Cretan Cheese Pies: Kalitsounia
Cretan cheese pies can be served as a sweet or savory snack or can also be a complete light meal.
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients:
- 1 kg all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cup tsikoudia (Cretan raki) or white vinegar, vodka, or grappa
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup olive oil extra virgin
- Lukewarm water as needed to make a soft dough
Filling Ingredients:
- 750 grams fresh myzithra cheese (or a 50/50 mix of ricotta and crumbled feta)
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup fresh mint chopped
- Salt to taste
Eggwash for baked pies
- 1 egg whisked
- 1 tbsp white sesame seeds
Instructions
To make the dough, check the recipe here
Making the filling:
- Place cheese in a large bowl.
- Beat the eggs separately, then add them to the cheese.
- Add the chopped mint and a pinch of salt.
- Mix thoroughly with a spoon until the mixture is smooth and evenly combined.If not using right away, refrigerate the filling.
Shaping the pies:
- Place a spoonful of filling in the center of each dough circle.
- For baked pies, shape into squares with the filling slightly exposed in the center.Brush with eggwash and decorate with white sesame seeds.
- For fried pies, fold into half-moon shapes and seal the edges.
Fried kalitsounia:
- Heat olive oil in a pan and fry each pie on both sides until golden. Drain on kitchen paper to remove excess oil.
Baked kalitsounia:
- Place the pies on a parchment-lined tray. Brush with beaten egg for shine and sprinkle white sesame seeds on top.
- Bake at 180°C (350°F) for about 30 minutes, until golden brown.
Notes
Estimated Calories per Pie (about 60–70 g each):
- Total: Around 190–230 calories
Rough Breakdown per pie:
- Dough (olive oil, flour, tsikoudia): ~90–110 kcal
- Filling (myzithra, feta, eggs, mint): ~100–120 kcal
Note that:
- Baked pies will generally be on the lower side of the calorie range.
- Fried pies absorb more olive oil, adding about 50–70 extra calories per pie.
- The fat content of the cheeses influences calories—using full-fat myzithra and feta raises the count, while lower-fat versions reduce it.
Nutrition
Calories: 230kcal
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