Xerotigana (pr. Ksae -roh -TEE – gha – na), is a simple recipe, made with flour, baking powder, salt and water to make a thick batter and then fried. They are served with sugar, honey or other syrups, such as leftover syrups from fruit presereves (glyka tou koutaliou) but can also be served with petimezi or haroupomelo.
Syrupy Greek Desserts
Roxakia are Greek vegan, bicoloured, yeasted dough cookies, which after being baked are drenched in syrup. The original recipe is not vegan as it requires eggs and milk in the dough. I have made my own Lenten version with no milk and no eggs and they were even better than the original ones.
In the summer I love making these sauces/spreads which are thinner than jams and less sweet and use them on top of desserts but they are also perfect for breakfast.
Daktyla, also called daktyla kyrion (meaning ladies fingers) is the most popular Cypriot dessert made with phyllo which is very crisp and very juicy, filled with almonds, cinnamon and sugar. They are fried and then drenched in syrup, scented with anthonero (orange blossom water), which make them irresistible.
Ravani or revani is one of those traditional Greek desserts our mums used to make. The classic recipe of Ravani is made with semolina and yoghurt and then drenched in syrup. A similar recipe is made by other cultures as well and we find it under the names Basbousa, Basbuusa, nammoura, shamali etc.
Kydoni (quince) is known from ancient years and its cultivation is said to have preceded that of the apple culture. Many references to «apples», in the ancient years may have been to a quince.
Samousades is the Spartan version of baklavas and is made in a similar way we make “Tsipopita” in Cyprus, the only difference is that they are rolled into a thicker roll and whereas Tsipopita is always made with almonds, in samousades you can also add walnuts, pistachio etc, and more spices.
Melomakarona with Pecans are one of our Christmas traditional cookies which are infused in honey. They have no butter, no eggs, nothing dairy but they are so tasty you cannot just eat one.
Making candied or other citrus peels, is a good way to use up the rind and it goes good with any citrus flavoured cake. Try it as it tastes amazing.
Baklavas is one of the most famous Greek desserts. It is a rich, sweet pastry made of layers of phyllo layers, filled with chopped nuts, drenched with syrup.