Fried Cheese (Greek Saganaki)

For all the cheese lovers. A simple and beloved traditional Greek Saganaki recipe, made with only two ingredients and ready in less than 10 minutes. The cheese is first dredged into flour and then pan-seared at high temperature, until bubbling, forming a nice golden crust and almost melting inside. Simply delicious. "Saganaki" refers to various Greek appetizers, which are prepared in a small, two handled heavy bottomed frying pan, and itself called a saganaki or sagani. The most common traditional Greek recipes cooked in that kind of pan include mussels saganaki and shrimp saganaki, with the most popular being this simple and delicious fried cheese appetizer. When preparing a Greek saganaki recipe, the key is to pick the right kind of cheese. It has to be firm to hold-up well against the heat. The cheese which is traditionally used and are the best options, are the Greek graviera, kefalograviera, kefalotyri, which are hard yellow cheeses, while regional variations may use Cypriot halloumi or mastello from Chios island. Serve with traditional Greek meze and a last minute squeeze of a lemon and some crusted bread on the sideside.

4 oz cheese Graviera, kefalograviera, kasseri or kefalotyri (110-120 g)
1-2 oz all-purpose flour, unbleached (50 g)
oil, for frying

Garnish:
½ lemon, freshly squeezed

Slice a large block of cheese (or some smaller if you prefer), approx. 10x7 cm and 1.5 cm thick. If you cut the cheese thinner, the saganaki will melt into the pan.

Place the cheese under running water and then dredge into the flour, shaking of the excess flour. This will help the saganaki form a nice golden crust and to hold its shape when fried.

Into a small heavy-bottomed pan add some oil. As soon as the oil heats, add the cheese and fry for a few minutes on both sides, flipping the saganaki carefully with a spatula, until nicely coloured.

Prepare this delicious Greek cheese saganaki recipe and serve, while still smoking hot as a delicious meze with a last minute squeeze of a lemon.

Makes 2-3 servings.