Recipes, Guides, Lifestyles by GRATSI

Cheese Saganaki
EAT

ALEXANDRA'S KITCHEN

Cheese Saganaki

Saganaki beautifully embodies the Greek philosophy of celebrating simple, high-quality ingredients. Made with local hard cheeses like kefalotyri, graviera, or kasseri, these cheeses have high melting points that create a perfectly golden crust while preserving their creamy interior.

By Alexandras Home

 |  

November 27, 2024

Cheese Saganaki

By Alexandras Home

Ingredients

  • 2

     blocks hard cheese (e.g., kefalotyri, graviera, or halloumi)

  • 2/3

     cup (160 ml) water

  • 3/4

    cup (90 g) all-purpose flour

  • 1

    egg, beaten

  • 3/4

    cup (60 ml) olive oil (for frying)

  • Lemon juice (for serving)

  • Fresh oregano or thyme (optional, for garnish)

TOTAL TIME

15 minutes

2 servings

Traditionally served as part of a meze spread, saganaki pairs wonderfully with crusty bread, a refreshing ouzo, or a glass of white wine like Gratsi White. This dish tantalizes the taste buds and reflects the warm, inviting spirit of Greek hospitality.

A woman in a kitchen grinds pepper into a bowl of flour on a counter with eggs, cheese slices, a glass of oil, and other ingredients. She wears a black top, white apron, and gold jewelry. Two slices of pale yellow cheese are placed on a wooden cutting board, with brown eggs in a carton and a glass of white wine in the background.

STEP 1

Prep the Cheese

Cut the cheese into thick slices (1–1.5 cm / ½ inch).

Dip each slice in water, then coat lightly with flour, shaking off excess.

Dip the floured slices into the beaten egg, then coat them in flour again for a crispier crust.

A hand with red nail polish holds a wedge of cheese over a patterned white plate; eggs and a flour container are visible in the background. A hand dips a rectangular slice of cheese into a plate of flour. Nearby are eggs, a glass of liquid, and a wooden cutting board. A hand coats a slice of bread in beaten egg over a plate of flour. A tray of eggs, a glass of oil, and a wooden cutting board are visible in the background.

STEP 2

Fry

Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat.

Fry the cheese slices for 2 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy.

A square piece of breaded food is being lifted with a gold spatula from a pan with oil, while another piece fries in the oil. A glass of yellow liquid sits on the counter in the background. Two golden-brown breaded squares are being fried in oil in a beige skillet, with the oil bubbling around them.

STEP 3

 Serve

Transfer to a plate, squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top, and garnish with oregano or thyme if desired.

Serve immediately while hot!

Two golden, crispy slices of fried food on a white plate, with a hand squeezing a lemon wedge over them, drizzling fresh juice on top. The scene suggests a fresh, homemade meal. Two golden-brown, breaded square pieces of fried cheese garnished with fresh herbs, served on a white oval plate on a wooden table, with a drink in the background. A woman in a kitchen holds up a large, stretchy piece of melted cheese with bits of breading, stretching it vertically above her head. She looks surprised or impressed by the length of the cheese pull.

The market