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Tyrini Week with Tyrompiskota (Cheesy Savoury Cookies)

Tyrini Week with Tyrompiskota (Cheesy Savoury Cookies)

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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.

Tyrompiskota savoury cookies image

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!

Tyrompiskota Cheese cookies image

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
Collage Halloumi savory cookies
Tyrompiskota Halloumi Cookies picture

Tyrini Sunday with Tyrompiskota (Cheesy Savoury Cookies)

Yield: 20
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

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:

Instructions

  1. Put both cheeses and 1 cup of flour and salt in a bowl and mix to combine.
  2. Add butter and mix with your hands.
  3. 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.
  4. Make it into a roll, wrap in cling film and refrigerate for half an hour.
  5. Cut them into thin slices with a sharp knife. Place them on parchment paper, sprinkle tops with spices and refrigerate again.
  6. Preheat oven to 180 o C / 350 o F and bake for 15 - 20 minutes until firm and lightly browned around edges.
  7. When you can handle them, remove cookies to a wire rack to cool
  8. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Nutrition Information
Yield 20 Serving Size 1
Amount 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."

Did you make this recipe?

Tried this recipe? Tag me @ivyliac and use the hashtag #kopiaste!

Tyrini Sunday Recipes

Here are some creations of mine with cheese:

PIN FOR LATER

Collage best recipes for tyrini image

Kopiaste and Kali Orexi,

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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.

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