Oven Roasted Saganaki Recipes

FLAMING GREEK CHEESE (SAGANAKI)

Flaming Greek Cheese (Saganaki) image

This flaming cheese ritual was started by restaurateurs in Chicago, who encouraged customers to yell, 'Opa!' as the plate was being ignited. You can recreate the tradition at home in minutes, whether you'd like to spark up a little romance with an old flame on date night or just try a fast and fun cheese dish on a chilly weeknight. Serve with sliced fresh or grilled bread.

Provided by Chef John

Categories Appetizers and Snacks Dips and Spreads Recipes Cheese Dips and Spreads Recipes

Time 13m

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

1 (4 ounce) package kasseri cheese
1 tablespoon water, or as needed
¼ cup all-purpose flour, or as needed
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons brandy, at room temperature
½ lemon, or to taste
1 tablespoon freshly chopped Italian parsley

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 391.2 calories, Carbohydrate 15 g, Cholesterol 61.2 mg, Fat 25.4 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 16.3 g, SaturatedFat 11.2 g, Sodium 543.5 mg, Sugar 0.1 g

PRAWN SAGANAKI

Prawn Saganaki image

In Greek cuisine, saganaki is any one of a variety of dishes prepared in a small frying pan, the best-known being an appetizer of fried cheese. We're raising the bar for this recipe by adding prawns and lots of fresh feta! Serve with crusty bread.

Provided by Angie

Categories Appetizers and Snacks Seafood Shrimp

Time 50m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 red onion, halved and thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
½ cup white wine
1 (13.5 ounce) jar tomato and olive pasta sauce (such as Papayiannides® Tomato & Olive & Ouzo Sauce)
1 ½ pounds prawns, peeled and deveined, tail on
½ cup crumbled Greek feta cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Steps:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir tomato paste into onion mixture; cook and stir for 1 minute.
Pour wine into tomato mixture; simmer until liquid is reduced by about half, about 5 minutes. Stir tomato sauce into wine mixture and simmer until mixture is thick, about 10 minutes.
Spread tomato mixture into the base of a 6-cup baking dish; top with prawns and sprinkle evenly with feta cheese.
Bake in the preheated oven until prawns are bright pink on the outside and the meat is no longer transparent in the center, about 10 minutes; top with parsley.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 341.4 calories, Carbohydrate 19.7 g, Cholesterol 277.5 mg, Fat 11.5 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 33 g, SaturatedFat 4.3 g, Sodium 967.5 mg, Sugar 11.7 g