Cypriot olive pies
Eliotes
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Made with Cyprus’s national cheese, traditional halloumi pies are salty snacks that can be enjoyed for breakfast or as an anytime snack. Halloumi pies come in various shapes and sizes.
Special thanks go to Paris Avgoustou (Instagram: parisavg) for sharing his recipe with us.
Before you start
Equipment
- Two mixing bowls
- Rolling pin
- Baking tray
- Parchment paper
- Pastry brush
What you need
Ingredients
For the dough
- 500g plain flour
- 360ml lukewarm water (more or less depending on the flour)
- 1 tsp dry active yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
For the filling
- 250g Cypriot halloumi, chopped into small squares
- 100g Cypriot anari (or ricotta)
- 2 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped
- ½ tbsp dry mint
- ½ onion, finely chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- Sesame seeds for the top
Method
-
Activate the yeast and knead
In a small bowl mix half of your water (about 180g) with the yeast and the sugar and set aside for 10 minutes, until the yeast is activated and you see froth or bubbles on the surface. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, mix the flour, salt and olive oil, rubbing with your fingers until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the yeast mixture and the rest of the water and knead for 10 minutes. The dough should be soft to touch and stick to your fingers; add more water or flour if needed. Let it double in size, approximately 1 hour.
-
Mix the filling
In a separate bowl mix together the halloumi, anari, mint, onion and salt until combined.
-
Roll out
When the dough is ready, pre-heat the oven to 180°C. Roll the dough thinly (about 1cm) into a rectangle. Spread the cheese mixture over the surface, leaving about 5cm clear on all sides.
-
Roll and cut
Roll the dough into a cylinder, similar to a cinnamon roll, then cut into 8 slices.
-
Glaze and bake
Place the pieces on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, brush with egg wash and sprinkle the tops with sesame seeds. Bake for about 45–50 minutes, or until golden brown.
At the table
Serving suggestion
Best warm from the oven, for breakfast or as a snack.
Keep cooking
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