Xerotigana

As some of you know, I love coffee.  I really love coffee.  Luckily for me, social gatherings in Greece often include drinking coffee.  Late afternoon coffee dates to share gossip and a laugh with others are commonplace.  Sweets, (pastry, cookies, cakes) usually accompany coffee.  The other day we were lucky enough to have xerotigana with our coffee.

A few days ago a last minute coffee date was arranged.  I had coffee, but no sweets to offer my guests.  All the stores and bakeries were closed for the afternoon siesta, between 2 and 6 pm, and would not reopen before my guests would arrive.  What to do, what to do? I advised one of the guests that I did not have any sweets, and she said not to worry, she would bring something.

She brought home made xerotigana, a traditional dessert from Crete.  Usually these delicacies are served at weddings, Christmas and other special occasions. I believe that these were made to celebrate someone's recovery from a grave illness, a very happy occasion.

Xerotigana are basically deep fried dough dipped in a honey syrup and then finished off with a bit of toasted sesame seed or cinnamon.  The finished product is extremely light, crispy and sweet. They are quite tricky and labor intensive to make. You must first make the dough, which does not include eggs, and roll it out so that it can be sliced into very thin ribbons.  You then wrap the long pieces of dough around your fingers, forming concentric rings that look like flower blossoms.  The xerotigana are then deep fried until golden.  Finally they are quickly dipped into a warm syrup made of honey.  A sprinkle of cinnamon or a smattering of toasted sesame seeds are the finishing touch.  Yum!

If you get a chance to try xerotigana do not pass it up.

More soon.