Tiropita

Some historians trace koulouri’s origins back to antiquity – taken from the ancient kollyra, a type of round bread served to the slaves – and to the origin of street food. For thousands of years, street food was a way of providing the population with cheap food options. For example, during the Byzantine Empire, it is said that the streets of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) were filled with street food vendors selling a variety of items to locals and travelers.

One food still common today in Greece and Turkey is the koulouri (or simit in Turkish), a ring of bread sprinkled with sesame seeds. And though Thessaloniki seems to be credited as its birthplace, it can now be found throughout the country, enjoyed by people of all ages as a snack or a quick breakfast.

Recipe

Ingredients

2 eggs
2 cups of milk (or heavy cream for more indulgent blini)
1T sugar
1/2t salt
approx. 2 cups of flour
2T canola or vegetable oil + more for oiling the pan

40 Mins 5 Servings

1. Break 2 eggs. It's ok to make some mess.

Slowly start stirring in flour. Start with a cup, and stir a little more at a time until you get a runny batter but not as thin as milk – don’t stress about this step, you can always adjust as you go!

Preheat a 10" non-stick pan over medium heat and rub with oil (I pour some in a little cup and dip a paper towel in, then run it around the pan before making each blin)

Use a 1/4 cup or 1/3 cup measurer to scoop the batter into the middle of the pan, then quickly tilt the pan in a circular motion until the batter spreads to cover the pan surface. It should be a very thin layer. Note: The first few blini may be experimental. Try the 1/4 cup and see if the batter covers the pan. Does it easily slide around the pan? If it’s too thick, add some milk/cream to the batter. If it’s too thin, add more flour to the batter.

Preheat a 10" non-stick pan over medium heat and rub with oil (I pour some in a little cup and dip a paper towel in, then run it around the pan before making each blin)

Preheat a 10" non-stick pan over medium heat and rub with oil (I pour some in a little cup and dip a paper towel in, then run it around the pan before making each blin)

Preheat a 10" non-stick pan over medium heat and rub with oil (I pour some in a little cup and dip a paper towel in, then run it around the pan before making each blin)