Saganaki: Flaming Cheese

"This is so very simple, very impressive and fun to make! "Opa"... (Prep time includes marinade time)"
 
Download
photo by Tisme photo by Tisme
photo by Tisme
photo by Tisme photo by Tisme
photo by Debbie R. photo by Debbie R.
Ready In:
2hrs 5mins
Ingredients:
6
Serves:
6-8
Advertisement

ingredients

Advertisement

directions

  • Slice the cheese into 1/2" thick triangles or 3-4" squares (depending on the style you buy).
  • Place brandy into a zip-lock baggie and add cheese portions, seal and let marinate for 2 hours).
  • Heat oil in a cast iron skillet over a med/high heat. Remove cheese portions from marinade, reserving marinade for later use.
  • Dredge cheese thru the flour, shaking off excess.
  • Fry the cheese slices approx 2 minutes, flip with spatula and fry an additional 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat when nicely seared on each side and gooey.
  • Now here is where you need to heed a caution -- Carefully carry the cast iron skillet to the dinner table. Pour 1 ounce of the brandy marinade over the top of the fried cheese, and immediately set ablaze with a lighter. (Be sure to yell "Opa". Immediately squeeze a lemon slice over the top to dowse the flames.
  • Serve with warmed pita slices and additional lemon wedges. Enjoy!

Questions & Replies

Got a question? Share it with the community!
Advertisement

Reviews

  1. I used a stainless steel pan, and didn't have any problem removing them from the pan or lighting the fire, altho I was shocked at how high the flame went--and I even blotted out all the olive oil before setting it. I used ouzo for the right square and Metaxa brandy on the left to see which one we preferred. I think the ouzo was actually the best. One star taken off for no specs on how high the heat should be. On the one hand, it removed easily from the pan, which mean my heat was high enough to get a good sear and ensure easy removal. On the other hand, it wasn't as melted inside as much as I would have liked. But anyway, what an experience. My sister said she would have paid $1 to watch. ZWT9
     
  2. I had Saganaki for the first time in a wonderful, little restaurant in Athens while on our Mediterranean vacation last winter, so when I saw this recipe I just had to try it. The grocery store in my hometown didn't have kasseri cheese so I used Kraft cheese slices instead. It turned out incredible!!
     
  3. It was great! Did not marinate for 2 hours still very flavorful and gooey!
     
  4. this is the perfect recipe for the saganaki thank you so much it was the exact one I was looking for
     
  5. Perfect! I used a well seasoned cast iron skillet and did this exactly as the recipe said. I did pour out the excess oil before lighting and still had a nice sized flame. Used brandy because that's what I had on hand. Real easy to make
     
Advertisement

Tweaks

  1. I made this for ZWT9 Vegan challenge.I used a vegan cheese, "sheesh" to substitute the cheese in the recipe, which I bought from a specialty market/shop this morning.I also used the olive oil and used corn flour as a substitute for the regular flour, a vegan brandy and pita bread to serve.<br/>The sheesh browned up very nicely in the hot oil and the sheesh looked impressive.<br/>The brandy flame was wonderful and looked fantastic!<br/>DD enjoyed the vegan cheese, but I am afraid I was not overly impressed.<br/>But in saying that I am going to remake this recipe using the cheese stated.
     

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

<p>&nbsp;</p> <p>(FYI Update: 06/03/14)... My About Me page is correct. I joined as a member on March 19, 2012 (2+ years ago). But if you click on my public recipes, it states that I joined on Dec 29, 2112. It's way off... but I'm sure the staff will take care of this issue soon. (I will remove this when this error has been corrected).</p> <p>Anyway...</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Hi fellow chefs. Looking to expand here. Everyone on here has been a pleasure to meet &amp; share recipes with.</p> <p>My hubby and I live in Northern Illinois USA, just NW of Chicago. I'm a very proud mom of 2 kids (my daughter in college &amp; my son in highschool). I also have 4 semi step-children, from which we are now proud grandparents of a 4th grandchild (June 2013).</p> <p>I love to cook and experiment (using my family &amp; friends as guinea pigs). If I had the time and $$$, I would spend all of it on creating dishes to feed people. I try to have family and neighbors over whenever possible to feed them. I've cooked many large meals (at home) to take to our county's women/children's shelter, and also to the homeless men that spend 1 night, (once a week), in the local church basement. It's the right thing to do (when you can afford to do it).</p> <p>I love to throw a party, even when it isn't a holiday. Cookouts in the summer or a bring a dish to pass type of get together or an appetizer only event, or even a fondue party. But my favorite... a rolling dinner party ... that's when each of our neighbors who participate pick a dish, and we walk to their home to have cocktails at house #1, then on to house #2 for appetizers, then house # 3 for soup &amp; salad, house # 4 is the entree, and finally house # 5 is dessert! Now keep in mind, we take house #1's cocktails with us when we go on to the next few houses! LOL It's alot of fun. Try it sometime. We usually do it the weekend before Christmas and then go caroling the neighborhood. It's hilarious... grown adults, with full bellys, withstanding temps in the single digits, singing to the community!</p> <p>Sorry folks, I tend to ramble. Anyway, in any spare time, I love to garden. Flowers, veggies and herbs. Always planting in the spring/summer when I can. My bucket list includes making a Moon Garden. Not the kind that some farmers use as a planting chart, but a garden containing flowers, herbs and veggies that are white or somewhat white in color, and they glow beautifully under the moonlight!&nbsp;</p> <p>Hubby and I are caretakers for a little cabin, up north of us, in Wisconsin. It is truely a thing to see. Located on 40 acres (formerly a paper mill plantation). Huge pine trees abound and so very peaceful. The downside is... NO electricity and NO running water. That's correct... we literally have an outhouse (like a skinny, wooden shed with a hole beneath it and a crescent moon cut in the door). Ewww. Sorry.&nbsp;We use propane to grill with, and have a oil burning stove in the little 2 room cabin. We also use a charcoal grill or our wood smoker, on which we make a brisket every time we go up there. Another favorite thing to make are Pudgie Pies using cast iron pie irons over the open firepit!... Google them... they are fun and tasty! We also have a trailer set up for the youngsters that has a propane stovetop and oven. And when we go in the summer, there is a farm stand just 15 minutes away that we can get fresh produce from. It's great! And luckily, the public lake (2nd largest in Wisconsin) is only 20 minutes away. They have a beach with restrooms and showers. It's a blast going there. We take the kids and grandkids with on occasion and have a great time! We love to ATV around the trails on those 40 acres of heaven.</p> <p>Okay, on we go...I have been working independently as an owner/operator of a pet grooming salon for 20 plus years, which is why I now have a Chinese Crested dog, (pretty much hairless, so basically, no real grooming involved). We also have a cat, 4 ducks &amp; drakes, and 2 chickens. Oh... and a $0.15 cent goldfish that I bought from the pet store, because he was too cute to be in the stores feeder fish tank. The old one lived 3 yrs and had passed, and grand-babies missed seeing him. I got a new one. The new one with us still doesn't have a name.&nbsp;</p> <p>So, there you&nbsp; have it... thats me.</p> <p>-Rosie</p> <p>My rating/review system is as follows:</p> <p>5 stars - Excellent, as is. Would not change a thing.</p> <p>4 stars - Very good, liked by most.</p> <p>3 stars - Good, but needs to be altered on some things.</p> <p>2 stars -&nbsp; It could have potential, but not for me.</p> <p>1 star - Will not attempt again.</p> <p>0 stars - I only post a reply without stars to comment, as I do not want to mess up someone's rating.</p>
 
View Full Profile
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Find More Recipes