
Saganaki is a Greek dish of fried cheese, usually served as a starter. It is made with semi-hard, dry Greek cheeses, such as halloumi, kasseri, kefalotyri, graviera, or kefalograviera. Saganaki is often flambéed with ouzo or brandy, and served with lemon and bread.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of dish | Appetizer or starter |
| Country of origin | Greece |
| Cheese used | Halloumi, kasseri, feta, graviera, kefalograviera, kefalotyri |
| Cheese texture | Semi-hard, dry, firm enough to hold up to heat but not so hard that it does not melt |
| Cheese thickness | 1/2-inch thick slices |
| Cheese type | Made from sheep's milk |
| Served with | Bread, lemon, ouzo |
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What You'll Learn

Halloumi
Saganaki is a Greek dish of fried cheese, usually halloumi, kasseri, or flour-dusted feta. It is served as a starter or appetiser, often with bread. Saganaki is sometimes flambéed with ouzo or brandy, and served with lemon.
The English name halloumi is derived from Modern Greek: χαλλούμι [xaˈlumi], khalloúmi, from Cypriot Maronite Arabic xallúm, ultimately from Egyptian Arabic: حلوم ḥallūm [ħalˈluːm]. The name likely goes back to the Demotic word ḥlm 'cheese' from 2nd-century Roman Egypt.
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Kasseri
Saganaki is a Greek dish of fried cheese, usually halloumi, kasseri, or even flour-dusted feta.
The production process involves curdling milk using rennet and then ageing it for several months. This maturation contributes to the development of the cheese's distinct flavour and texture. Kasseri is made by heating milk to 36 °C (97 °F) and adding enough rennet for a curd to set in 45 minutes.
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Feta
Saganaki is a Greek dish of fried cheese, usually halloumi, kasseri, or even flour-dusted feta.
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Graviera
Saganaki is a Greek dish of fried cheese, usually halloumi, kasseri, or even flour-dusted feta, served alongside bread as a starter. It is also made with graviera, kefalograviera and kefalotyri.
The cheese is made in a similar way to Gruyère, which is why it is sometimes called 'Greek Gruyère'. The production process involves heating and then cooling the milk, before adding a bacterial culture and rennet to form the curds. The curds are then cut, heated and stirred, before being pressed into moulds and salted.
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Kefalotyri
Saganaki is a Greek dish of fried cheese, usually halloumi, kasseri, or even flour-dusted feta, served alongside bread as a starter. It can also be made with graviera, kefalograviera and kefalotyri.
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Frequently asked questions
Saganaki is a Greek dish of fried cheese.
Saganaki is usually made with halloumi, kasseri, or flour-dusted feta. However, other semi-hard, dry Greek cheeses can be used, such as kefalotyri, graviera, or kefalograviera.
Saganaki is served as an appetiser or starter, often with bread. It can be flambéed with ouzo or brandy, and a squeeze of lemon.
Flambéing is an optional touch where the cheese is pan-fried and then doused in ouzo or brandy, which is lit tableside. A squeeze of lemon is then used to put out the flames.






















