Savory or sweet, with or without a filo, round, triangular, simple or complex, traditional pies are a big chapter in Greek gastronomy.
In the Greek traditional cuisine you can find many different types of pie, each region in Greece has a reference point its own traditional pie. Sometimes they are the main appetizer or a tasty and healthy snack during the day!
With many variations, different ingredients, different way of serving and many different names, pies are a typical traditional dish in every corner of our country.
What characterizes Greek pies?
The characteristic of the Greek traditional pie is undoubtedly the fresh handmade filo. There is a wide variety of filos, some thin and transparent and others thicker. Some pies are made with several layers of filos in the pan and a mixture such as spinach, cheese, various greens or vegetables is poured inside them. However, pies with no filo are also very well known. In this case the filo is replaced by a thick mixture of flour and various other ingredients.
Apart from the variations on the filo, the variety of filling of a pie has no limits. All you need is your imagination and the pure and fresh ingredients of each place. In addition to the classic pie with cheese or greens, you can put meat, vegetables, trachana, pasta and whatever else you want in the filling!
Traditional pies with filo
- Cheese pie
The cheese pie along with the spinach pie, is perhaps the most famous Greek pie not only in Greece but also in the whole world. It is basically made with thin filo or traditional filo, and its filling consists of feta, eggs, milk, yogurt and olive oil. It is the ideal snack for young and old but also the best appetizer for any occasion. Afterall, no one can resist a hot piece of cheese pie!
In Greece the cheese pie can be found in many variations. Below we will see some of the most famous versions :
- Skopelos Twister: This is a twisted fried cheese pie from the island of Skopelos and is very popular all over Greece. It has a twisted shape and is fried in hot oil. The cheese that is basically used for the filling is goat cheese, but many people add other white cheeses that make it even tastier. All you need to prepare it is flour, a good goat cheese and a good technique. You will find the same cheese pie in variations in the other islands of the Sporades.
- Cheese pie: The only difference with cheese pie is that its main ingredient is not feta but cheese.
- Spinach pie
Second in the preferences of the Greeks is the well known spinach pie. Across Greece there are many variations of spinach pie depending on the filling, the type and preparation of the dough and the way of baking. Sometimes there is an identification of spinach pie with spinach cheese pie.
- Chicken pie
Epirus is one of the regions of Greece that is famous for its amazing pies. One of them, perhaps the most delicious and different pie is the chicken pie, which is based on chicken. More interesting than the cheese pie and more different than the spinach pie.
For the chicken pie, a traditional filo is used and for filling you will find chicken, colorful peppers, onion, various herbs and various cheeses such as graviera and kefalograviera.
Traditional pies without filo
- Batzina
Batzina is a traditional pie from Thessalia, made without filo it is very thin. In the past, this pie was made from flour, cheese, milk and eggs. When the zucchini were added, the pie was named Batzina. Initially, however, the traditional batzina did not contain zucchini, but took its name from the cheese it contained. The word "batzina" comes from the word "batzos" which is a Greek white, hard goat and sheep cheese, originating from Western Macedonia.
Its main ingredients are zucchini, feta cheese, strained yogurt, flour and eggs. Its ease of preparation makes it ideal for all occasions.
- Batsaria from Ioannina
This vegetable pie originates from Ioannina. Ioannina as well as the whole of Epirus, as mentioned above, is a master of pies. Back in the old days when the families were poor people used what nature offered to feed the family. Thus, batsaria is a pie with corn flour, various vegetables and milk.
- Κourkoutopita (batter pie) from Epirus
This is an old, traditional recipe that was made all over Greece with small variations from place to place. Known by various names depending on the place of origin such as dough pie, flour pie, but also lazy cheese pie as you do not need a filo.
Κourkoutopita is thin about 1 cm, like pizza. The only ingredients you need are egg, yogurt, grated feta, water and oil.
