Name: Saganaki recipe (Pan-seared Greek cheese appetizer)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 110g cheese (Graviera). Alternatively you can use kefalograviera, kasseri, kefalotyri. Monterey Jack, provolone or young Pecorino are also great alternatives if you can’t find a Greek cheese.; 50g plain flour, for dredging (1-2 ounces); oil for frying; 1/2 lemon

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This is the ultimate recipe for all you cheese lovers! A simple and beloved traditional Greek Saganaki recipe, made with only three ingredients and ready in less than 10 minutes! What I love the most about Saganaki is its delicious golden crust and how its so irresistibly gooey on the inside. Simply delicious!

In this recipe I will take you through, what is saganaki, how to pick the right cheese for it, how to prepare it, whether you should flambe it or not, how to serve it and, most of all, show you with my step by step video!

What is saganaki?

‘Saganaki’ refers to various Greek appetizers, which are prepared in a small, two handled heavy bottomed frying pan, itself called a saganaki or sagani. The most common traditional Greek recipes cooked in that kind of pan include feta saganaki, mussels saganaki, shrimp saganaki, with the most popular being this simple and delicious cheese saganaki recipe. It is most commonly served as a delicious starter to go along with a traditional Greek Moussaka!

What is the right kind of cheese to make your Saganaki recipe?

When preparing your Greek saganaki recipe it’s particularly important to pick the right kind of cheese.

The cheeses which are used in Greece to make traditional Greek saganaki are graviera, kefalograviera and kefalotyri. They are all medium hardness yellow cheeses with a mild nutty flavour. If you can find one of these at your local deli, go for it! You will also find regional variations which may use Cypriot halloumi or mastello from the island of Chios.

If you can’t find the above traditional Greek cheeses, just remember that it is particularly important for the cheese to be firm enough to hold-up well against the heat and not fully melt while being fried. It also needs to be soft enough for the inside to become nicely gooey and stringy. Based on my experience, ideal alternative cheeses for saganaki are thick slices of Monterey Jack, provolone and young Pecorino.

How to make your Greek cheese Saganaki the traditional way

Flour, olive oil and cheese is all you need to make this mouthwatering appetizer at home. In many other recipes and restaurants the Saganaki is deep fried in plenty of oil, but personally I find it is simply not necessary. What we are looking for is a nice thin crispy crust and a soft and melty interior.

If you choose to deep fry the Saganaki, the crust will become thicker than it needs to be and the taste from the oil will end up being overwhelming. So shallow frying the cheese in olive oil is the way to go!

To prepare your saganaki, you need to follow three very simple steps:

Cover the surface of the cheese with cold water. Dip it in a bowl of water or place under running water.
Dredge the cheese in flour shaking of any excess
Pan fry (shallow fry) with olive oil in a pan warmed up to medium heat. Don’t forget to flip it over to become golden on both sides.
Tip: Serve the Saganaki right away, as it will become hard when it gets cold.

Should you flambé your cheese Saganaki?

I have been receiving a lot of comments from my readers about whether Saganaki is supposed to be flambéd or not. Well, the answer is it’s a mater of personal taste!

Traditionally in Greece, Saganaki is not commonly served flambé, except from some restaurants in tourist hotspots. However, flaming Saganaki is a Greek American tradition, which begun in Chicago’s Greektown. And I must admit it’s a really enjoyable sight!

So if you choose to flambé the Saganaki, just pour a bit of metaxa (Greek brandy) or ouzo, ignite with a lighter and squeeze a wedge of lemon over the cheese. OPA!

How to Serve Saganaki

Greek cheese Saganaki is best served hot while still melty on the inside. Other appetizers that you can serve alongside it are:

And of course a Greek salad or a green salad to cut out the richness. Enjoy this delicious traditional Greek meze with a last minute squeeze of a lemon and with large chunks of crusted bread! Oh and you can always read this in Greek if you fancy Συνταγή για τυρί Σαγανάκι.