cooks.
His books, Mama Peinao blog (meaning, “Mom I’m Hungry!”) and website are amongst the most popular in Greece, thanks to his approachable style and straightforward instructions.
Be sure to check out Tassos’ English-language food blog, My Greek Salad.
Read the ingredients/instructions below and also watch the video (in English) to learn how to make this mouthwatering fried cheese dish, Greek style.
Ingredients
- 4 oz cheese — graviera, kasseri, or any other hard cheese, in block
- cold water to soak
- 5 tbsp all purpose flour
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 fresh lemon
Instructions
- For this saganaki recipe, you will need a block of hard cheese that will maintain its shape in the frying pan. Cut the cheese into 2 cm thick pieces.
- Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Soak the cheese in cold water. Dredge it into the flour. Fry it for three minutes until golden brown and crispy. Flip sides and fry the cheese for another 3 minutes. Make sure to fry the sides so the saganaki is evenly crispy. Transfer to a platter covered with kitchen paper to absorb the excess oil.
- Serve the saganaki while still hot. Don’t forget to squeeze a little lemon to it before tasting it!
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