Tyrompiskota (pronounced Tee-roh-mpi-SKOH-tah) literally mean cheese biscuits. I made them based on other shortbread cookies I have made in the past by adding cheese and spices.
Tyrini Sunday (Cheesefare or Forgiveness Sunday) is celebrated the last day before the Easter fasting period which also marks the end of the carnival.
Therefore, no meat is eaten but during the whole week before Tyrini.
It is a tradition to eat anything with dairy products, especially cheese and eggs in order to prepare for the great Lent.
In Cyprus the last day before the fasting for Christmas (14th November) and Tyrini, before Easter are called “sikoses”.
Sikoses, from the verb σηκώνω = sikono, which means “to lift” because it is the last day of “Apokries” or carnival, which both mean, abstaining from eating meat.
In this case “sikoses” means lifting non-Lenten food from our tables.
On this day it is a tradition in our house to make Cypriot Ravioles, as my mother did and I continue the tradition because my family love them and who wouldn’t love hand made pasta, filled with halloumi and mint?
What is Tyrini Week?
The beginning of Carnival, which signifies the distancing from meat, starts the week immediately following Meatfare Sunday or Carnival Sunday, the third week of Triodion, known as Tyrini.
Essentially, it is the climax of Carnival, the true Carnival, and is called the Week of Tyrini or or Macaroni Week because, after the cessation of meat consumption and before the great fast of Lent, this intermediate phase intervenes with abundant consumption of foods and sweets based on milk, cheese, and pasta: cheese pies, milk pies, milk pudding, rice pudding, sweet and savory macaroni dishes in creams and butter.
At the end of the post, you will find a lot of recipes to make on Tyrini!
How to make Tyrompiskota
I made these tyrompiskota (cheese cookies) two years ago again on Tyrini, which is this week.
They are very easy to make and taste amazing.
I made these cookies based on other shortbread cookies I have made in the past.
I added two of my favourite cheeses, halloumi and graviera and a combination of various spices and herbs on top, which made them disappear in no time.
These cookies are ideal with a cup of coffee or tea but also with a cold beer or a glass of wine.
They are very versatile so the combination of cheeses can vary by adding kefalotyri, kefalograviera, kaskavalli, ladotyri Mytilinis or other hard cheeses and spices which you like best.
Ingredients needed to make Tyrompiskota
- All-purpose flour
- Butter
- Grated halloumi
- Grated Graviera
- Egg
- Spices
Tyrini Sunday with Tyrompiskota (Cheesy Savoury Cookies)
Tyrompiskota, literally mean cheese biscuits. They are shortbread cookies made with two kinds of cheese (halloumi and graviera) and spices.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup grated halloumi
- ½ cup graviera
- 1 egg yolk
- Cold water optional
Spices:
- My spice Mixture
- Fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- Flaxseeds
- Oregano and thyme
Instructions
- Put both cheeses and 1 cup of flour and salt in a bowl and mix to combine.
- Add butter and mix with your hands.
- Add the egg yolk, mix and then add the remaining half cup of flour gradually until the dough holds together. If necessary add some cold water, a tablespoon at a time until the dough holds together.
- Make it into a roll, wrap in cling film and refrigerate for half an hour.
- Cut them into thin slices with a sharp knife. Place them on parchment paper, sprinkle tops with spices and refrigerate again.
- Preheat oven to 180 o C / 350 o F and bake for 15 – 20 minutes until firm and lightly browned around edges.
- When you can handle them, remove cookies to a wire rack to cool
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Nutrition Information
Yield 20 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 87Total Fat 6gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 24mgSodium 56mgCarbohydrates 7gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 2g
"These values are automatically calculated and offered for guidance only. Their accuracy is not guaranteed."
Tyrini Sunday Recipes
Here are some creations of mine with cheese:
Halloumi-Graviera Pull-aparts
Halloumi-graviera pull-aparts are individual filled bread placed next to each other and baked so that when baked they join into one large bread which can easily be separated by pulling each piece.
Dakos Savoury Greek Cheesecake
A savoury cheesecake I made during Christmas, based on the Greek Cretan recipe for Dakos.
Bourekia me Freskia Anari - Pastries with Fresh Anari Cheese
Boureki (plural bourekia) is a type of pastry made of a thin flaky dough known as phyllo and are filled with anari (anthotyros or myzithra, as it is known in Greece), which is similar to ricotta.
Moustokouloura with Fresh Grape Juice and Anthotyros
Moustokouloura cookies can be made either with fresh grape juice or grape molasses. They are perfect as a snack or for breakfast!
Tyropitari
Tyropitari pronounced Tee-rho-pee-TAH-ree, is a homemade Greek pastry filled with feta cheese and deep fried, which is served as an appetizer.
Easy and Delicious Greek Smashed Potatoes
These easy Greek Smashed Potatoes are first boiled, drained and smashed. Then a garlic butter is added on top with graviera cheese and broiled until the cheese melts.
Tyropita with Kourou Phyllo
Tyropita Kourou is a cheese pie made with a type of phyllo made with butter and yoghurt, which I would describe somewhat like tart dough.
Cypriot Muffins in Phyllo Cases
Halloumi Muffins are based on my Kypriaki Tyropita (a savoury halloumi cake) but made in muffin tins which are lined with phyllo pastry.
Greek Creased Cheese Pie (Patsavouropita)
Creased Cheese Pie is a different Greek pie called Patsavouropita (pronounced. pah-tsah-vou-RHO-pee-ta), which is very easy to make and tastes amazing. This Greek pie is made by creasing each phyllo sheet and dipping it in a batter made with soda water, eggs and feta.
Eggplant – Potato Casserole Gratin with Feta and Mozzarella
Eggplants (aubergines) are now seasonal and combined with potatoes and cheese makes this a delicious summer meal. The secret of this dish is the addition of potatoes which suck up all the deliciousness of the sauce, which make it irresistible.
Vegetarian Moussakas with Feta and Mozzarella
Moussakas is the most known Greek dish. Sometimes we want to go meatless, so if you also want to avoid eating meat you should try this amazing recipe, with Greek feta and Italian mozzarella, adding lots of onions, feta and a marinara sauce and topped with a bechamel sauce with feta in it.
Halloumi with Caramelized Poached Dry Fruit
Halloumi with Caramelized Poached Dry Fruit is a dessert made with grilled halloumi served with dried fruit, poached and cooked with commarndaria.
Muffins with Greek Cheeses and Greek Yoghurt
These Greek Cheese Muffins will disappear in no time! You can make them in no time and are delicious as all the cheese disappear in the batter making them buttery and golden crispy on and fluffy and moist inside.
Flaounes (Cypriot Easter Cheese filled Bread)
Flaounes pr. flah-OU-ness (singular flaouna) is a traditional Cypriot Easter cheese bread made with an aromatic yeasted phyllo dough, filled with a special Cypriot cheese, called Pafitiko, made during the Easter period especially for flaounes, flavoured with Masticha (mastic resin), mahlepi (mahleb) and mint.
PIN FOR LATER
Kopiaste and Kali Orexi,
Jean
Saturday 3rd of March 2012
Looks like a very intesting recipe. I always like to eat these type of savory cookies, and the cheese makes it all the more delectable.
-Jean
Simona
Saturday 3rd of March 2012
We were on the same wavelength: we both made savory cookies. I like the various toppings.
5 Star Foodie
Wednesday 29th of February 2012
The Cheesy Savory Cookies sound scrumptious how fun to experiment with different herb/spice toppings!
Juliana
Tuesday 28th of February 2012
Ivy, I can almost taste this savory cookies melting in my mouth...love the herbs and the cheese of course. Great to serve when you have guest. Thanks for this delicious recipe and hope you are having a wonderful week :)
Caffettiera
Tuesday 28th of February 2012
These would be way to dangerous to have around. I cannot resist savoury biscuits, and these look scrumptious.