Best Greek Saganaki Recipes

FLAMING GREEK CHEESE (SAGANAKI)

Steps:

• Brush each side of the kasseri cheese with water. Dredge both sides in flour, making sure the surface is completely covered.
• Preheat a well seasoned cast iron skillet on medium-high heat until smoking. Pour in olive oil. Carefully place the floured cheese in the hot oil. Cook until cheese begins to ooze and a golden brown crust forms, about 2 minutes. Quickly flip cheese over with a spatula. Fry until bottom is golden brown, about 30 seconds more.
• Remove skillet from heat and transfer onto a napkin-lined plate. Pour brandy over the cheese. Light the brandy using a fireplace lighter. Now you can exclaim "Opa!" and marvel at the fire. Squeeze some lemon juice on top to extinguish the last few flames and garnish with parsley.

SHRIMPS SAGANAKI (GREEK RECIPE)

Steps:

• Bring about 2 inches of water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the shrimp, the water should just cover them. Boil for 5 minutes, then drain, reserving the liquid, and set aside.
• Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil in a saucepan. Add the onions; cook and stir until the onions are soft. Mix in the parsley, wine, tomatoes, garlic powder, and remaining olive oil. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened.
• While the sauce is simmering, the shrimps should have become cool enough to handle. First remove the legs by pinching them, and then pull off the shells, leaving the head and tail on.
• When the sauce is thickened, stir in the shrimp stock and shrimp. Bring to a simmer, and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the feta cheese and remove from the heat. Let stand until the cheese starts to melt. Serve warm.

GREEK SAGANAKI

Steps:

• Slice feta into 2x3/8 inch squares, about 8 slices. In a small bowl, beat the egg with the oregano. Dip each slice of feta in egg, shake off excess, and coat in flour.
• Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Quickly cook cheese in olive oil until golden, turning once. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Arrange feta on a plate with thick tomato slices, season with black pepper, and garnish with lemon wedges.

SAGANAKI (GREEK FLAMING CHEESE)

Steps:

• 1. Dip the block of cheese in water to moisten.
• 2. lightly cover all side with the flour.
• 3. In a sauté pan drizzle with olive oil, and fry about 2-3 mins on each side on medium heat...till brown and crusty.
• 4. Turn off heat..pull pan aside, pour the brandy around the cheese and carefully set on fire with a match or a long lighter...simply turn off with the squeeze of the lemon. Enjoy your flaming Greek cheese! OPA

SAGANAKI (FRIED CHEESE) GREEK STYLE

Steps:

• Cut the cheese into strips 2 " wide and 1/2" thick.
• Place strips one by one under the cold water tap and coat lightly with flour, set aside until you have dredged all the strips.
• Heat oil in a heavy skillet and pan fry the cheese, turn once until golden brown on both sides.
• Remove dab with paper towels and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

EASY GREEK SHRIMP SAGANAKI WITH FETA CHEESE (Γαριδες Γιουβετσι)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400˚F.
• Heat an ovenproof skillet, (cast iron pan would work great here) over medium heat. Add the olive oil and then stir in the onion. Cook for about 4 minutes and then add the garlic and cook for another minute or so, until the garlic is soft. Next, stir in the tomatoes, season with salt and pepper and cook for another 5 minutes, crushing them with the back of a wooden spoon. Stir in the wine and tomato paste (if using--see note) and cook for 5 minutes more, until sauce is reduced and the alcohol has evaporated. Add the shrimp and the parsley and continue to cook, stirring from time to time, until the shrimp just begins to turn pink, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• If you do not use an ovenproof skillet, transfer the mixture to a casserole dish and crumble the Feta cheese over the top. Place in the hot oven on the medium rack. Bake until the cheese has melted and the sauce has thickened, about 10 minutes.
• Serve with plenty of crusty bread to sop up the sauce!

SAGANAKI (FLAMING GREEK CHEESE) OOMPA! DANGEROUS AND DELICIOUS!

Steps:

• 1. Heat thin layer of olive oil in frying pan (until tiny bubbles begin to rise)
• 2. Beat egg and milk together. Dip cheese in egg mixture and then into flour.
• 3. Fry until golden brown (appox. 3-5 minutes per side)
• 4. Place on a metal plate. Bring over to your guests who will be wowed. :) Pour the brandy over the cheese and light it as you say Oompa! (Careful, it flames up high!) To put out flame, squeeze lemon over the cheese after the flames settle a bit. Bon Appetit!

FLAMING CHEESE (GREEK SAGANAKI)

Steps:

• 1 Season both sides of cheese with salt and pepper. Place cheese in shallow dish and cover with brandy. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• 2 Season flour with salt and freshly ground pepper.
• 3 Remove cheese from dish, reserve 1/4 c brandy. Dredge cheese in seasoned flour coating completely.
• 4 In a large saute pan over medium heat, melt butter.
• 5 Pan fry cheese 2 minutes per side. Add reserved brandy and carefully flame the brandy, shaking pan back and forth several times.
• 6 Add lemon juice.
• 7 Remove cheese from pan and serve with pita bread and olives.

GARIDES SAGANAKI (GREEK SHRIMP WITH FETA)

Steps:

• Peel and devein shrimp.
• Sprinkle with lemon juice and garlic set aside.
• Melt butter in large skillet.
• Saute garlic green onion and tomato.
• Add shrimp and season with oregano salt and pepper to taste.
• Turn shrimp frequently and saute until pink.
• Add feta cheese and cream.
• Bring to boil and cook 3 to 4 minutes.
• Remove shrimp carefully to casserole.
• Spoon cheese mixture over shrimp.
• Serve with rice.

GREEK FETA SAGANAKI

Steps:

• Slice your feta into small squares, about 2×4 inches- you should be able to get 8 slices out of the 8 ounces.
• In a small bowl- beat egg with oregano. Dip each slice of feta in egg, shake of excess and coat with flour till evenly covered.
• In a large frying pan- heat olive oil over medium heat. Quickly cook cheese in oilve oil, until golden on both sides. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Arrange feta on a large (& pretty) plate with thick tomato slices, season with S & P, garnish with basil.
• Enjoy!

SHRIMP SAGANAKI (GREEK SHRIMP)

Steps:

• 1. Heat the oil in a pan. Add the onion and saute until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes and garlic and saute for 30 seconds.
• 2. Add the tomato, oregano and ouzo and simmer until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Add the shrimp and simmer for 30 seconds per side. Remove from heat and stir in the parsley.
• 3. Transfer to a baking dish and top with the feta cheese. Bake in a preheated 425-degree oven until the sauce is bubbly, about 10 minutes.
• 4. Must be served with a great bread to sop up all the luscious tomato and feta sauce.

GREEK SAGANAKI

Steps:

• Season both sides of the cheese with salt and pepper. Place the cheese in a shallow dish and cover with brandy. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours. Season the flour with salt and pepper. Remove the cheese from the dish, reserving 1/4 cup of the brandy, and dredge in the seasoned flour, coating completely.
• In a large saute pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Pan-fry the cheese for 2 minutes on each side. Add the reserved brandy and carefully flame the liquor, shaking the pan back and forth several times. Add the lemon juice, to taste. Remove from the pan and serve with the pita bread and olives.

GREEK MILLET SAGANAKI WITH SHRIMP AND OUZO

Steps:

• 1 To prepare the millet, bring the water, millet, bay leaf, and salt to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan. Decrease the heat to maintain a simmer, cover, and cook until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, for 5 to 10 minutes. Uncover, remove the bay leaf, and set aside to cool.
• 2 Meanwhile, make the saganaki. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat until it shimmers. Add the onion, garlic, chile, and salt; cook, stirring frequently, until the onion softens and turns light golden, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until it darkens, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes with their juices and the pepper; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Decrease the heat to maintain a light boil and cook, uncovered, for 3 minutes.
• 3 Stir in the millet and green olives. Taste for salt and pepper and adjust (keeping in mind that olives and feta cheese can be quite salty). Remove the pot from the heat, sprinkle with the feta, and cover to allow the cheese to soften.
• 4 To prepare the shrimp, season them with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over high heat until it shimmers. Add the shrimp. Cook, undisturbed, until the shrimp turn golden, 1 to 2 minutes, and then flip them with a spatula and cook until they are just opaque throughout, 1 to 2 more minutes, depending on the size. Add the ouzo and cook until syrupy, about 30 seconds. Using a spatula, briskly remove the shrimp from the pan and arrange on top of the millet. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve at once.

SAGANAKI (GREEK FLAMING CHEESE OPA)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to broil, approximately 500°.
• Place butter in a broiler proof baking dish, approximately 6" in diameter. The cheese should NOT be sliced and should be in a single chunk.
• Place cheese on butter and put under broiler for 5 to 7 minutes. Immediately after removing from broiler, place dish on a heat proof surface with nothing hanging overhead. Pour rum over the cheese and light it with a match.
• Extinguish the flames after a few seconds by squeezing the lemon over it and serve while still very hot. Serve with bread OPA!

GREEK SAGANAKI

Steps:

• Season both sides of the cheese with salt and pepper. Place the cheese in a shallow dish and cover with brandy. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours. Season the flour with salt and pepper. Remove the cheese from the pan, reserving 1/4 cup of the brandy and dredge in the seasoned flour, coating completely. In a large saute pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Pan-fry the cheese for 2 minutes on each side. Add the reserved brandy and carefully flame the liquor, shaking the pan back and forth several times. Add the lemon juice. Remove from the pan and serve with the pita bread and olives.

GREEK SALAD WITH SAGANAKI

Steps:

• Put all the romaine into a large mixing bowl. Add half of the tomatoes, kalamatas and cucumbers and toss to combine. Put the salad into a large decorative bowl, toss with 1 cup of the vinaigrette and garnish with the remaining tomatoes, cucumbers, pepperoncini, kalamatas, and red onion. Serve with the remaining vinaigrette and Saganaki on the side.
• Put all the romaine into a large mixing bowl. Add half of the tomatoes, kalamatas and cucumbers and toss to combine. Put the salad into a large decorative bowl, toss with 1 cup of the vinaigrette and garnish with the remaining tomatoes, cucumbers, pepperoncini, kalamatas, and red onion. Serve with the remaining vinaigrette and Saganaki on the side.
• Put the shallot into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until well chopped. Add the lemon juice, feta, oregano, salt and pepper and pulse again to combine. With the processor running, add the oil in a steady stream. Pour into a small pitcher and set aside.
• Put the shallot into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until well chopped. Add the lemon juice, feta, oregano, salt and pepper and pulse again to combine. With the processor running, add the oil in a steady stream. Pour into a small pitcher and set aside.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Put the kasseri slices onto a baking sheet and brush with the melted butter. Place under the broiler until the cheese starts to bubble, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the oven, douse with the brandy and ignite. Let the flame die down, sprinkle with lemon juice, transfer to a serving platter and serve immediately.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Put the kasseri slices onto a baking sheet and brush with the melted butter. Place under the broiler until the cheese starts to bubble, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the oven, douse with the brandy and ignite. Let the flame die down, sprinkle with lemon juice, transfer to a serving platter and serve immediately.

SAGANAKI (GREEK FRIED CHEESE SQUARES)

Steps:

• Cut cheese into bite sized pieces. In a heavy skillet, fry cheese in hot butter quickly (a few seconds on each side) until golden. Arrange on a platter and sprinkle with lemon juice. Serve hot.

PAN-SEARED GREEK CHEESE (SAGANAKI)

Steps:

• With a sharp knife, slice the cheese into wedges, about 3" long and ½" thick. Run each piece under the tap and then pat dry slightly. Dredge cheese lightly in seasoned flour.
• Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, arrange slices in a single layer in the skillet. Pan-fry the cheese until golden brown. Flip to cook on the other side. Transfer to a serving dish and squeeze some lemon juice over the cheese.
• Serve warm, as is or, cut in small bites.