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Discover the Sweet Charm of Melopita: A Traditional Greek Honey Pie

Get ready to indulge in the delightful flavors of Greece with Melopita, a heavenly honey pie that will tantalize your taste buds. This traditional treat is made with easily accessible ingredients, including manouri cheese, which adds a sweet and tangy twist to the classic recipe.

A Twist on Tradition

While traditional Melopita recipes call for fresh, unsalted myzithra cheese or whole-milk ricotta, we’ve discovered that manouri cheese, a fresh and lightly salted Greek cheese, perfectly complements the sweet honey and lemony crust.

Finding Manouri Cheese

Manouri cheese can be found in various supermarkets, cheese shops, and Greek grocers. If you’re having trouble locating it, try checking with local specialty stores or online retailers.

Let’s Get Started!

This recipe yields 8 servings and takes approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes to prepare, with 15 minutes of active cooking time.

Ingredients

For the crust:

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon loosely packed, finely grated lemon zest
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

For the filling:

• 1 pound manouri cheese, large dice
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup clover honey
• 1 tablespoon loosely packed, finely grated lemon zest
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Crafting the Crust

Combine melted butter, sugar, zest, and salt in a large bowl. Stir until combined, then add flour and mix until a soft dough forms. Arrange small pieces of dough over the bottom of a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom, pressing the dough to form an even layer. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Baking the Crust

Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Prick the chilled crust all over with a fork and place it on a baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes.

Preparing the Filling

Place manouri cheese, eggs, honey, zest, and cinnamon in a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. Process until smooth and the consistency of softened cream cheese, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl often.

Assembling and Baking

Spread the filling in the warm tart shell and sprinkle with almonds. Bake until the center is just set, about 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely on a rack before serving.

Enjoy Your Delicious Melopita!

With its sweet and tangy flavors, Melopita is sure to become a new favorite dessert. So go ahead, indulge in this delightful Greek treat and experience the charm of traditional Mediterranean cuisine.