Apart from the beautiful Chora and its beaches, Tinos stands out for its gastronomy. It is difficult to be on this island of the Cyclades Complex and not enjoy the good food and also its sweets. Most of the population of Tinos is engaged in agriculture, husbandry and fishing, which is what has affected the cuisine of the island. This fertile Cycladic island, with its famous local products and gastronomic fiestas, opens your appetite from the moment you go out to the port in the morning. What is the best way to start your culinary journey but to try the sweet cheese pies, one of the most famous dishes in Tinos island?
Tinos and its beauties
As long as you hear Tinos’ name, it’s more likely that two things come to mind. One is Megalochari (The Church of the Virgin Mary) and the second is the great artists of Tinos, sculptors and painters, who conquered with their art not only Greece but also the rest of the world, namely Gyzis, Lytras, Chalepas, Filippotis and Sochos. The “muse of the Aegean” has countless hidden beauties and retreats for those who want a peaceful and relaxing holiday.
One of the villages you should definitely visit is Pyrgos. Birthplace of Giannoulis Chalepas and other artists as well, Pyrgos has been designated an open-air museum of folk art, which keeps the traditional Cycladic architecture unchanged. You will walk in its freshly whitened streets with the flowery bougainvillaea that create a magnificent setting and you will notice the marble door-margins of the houses, the embossed decorations and the ornate motifs.
Moreover, one of the most picturesque and beautiful villages of Tinos, Kardiani, will definitely steal a piece of your heart away. Characterized by the Ministry of Culture, as a traditional settlement, it is built in an idyllic location, on the slope of Mount Peteles, while the abundant running water of the area has done its miracle, having the settlement embraced by sycamore trees and lush vegetation.
Recipe for sweet cheese pies
Photo Source: gastrotourismos.gr
Materials needed
For the filling:
1 kg of petroma cheese or any other sweet myzithra cheese
1/2 kg of sugar
2 eggs
1/2 k C. Cinnamon
1/2 a cup. of tea orange juice
1/4 k. C. Cloves
For the sheet:
1 kg of all-purpose flour
juice of 1 orange
1/4 k. C. Salt
1 egg
2 k. p. Olive oil
Sugar for sprinkling
Implementation:
In a spacious bowl, mix the flour with the other ingredients for the sheet until you succeed by kneading a medium dough – neither too hard nor too soft. Divide it into orange-sized balls. Then, open the sheet on a lightly floured work surface as thinly as possible with the help of a rolling pin. In a bowl, break the myzithra cheeewith a fork and add all the ingredients of the filling, making a tight mixture.
Take the sheet and cut it into round pieces with the rim of a glass. In the centre of each round piece, add a spoonful of mixture. Then lift the edges of the sheet and pinch them around with a toothpick so that it becomes a fine pleat.
Place the cheese pies in a baking pan and sprinkle with sugar. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and bake until they become golden brown, for about half an hour.
Gastronomic trip to Hydra with calamari and marzipan
Frequently Asked Questions
Tinos sweet cheese pies are one of the most famous traditional dishes from the Cycladic island of Tinos. They are made with sweet myzithra cheese, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, and orange juice, wrapped in a delicate pastry sheet and baked until golden. These pies are special because they represent the island's rich gastronomic heritage, which is deeply rooted in local agriculture, husbandry, and fishing traditions.
For the filling, you need 1 kg of petroma cheese or sweet myzithra cheese, 1/2 kg sugar, 2 eggs, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 cup orange juice, and 1/4 teaspoon cloves. For the pastry sheet, you need 1 kg all-purpose flour, juice of 1 orange, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 egg, and 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra sugar for sprinkling.
To make the dough, mix the flour with orange juice, salt, egg, and olive oil in a spacious bowl, kneading until you achieve a medium consistency that is neither too hard nor too soft. Divide the dough into orange-sized balls, then roll each ball as thinly as possible on a floured work surface using a rolling pin.
Two must-visit villages in Tinos are Pyrgos, the birthplace of renowned sculptor Giannoulis Chalepas, designated as an open-air museum of folk art with traditional Cycladic architecture, and Kardiani, a picturesque traditional settlement built on the slope of Mount Peteles, surrounded by sycamore trees and lush vegetation. Both villages showcase authentic local culture and heritage.
Tinos is famous for the Megalochari Church (Church of the Virgin Mary) and its renowned artists, including sculptors and painters like Gyzis, Lytras, Chalepas, Filippotis, and Sochos, whose works have gained international recognition. The island is also known as the 'muse of the Aegean' for its beautiful beaches, peaceful villages, and stunning natural landscapes ideal for relaxing holidays.
