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Saganaki

Thick slabs of kefalotyri cheese fried until golden and crisp outside, molten within — served with a shout of lemon.

⏱ 5 minPrep time
🔥 10 minCook time
🍽 2Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Saganaki — pan-fried Greek kefalotyri cheese with lemon

Saganaki is the Greek appetizer that makes everyone cheer: a slab of kefalotyri or halloumi fried in a hot pan until golden and molten within, then doused in lemon. Opa!

Served sizzling straight from the pan, saganaki is a taverna classic, often flamed with a splash of ouzo or brandy at the table. Eat it fast, with bread and lemon — the cheese waits for no one.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Pat the cheese dry and dredge it on all sides in flour, shaking off the excess.
  2. Heat the olive oil and butter in a small heavy skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  3. Fry the cheese until deep golden and crisp, 2-3 minutes per side; the center should be soft but not melted through.
  4. If flaming: remove from the heat, add the ouzo, and carefully ignite with a long match. Let the flame die out.
  5. Squeeze lemon over the cheese, scatter with oregano, and serve immediately in the pan with bread.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Use a small pan so the oil surrounds the cheese — it needs deep contact to crisp. Serve the moment it's ready; saganaki turns rubbery as it cools.

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Recipe details

Prep5 min
Cook10 min
Servings2
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →