Saganaki

During the pandemic, we made an effort to try new recipes that we’d normally never have made at home. This recipe was one of the first we tried. Who doesn’t love cheese and setting things on fire? This is really the best of both worlds!

Andrea Rubash

Marketing Manager

Andrea Rubash

Ingredients

2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil, about ½″ (1cm) deep
4 oz kasseri cheese wedge, about ⅔″ thick (1.5cm) (or substitute graviera, kefalograviera, halloumi, or kefalotyri)
½ cup all-purpose flour (70g)
1 tablespoon brandy
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

Add oil to a cast iron (or other heavy) skillet, preheat to medium-high.
Dip your cheese wedge in water to wet the entire surface.
Dredge your cheese in all-purpose flour, shake off excess.
Shallow fry cheese until golden brown (1-2 minutes per side). Cheese should be soft but not fully melted in the center.
Remove from heat (or not… see next step).
Add 1 tablespoon brandy to skillet. Using a lighter or match (or the flame from your stove, if you dare), light your brandy on fire.
The fire will burn for a few moments and extinguish itself after the alcohol burns away.
Don’t forget to yell, “OPA!”
Remove your (eventually extinguished) cheese to a serving plate and drench in fresh lemon juice.