Μελομακάρονα — Honey Biscuits or Macaroons
There are rather too many sweet treats in Greece of which I’m not a great fan. For instance, I don’t like Baklava (Μπακλαβάς), Halva (Χαλβάς) or Galaktoboureko (Γαλακτομπούρεκο), which is a custard-filled pastry with syrup); it’s something about the texture of the first two that puts me off, and the custard one has rarely been good when I’ve bought it from a bakery. I’ve tried, heaven knows, I’ve tried.
But Melomakarona (Μελομακάρονα) are different, especially when there is enough honey syrup to make them moist. They are a Christmas indulgence over here and often given as presents.
This is a traditional recipe by Maria Pantzelioudakis from her previously mentioned cookery book. One of the ingredients is ‘alisiva’ which is designed to make the biscuits ‘crunchy and crumbly’. It is made using clean ash from burnt wood — bet you didn’t expect that!
Ingredients
720 ml olive oil
240 ml orange juice
125 g walnuts, finely chopped
grated rind of 1 orange and 1 lemon
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
125 g cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder/soda
120 ml alisiva (see below for how to make)
1 kg flour (approx)
Syrup
1 kg sugar
480 ml water
240 ml honey
juice of one lemon
2 sticks cinnamon
Method
First make the syrup. Boil together the sugar, honey and water for 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the lemon juice and the cinnamon and leave to one side to cool
Next make the alisiva. Boil half a cup of clean ash with 2 cups of water. Once it has come to the boil, remove from the heat and let the ash settle. Finally, strain and the clear liquid is ‘alisiva’. This recipe requires 120 ml of this liquid.
Now make the biscuits. Place all the ingredients except the flour into a large bowl and mix. Gradually add the flour and knead the mixture lightly. Be careful not to knead too much as this will make the biscuits hard. If necessary, add more flour until the dough is no longer sticky. Shape into ovals agout 3/4 cm thick and place on a greased baking tray. Bake in the oven at 180 degrees centigrade for 30 minutes until the biscuits are golden. Remove from the oven and pour over enough cold syrup for the biscuits to soak up. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts and arrange on a platter.
Prepare to be be enamoured!
Take care and keep laughing!
Good morning Sarah….well, I am quite sure I wont be making these, but they certainly are delicious…and I hope that you enjoy a few over the holiday season. I hope you enjoy a lovely holiday season filled with peace, creativity, and a little love thrown in. Janet. xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nor will I. Sadly, the nearest bakery that did the best melomakarona has closed own! I hope your holiday is everything you wish for with a big flock of hummingbirds to boot. xx
LikeLike
clean ash?
LikeLiked by 1 person
An oxymoron, I know. I expect she means us not to use any old cigarette ash!
LikeLike
I know we’ve talked about this recipe book before. This is one is truly something! I haven’t tried many greek sweets, They just look, too sweet to me (I’m more of a fruity dessert or a chocolaty one perhaps… Not big on sugary things).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most of them are rather too sweet for me and I’m not a great one for pastries so I’m with you on fruit and chocolate! I’ve noticed that my sweet tooth has declined since I’ve been here.
LikeLike
Interesting recipe – clean ash though – definitely an oxymoron happening there, lol! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They look and sound delicious – thank you for sharing the recipe.
LikeLike
I find that friends/neighbours usually show up with plates of these, that’s why I’ve never made them before. Maybe this year I’ll try. I agree with you about the other sweets – but one I occasionally like is bougatsa, which is phyllo pastry filled with custard and sprinkled over with sugar and cinnamon. If you get this at a good baker’s it can be delicious!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The bougatsa has to have a lot of cinnamon and sugar for my taste. I find the combination of pastry and custard rather a turn-off, unfortunately. All the bakers near here are closing down or are not very good, alas. But I’m hoping our Christmas with friends is going to include delicious Greek treats!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds delicious Sarah, but I can’t make clean ash here 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Burn a bit of wood?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unlike you, Sarah, I like them all. I love the honey, and the sweetness. (Though I rarely treat myself to them) One of the highlights of my trips to Greece, or Crete, was to enjoy these indulgences after a meal. I can only say, Yum Yum!
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s time to treat yourself for it’s Christmas! Wishing you, Julie and Ollie a wonderful time, Pete. 😀
LikeLike
I hope that you and Mr FND have a fun-filled Cretan festive season, Sarah. x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Pete.
LikeLike
Mmm! I almost taste these!
Do you deliver?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Would if I could!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funny, I don’t like baklava either, but these sound truly yummy. 🙂 Happy Holidays, Sarah.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Holidays, Elizabeth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds lovely!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m eating one as we speak but not handmade! Yum!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds great!
LikeLiked by 1 person