2011-08-11

Cretan Kaltsounia filled with anthotyro cheese and fresh mint

We love Crete so much..! Lovely people, amazing landscapes, great culture and excellent food!
I decided to make Cretan Kaltsounia  and bring Crete a little closer.. So.. Last Saturday we traveled once again to Crete with these traditional mini cheese pies!


Ingredients

Dough

1 / 2 kg all purpose flour
250 g Greek-Style yoghurt
3 eggs (2 for the dough and 1 for coating)
2 tablespoons Raki ( Raki is a traditional spirit drink, I didn’t have it so I used 1 tablespoon of white vinegar)
1 small cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt
Sesame seeds


Filling

1/2 pound anthotyro Greek Cheese (You can use Italian ricotta )
1 egg
1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
Salt - Pepper


Directions


  Use a large bowl and add all liquid ingredients ie eggs, oil, yogurt, vinegar and stir using a fork.
 Add some salt and start adding spoon by spoon the flour and mix them all together.  When the dough is starting to gather as a ball around the spoon, continue by using your hands and fold over and over the dough while also adding the remaining flour.



At the end of kneading  you’ll have a soft and tender dough. Cover with a clean towel and set aside until you prepare the filling.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Using a fork dissolve the anthotyro or ricotta, add eggs, mint and stir. Add some Salt and pepper to taste.
 Put some flour on a clean surface and place the dough.

Add some flour on top of the dough and press with your hands to open it as much as you can. Then lift it, add some more flour on you surface (table) and flour your rolling pin.
Roll the dough until you have a not so thin fyllo pastry sheet.
Use a cup and begin to cut pieces from the dough. 

 

 In the center of each piece put 1 heaped teaspoon of filling and fold them to make them like packages.

 Pinch the connections together with your hands to close the filling inside the mini pies.
Place them on a greased  baking pan, brush them with a beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes.

Enjoy!


How I wish ..  for an afternoon in St. Paul (Rethymno) watching the "sleepy dragon" over the calm sea water ....


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