I have talked about petimezi in a previous post but for those of you who are reading this for the first time petimezi is a syrup made of grape juice and is used as a sweetener. One of its uses in Greece is to make moustokouloura (must cookies). We usually make these cookies with petimezi all year round but this month is the months we have lots of grapes so instead of using petimezi we use fresh grape juice. In this case you may substitute the ingredients which are in bold. If you want to use baking soda instead of baking ammonia you may reduce the amount of grape juice and substitute it with 1/4 of a cup of orange juice where you will dissolve the baking soda.
I could not resist making a twist to this traditional recipe and as I had some leftover anthotyro, I made some cookies with the same mixture. I just placed a spoonful of the mixture in the baking tin and added a teaspoon of anthotyro on top. They were extra delicious.
I am submitting this recipe to Loulou, who is hosting an event all about cheese, La Fête du Fromage.
Ingredients
1/2 cup of olive oil
½ cup of petimezi
2 spoonfuls of honey
½ cup of orange juice
1 teaspoon orange zest
¼ cup of brandy
1 teaspoon baking soda
or
- 1 cup of fresh grape juice
- 1 teaspoon baking ammonia
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg
- 750 grams of all-purpose flour
Additional Ingredients
150 g rams of anthotyro
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 tablespoon of orange blossom
(just mix them together)
Directions
In a large bowl add olive oil, petimezi, brandy, orange zest and honey. Dissolve baking soda in orange juice and add together with all the other spices. Mix baking powder with flour and add until the dough is ready. It should not stick in the bowl or your fingers.
Line a baking tin with parchment paper and preheat oven at 180 degrees C. Shape into cookies and place in the tin, not very close to each other.
Bake for about 20 – 30 minutes depending on your oven.
Tags: cookies and biscuits, Traditional
Great idea to add the anthotyro to the moustokouloura Ivy…I’m sure there are plenty of grapes leftover at this time of the year in Greece.
Peter, do you get anthotyro in Australia and if so is it produced locally or do they make it locally?
I believe it’s imported. The only «Greek style» cheeses they make here are feta (from goats and cows) and haloumi.
and continuing…LOL…I rushed my answer! As you stated, it’s quite similar to ricotta but with a bit more «tang» to it. There are quite a fair few Italian cheese makers here making fresh ricotta on a daily basis.
Ai Ivy! All your recipes are so mouth watering!!! I could have a good bunch of them
.
We’ve lots of grapes here too, maybe I should try your treat
Peter thanks for the information given. I hope they are not making halloumi out of cows’ milk because I know there are a lot of sheep in Australia.
Thanks Nuria.
Brilliant idea! My family owns a vineyard and I really miss my grapes this time of year. I’ll have to do a list of dishes to make using fresh grape juice and include your cookies for my next visit to my parents.
Thanks Lore. If you make them tell me if you liked them.
wow! its a mouth watering recipe, Ivy!
Great idea Ivy! Looks so great!
The petimezi sounds really good and so does this recipe. Great flavors.
Grape harvest is here. My new boss has a vineyard but for table grapes not wine grapes. Maybe I can look forward to some juice!!!
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[...] Moustokouloura with anthotyro [...]