Flaounes (Cypriot Easter Cheese Pastries)
Local name: Φλαούνες
In short: Yeasted pastry parcels filled with halloumi, hard cheese, mint and egg, brushed with yolk and sesame, a traditional Cypriot Easter bake. It takes about 1 h 25 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 1 h
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 1 h 30 min
- Total
- 1 h 25 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 600 kcal
Flaounes are the Easter pastries of Cyprus, baked in the days before the Orthodox Easter and shared with neighbors and family. A soft, lightly sweet dough is shaped around a filling of halloumi, hard cheese, eggs and dried mint, with the corners folded to leave the cheese peeking out. Some bakers add raisins, and many add ground mahleb, a spice from cherry stones, for a distinctive aroma. They are eaten at room temperature, and they keep well for a few days.
Instructions
- Mix the flour, yeast, sugar, salt and mahleb in a large bowl. Add the butter, milk and egg and knead for 8 to 10 minutes, until the dough is soft and slightly tacky. Cover and let it rise for 1 hour, until doubled.
- Mix the halloumi, hard cheese, ricotta, eggs, mint, semolina, baking powder and raisins, if using, into a thick filling.
- Heat the oven to 190°C (375°F) and line two baking sheets with parchment.
- Divide the dough into 16 pieces and roll each into a round about 14 cm (5 1/2 in) wide and 3 mm (1/8 in) thick. Put 3 tablespoons of filling in the center of each.
- Fold the edges of the dough up and over the filling to make a square, leaving the center uncovered, and pinch the corners firmly. Place the pastries on the sheets.
- Brush the dough with the egg yolk mixture, sprinkle with sesame seeds and let rest for 15 minutes.
- Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until the dough is deep golden and the filling is set and lightly browned. Cool for 10 minutes on a rack.
Tips
- Cannot find mahleb? Skip it, or use a little grated lemon zest for aroma.
- Grate the halloumi on the fine side so the filling stays dense and holds its shape as it bakes.
Questions and answers
Can I freeze flaounes?
Yes. Freeze baked flaounes for up to 2 months and reheat them at 160°C (325°F) for 10 minutes. You can also freeze the shaped pastries unbaked.
What cheese is used in flaounes?
Traditionally a local mix of halloumi and a hard grating cheese, sometimes with anari. Halloumi, kefalotyri or pecorino and ricotta give a close result.
Do flaounes contain raisins?
Some families add them and some do not. They give a sweet note against the salty cheese, so add a small handful if you like that contrast.
How long does it take to make Flaounes (Cypriot Easter Cheese Pastries)?
About 1 h 25 min in total: 1 h of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Flaounes (Cypriot Easter Cheese Pastries)?
About 600 kcal per serving, with 24 g of protein, 59 g of carbohydrates and 29 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 600 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 24 g |
| Carbohydrates | 59 g |
| Fat | 29 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 14 g |
| Sodium | 1100 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
