Melopita: the recipe for a delicious and simple typical Greek dessert

The melopita it’s a greek dessert very similar to classic cheesecake, but without the cookie base. It is a typical preparation of the island of Sifnos and involves the use of myzīthra, a soft and tasty local cheese which in our version is replaced by goat ricotta and that plain greek yogurt. Simple and enveloping in taste, it is perfect for serving at the end of the meal or how nibble healthy and authentic to offer to children. Find out how to do it perfectly by following our recipe step by step.

How to prepare the melopita

Collect the ricotta in a bowl and dilute it with a whisk; gradually add the yogurt, continuing to mix; pour in the honey (1) and add it to the ricotta cream and yogurt.

In a separate bowl, break the eggs, add the grated orange zest (2) and beat well.

Pour the eggs over the ricotta and yogurt mixture (3).

Work carefully with a whisk to remove any lumps (4).

Now add the cornstarch and cinnamon (5), then mix again.

Pour the mixture into a mold 18-20 cm in diameter, lined with a sheet of parchment paper, and level the surface well (6). Bake at 170 ° C and cook for about 40 minutes.

After the baking time, turn off and let the cake rest in the oven for another 10 minutes. Remove it, let it cool and then transfer it to a serving dish. Decorate the surface with 20 grams of honey and some orange zest, then bring to the table and serve (7).

Advice

The melopita is very lukewarm but it gets even more greedy if you do it chill in the fridge for several hours or a whole day: the rest will allow the flavors to harmonize and intensify more.

If you wish, you can replace the acacia honey with a wild flower or with another of your liking, but with a delicate flavor all the same.

For an even more intense and distinctive flavor, you can omit the natural Greek yogurt and replace it with another one. mutton ricotta.

Use the zest of organic oranges and not chemically treated; you can also replace it with that of lemon or with another aroma to your taste (vanilla essence, wild flower water, powdered cardamom…).

You can also decorate the surface with gods berries, a few leaves of mint and a pour of melted dark chocolate.

If you liked this recipe, also try the lemon and blueberry cheesecake and the cold without jelly.

storage

The melopita can be kept in fridge, in a suitable airtight container, for 2-3 days.