Greek Salad With 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.

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.

SHRIMP SAGANAKI

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat, add the garlic, then add the onion and cook until softened, but not brown. Add the shrimp (complete with head and shell for flavor) with the salt, pepper, chili flakes and oregano, to taste. Once simmered, remove the pan from the heat and add the ouzo with caution. Cook for 1 minute and add wine to pan. Simmer another 30 seconds and, using a slotted spoon, remove the shrimp from the pan and put on a plate. When the shrimp are cool enough to handle remove the heads and peel off the shells.
• Add the crushed tomato and the olive paste to the pan and let it simmer for a few minutes. Return the shrimp to the pan, being careful not to overcook and toss in the sauce. Finally sprinkle the crumbled feta over the contents of the pan and melt it into the sauce by pushing it down with the back of a spoon.

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 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.