saganaki
Greek fried cheese
Saganaki is a Greek appetizer of cheese fried in a small two-handled pan, typically flambéed tableside with brandy and extinguished with lemon juice.
The waiter often shouts "Opa!" as the flames rise.
The name comes from the pan itself, which is also used for other dishes: We ordered saganaki and calamari to start.
Shallow pan for frying
- pan-friedCooked in shallow fat
- olive oilFruit-pressed culinary fat
- lemonAcidic yellow citrus
- oreganoMediterranean culinary herb
seared · golden brown · crispy · flour · hot · sizzling · squeezed · wedge
Middle Eastern small dishes
- tavernaGreek neighborhood restaurant
- ouzoGreek anise liqueur
- tzatzikiYogurt-cucumber sauce from Greece
- gyroRotating mass or sandwich
souvlaki · moussaka · baklava · dolma · kalamata · spanakopita · pita · retsina
Spirit from fermented fruit
- ignitionStarting combustion process
- spectacleVisually striking event
- tablesideNext to seated diners
- flamesVisible burning combustion
dramatic · presentation · sizzle · fire · showmanship · caramelization · cognac · performance
Greek semi-hard cheese
Middle Eastern appetizer spread
- starterInitiator of action
- sharedHeld in common
- small plateDiminutive dining disc
- tavernaGreek neighborhood restaurant
ouzo · accompaniment · nibble · finger food
skillet
Shallow pan for frying
oregano · seared · golden brown · crispy · flour · hot · sizzling · squeezed · wedge · cast iron
mezze
Middle Eastern small dishes
- tavernaGreek neighborhood restaurant
- ouzoGreek anise liqueur
- tzatzikiYogurt-cucumber sauce from Greece
gyro · souvlaki · moussaka · baklava · dolma · kalamata · spanakopita · pita · retsina
brandy
Spirit from fermented fruit
flames · dramatic · presentation · sizzle · fire · showmanship · caramelization · cognac · performance
kasseri
Greek semi-hard cheese
aged · brined · firm · melting · golden · crispy · crust · seared
meze
Middle Eastern appetizer spread
- starterInitiator of action
- sharedHeld in common
- small plateDiminutive dining disc
taverna · ouzo · accompaniment · nibble · finger food
- Greek restaurantgyro, souvlaki, moussaka, tzatziki, feta
- Mediterranean foodolive tapenade, olives, tzatziki, hummus, pita
- fried cheesemozzarella sticks, cheese curds, halloumi, cheese balls
- mezzehummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, falafel, dolma
- Greek AmericansGreek community, Greek heritage, Greek Orthodox, Greek Orthodox Church, Greektown
- tableside diningtableside service, flambe, flambé, flambeing, carving
saganakicheese board
Surface for serving varieties
feta salad · tzatziki · gazpacho · ceviche · carpaccio
saganakifresh mozzarella
Unaged pulled-curd cheese
burrata · fresh cheese · raw cheese · cheese curd · cheese curds
saganakipaneer
Unaged Indian cheese
cheese curds · poutine · fondue · raclette · queso fundido