from 200 Easy Homemade Cheese Recipes
A great appetizer or light meal, saganaki is fried cheese with a twist. Serve with lemon wedges and fresh bread.
Ingredients
5 oz (150 g) Kasseri cheese
½ cup (125 mL) all purpose flour
1 egg
1 tbsp (15 mL) milk
Olive oil for frying
1 tbsp (15 mL) brandy or ouzo
Lemon wedges
Bread
Flameproof dish
Directions
Cut kasseri into ¼ inch (0.5 cm) slices.
Place flour on a small plate. In a small bowl, beat together egg and milk.
Dip slices of cheese into egg mixture, then into flour, coating both sides well. Shake off any excess flour.
Pour oil into sauté pan until it is ½ inch (1.25 cm) deep, heat over medium heat. Fry cheese slices, in batches if necessary, until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Remove from oil and place in a small flameproof dish.
Warm brandy in a small saucepan and pour over cheese. Using a long match, light the brandy. When the flames have died down, squeeze a little fresh lemon juice over top. Serve with bread.
Makes 1 serving.
Nada’s Tips & Tricks: Here are some substitutes for kasseri cheese:
Mozzarella – a semi-soft Italian cheese that melts easily and has a similar texture (also easier to find in most grocery stores).
Caciocavallo – a pasta filata cheese from southern Italy, known for it sharp tangy flavour and creamy texture.
Provolone – a semi-hard cheese that melts well and has a mild, tangy flavour.
Kefalotyri – a tangy, salty Greek cheese with a flaky texture, great for grilling (in case you want to make your saganaki outdoors!)
Gouda – a rich, buttery cheese that melts beautifully and pairs well with various dishes.
Courtesy of 200 Easy Homemade Cheese Recipes by Debra Amrein-Boyes © 2013 https://robertrosebooks.com/can/ Reprinted with permission. Available where books are sold. Text copyright © 2009, 2013 Debra Amrein-Boyes. Photographs and illustrations copyright © 2009, 2013 Robert Rose Inc. Cover and text design copyright © 2009, 2013 Robert Rose Inc. This is a revised and expanded edition of 200 Easy Homemade Cheese Recipes, published by Robert Rose Inc. in 2009.