Recipe for Cyprus Cheese Bread (Flaouna)
Comments Off on Recipe for Cyprus Cheese Bread (Flaouna)
This traditional cheese bread recipe originated on the island of Cyprus. It’s typically served at Easter.
Cyprus Cheese Bread (Flaouna) Recipe Ingredients:
For the filling:
- 1 1/2 cups grated Kefalotiri cheese
- 1 1/4 cups grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups grated Romano cheese
- 1 tablespoons dried mint
- 3/4 teaspoon ground mastic
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mahleb
- 5 teaspoon baking powder
- 5 large eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cups raisins
For the bread:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mastic
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mahelb
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 cup milk
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon yeast, mixed with 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar.
- Olive oil, for brushing
- 1 large egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water
- Sesame seeds
Instructions to Bake Cypriot Cheese Bread:
Start by making the filling the night before you’ll make the flaouna.
Add the kefaltiri, Parmesan, and Romano cheeses to a large bowl and stir together. Whisk in the mint, mastic, mahleb, and baking powder. Pour the eggs over the cheese and stir until the mixture is well incorporated. Stir in the raisins.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.
Prepare the dough when you’re ready to make the bread.
Add the flour, salt, mastic, and mahleb to a large bowl and whisk together. Stir in the egg, milk, butter, yeast, and sugar. Knead together with your hands, adding more flour as needed. Continue adding flour in small amounts and kneading until a smooth dough is formed.
Oil a large mixing bowl. Place the dough in the center and oil the top. Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let rise until doubled. Punch down the dough and cut each piece into pieces about the size of a fresh lemon.
Form the dough into a ball with our hands and then roll into a circle on a clean, floured surface. Brush the disk with egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds and then add a handful of the cheese mixture. Close the dough to form a circular packet. Pinch the top so it closes. Continue until all the dough and cheese is gone. Brush the tops with egg wash and sprinkle with more sesame seeds. Place each flaouna on a greased baking sheet.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the baking sheet and cook until golden brown. This should take 15-20 minutes.
**Recommended cook times for GreekBoston.com Greek recipes vary depending on elevation, environmental conditions, the cookware being used, and the nature of the oven or stove. Although we have given approximations, these don’t always take into account your unique environment.
Categorized in: Authentic Greek Food Recipes, Greek Pastry and Greek Cake Recipes
This post was written by Greek Boston
