Greek Filled Flatbreads (Plakopsy)

Greek Filled Flatbreads (Plakopsy)

This is such an easy filled bread to make and is guaranteed to transport you straight back to that Greek Taverna on the beach and all its wonderful aromas and tastes!! It is crispy, subtly flavoured and makes a great addition to mezze. Yields four flatbreads.

1 egg
200ml water
a pinch of salt
450g flour
400g feta cheese, crumbed
60ml thyme leaves
60ml chives, chopped
50ml olive oil plus extra for brushing the breads

Add the egg, water and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook and mix on low speed for a minute or so.
Add the flour a few tablespoons at a time with the engine running.
Mix/knead the dough until it comes together and no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl. About 2-3 minutes.
Divide the dough into 4 equal portions.
Flour a work surface and roll a piece of dough out as thin as you can, aiming to end up with a rough square of 25cm x 25cm.
Brush the square with some olive oil.
Sprinkle a little less than a quarter of the crumbed feta onto the top half of the square.
Now sprinkle some thyme and chives over the feta.
Fold the bottom half of the dough over the half with the cheese and lightly press it down with the palms of your hands.
Brush the folded half of dough with olive oil and sprinkle the rest of the quarter of feta over one half. Repeat with some herbs.
Fold the one half over the other and lightly press together. You will now have a 4-layer piece of dough with filling.
Repeat the process with the rest of the pieces of dough and filling.
Heat 50ml olive oil in a large frying pan set over medium-low heat.
Fry the breads for 3 minutes on each side, lowering/regulating the heat if you see them catching.
Serve warm with other mezze.

Green Shakshuka Omelette

Green Shakshuka Omelette

This is the perfect one-portion shakshuka, all wrapped up into one omelette!

4 eggs
125ml baby spinach
salt and pepper
a 10cm piece of chorizo sausage (per portion), cut into small cubes
250ml cherry tomato, halved
80ml feta cheese, cut into small cubes
15ml butter
vegetable oil

Add the eggs and baby spinach to a jug and blitz together with a stick blender.
Season with salt and pepper.
Melt 15ml butter and a splash of vegetable oil in a non-stick frying pan, set over medium-low heat.
Pour the egg mixture into the frying pan and cook until the edges of the omelette begin to set.
Push down onto the edges with a silicone spatula and gently push the edges towards the centre of the pan.
Tilt the pan so that the uncooked eggs move to the edges.
Repeat around the pan until the eggs are set but still soft.
Scatter the chorizo, tomato and feta in a line down the centre of the omelette and cook for one minute longer.
Slide the spatula underneath one side of the omelette and gently fold it over the filling. Repeat on the other side.
Now tilt the pan and gently nudge the omelette onto a plate.
The omelette is for one famished individual or two people, to share.

Marmite-Feta Cupcakes

Marmite-Feta Cupcakes

If you cannot decide whether you want to have savoury or sweet it is best to go with both! These cupcakes are quite unusual but very satisfying and ticks all the boxes when you honestly don’t know what you are craving… it simply balances your tastebuds and it works! The recipe yields 12 regular cupcakes.

75g butter, cubed
160g sugar
1 egg
200g flour
10ml baking powder
2ml salt
250ml milk
250ml + 80ml feta cheese, crumbed

150g butter
45ml Marmite

Preheat your oven to 190℃.
Line a 12-hole cupcake/muffin tin with paper cups and lightly spray with a cooking spray.
Add the butter and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until soft and creamy.
Add the egg to the mixture and beat a few seconds more.
Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl.
Add one spoonful of the flour mixture, alternating with the milk until everything is incorporated.
Switch off the mixer, add the 250ml of crumbed feta cheese and mix through with a spatula.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking tin and bake for 25 minutes.

Add the 150g butter and marmite to a small saucepan.
Place on medium heat and once the butter has melted, take it from the heat and whisk to incorporate.

Take the baked cupcakes from the oven and spoon the marmite mixture over the cupcakes.
Cool slightly on a cooling rack before serving.