Flaounes are traditionally made cheese pies that are associated with Greek Orthodox Easter in Cyprus. There are endless ways of making them, but all versions have roughly the same ingredients and are prepared in the same way. Most Cypriot households make them in time for Easter Sunday and they are mainly consumed at Easter, but are still readily available in most bakeries throughout the year. This savoury treat can be made with or without the raisins and there are many homemade variations of this recipe, but this one tries to keep everything simple.
HOW TO MAKE FLAOUNES
Ingredients:
1/4 of a cup of sugar
1 cup of warm milk
1/2 a cup of warm water
1 packet of dry yeast
4 cups of all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp of salt
1/2 a cup of olive oil
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 a cup of raisins or sultanas
1/2 a cup of grated halloumi cheese
1/2 a cup grated kefalotyri cheese
1/2 a cup grated cheddar cheese
1 tbsp of mahlab spice
1 tbsp of ground mastic gum
1/2 a cup of sesame seeds
instructions:
In a medium sized bowl, mix the warm milk, warm water, sugar, and dry yeast.
Let it sit for about 10 minutes until the yeast is activated.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt.
Make a well in the centre and pour in the yeast mixture, olive oil, and 2 beaten eggs, mixing until a dough forms.
Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover with a kitchen towel, placing it in a warm place for between 1 and 2 hours or until it doubles in size.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a separate bowl, mix together the raisins or sultanas, grated cheeses, mahlab spice, and ground mastic gum.
Divide the dough into equal portions and roll each portion into a circle. Place a spoonful of the cheese mixture in the centre of each circle and fold the edges to form a square, pinching the seams to seal.
Place the flaounes on the prepared baking sheet and brush the tops with beaten egg, sprinkling lightly with the sesame seeds.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Let the flaounes cool slightly before serving.
