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Melomakarona - Greek Christmas Pastries Recipe
 
Recipe
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Melomakarona - Greek Christmas Pastries
Flavors of Greece
Total time: more than 2 hours
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Waiting time: 3 hours
Baking time: 10 minute
Difficulty: Easy
Chef's Note
On Christmas Day, little boys open their eyes to discover at the foot of their bed a stick and a bag on a plate: indispensable tools for going from house to house singing calandas, hymns to celebrate the birth of Jesus. They can be heard from far away, rapping on their little drums, knocking on each door with the traditional greetings and collecting figs and nuts which they place into their bags.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 500 ml (2 cups) olive oil
- 175 g (6 oz.) sugar
- 185 ml (3/4 cup) orange juice
- 4 tbsp. brandy or cognac
- 800 g (1 lb. 12 oz.) sifted flour
- 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
Syrup
- 500 ml (2 cups) honey
- 400 g (14 oz.) sugar
- 500 ml (2 cups) water
Garnish
- Icing sugar
- Powdered cinnamon
- Walnut pieces
Ingredients - version 2
- 500 ml (2 cups) olive oil
- 100 g (3 1/2 oz.) sugar
- 65 ml (1/4 cup) orange juice
- 4 tbsp. brandy
- 250 ml (1 cup) honey
- 400 g (14 oz.) sifted flour
- 1 tsp. orange zest
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
- 2 tsp. baking powder
Method

 

  1. Beat together the oil, sugar, orange juice and brandy;
  2. sift the flour together with the baking powder and soda; add to the preceding mixture and mix the dough gently;
  3. take pieces of the dough about the size of an egg and form them into cylindrical shapes; place on an ungreased baking sheet; using a fork, make a cross design on each one;
  4. bake in a preheated 180° C (350° F) oven for about 30 minutes;
  5. meanwhile, boil together the honey, sugar and water in a small saucepan for 5 minutes;
  6. once the pastries come out of the oven, either pour the syrup over them and wait for 15 minutes before transferring them to a serving plate, or else immerse the pastries into the boiling syrup for two minutes;
  7. decorate as desired.
Sommelier
A sweet wine (e.g., from Samos) to stay with the Greek theme or a Maury or Banyuls
 
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