(4 servings)
All you need is:
• Cheese: Kefalotyri, Graviera, or Kefalograviera are the preferred Greek cheeses for this recipe. If those aren’t available to you, you can substitute authentic Greek kasseri, feta cheese or halloumi. Just make sure to keep a close eye as it will melt more quickly.
• Oil
• Ground pepper.
• All-purpose flour.
• Spirit (optional): Use brandy or ouzo to give it the traditional flambé.
• Lemon: Fresh lemon wedges squeezed over the hot, melting cheese gives a delicious balance between bright, savory, creamy, and rich.
Instructions:
• Prepare the cheese. Slice a (cold) 8-ounce block of cheese into two ½-inch wide pieces. Briefly run it under room temperature water and pat dry.
• Coat the cheese in flour. Spread all-purpose flour onto a rimmed plate and season with black pepper. • Dredge each half in the flour and pepper mixture, shaking off any excess.
• Pan-fry the cheese. Add ¼ cup of olive oil to a medium nonstick skillet. Set over medium heat. • When the oil is hot (but not smoking), pan-sear the cheese slices until they’re golden brown and bubbling on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. • The cheese should form a nice thin crust with a soft, melty interior.
• Serve: Squeeze on some lemon juice and serve the fried Greek cheese immediately. Or flambé the cheese with the help of brandy or ouzo (see instructions below).
How to Flambé Cheese (Optional)
For a dramatic presentation, you can flambé the cheese. This never fails to provide some fun entertainment for your guests once your cheese saganaki is ready!
• Add the alcohol. To flambé safely, first pull the hot skillet off the heat of the stove (and away from your face). Then, pour half a shot glass (about ½ ounce) of brandy or ouzo into the skillet.
• Ignite! Carefully ignite the alcohol using long matches or a BBQ lighter. As soon as the “oohs” and “aahs” subside and the alcohol burns off, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and serve. Enjoy this delicious traditional Greek starter with some crusty bread to mop up the delicious pan sauce naturally created by the oil and lemon juice.
