Traditional Greek ‘Orange’ Pie Recipe
This is a very easy recipe that can be made in minutes, especially with the help of store-bought phyllo dough. You should be able to find it at any Greek market or even some American grocery stores.
If you don’t want to use phyllo dough, you could also make this in individual ramekins or muffin tins.
What is Porrecipealopita
Greek Orange Pie is one of the most popular Greek desserts. It is usually made around Christmas time, but it can be enjoyed year round. The recipe uses phyllo dough and sugar as its main ingredients. The pie also contains orange juice and zest, along with some other spices.
One of the Greeks’ preferred sweets for “tratarisma,” or treating a home visitor, is this Greek orange cake. And because it lived up to its reputation, it is still offered as a free dessert after the main course in the majority of Greek restaurants. Therefore, if you’ve ever visited Greece and received a dessert after dinner, this was definitely it.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup orange juice (or fresh squeezed!)
- 1 teaspoon orange zest (optional) * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a 9-inch pie plate with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt until combined (it will resemble a sandy texture). Add in milk, butter and orange zest/juice mixture to form a thick batter that just barely comes together (you may need more or less liquid to get the right consistency). Pour into prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown on top and an inserted toothpick comes out clean from center of cake.
Pro Tip
- Add a pinch of cinnamon to the crust.
- Add a pinch of nutmeg to the crust.
- Use a fork to make the design on top.
- The phyllo has to be sliced and air dried before being used to make this cake. Some individuals do this by leaving the phyllo at room temperature, uncovered, for a while. While some people (like myself and this recipe) want to speed up the process and get even crispier phyllo, I like to prepare it in a low-heated oven.
Greek Orange Pie is best to serve with
You can serve this pie with a dollop of whipped cream or Greek yogurt. You can also top it with the optional cinnamon, if you like!
Add-ins and Variations
Add a few tablespoons of chopped walnuts, almonds, pistachios, pecans or peanuts.
Add a few tablespoons of chopped cashews.
If you’re into citrusy desserts but don’t want to make this pie with oranges, you can use tangerines instead—they have a similar flavor and the same texture as oranges in baked goods like cakes and pies.
Makes 8 servings.
This recipe makes enough for eight servings. If you’re cooking for a smaller crowd, simply cut the ingredients in half. Also, make sure to plan ahead so that all of your equipment is ready before starting this dish. You’ll need an oven large enough to fit all of the pie pans at once, as well as plenty of counter space and time to bake it—the entire process takes about 1 hour from start to finish!
If you’re short on money or energy, don’t worry: there are plenty of ways around these obstacles when it comes to cooking at home. For example, if you want something cheap but nutritious that can feed your family—but don’t have any cash left over after paying rent—simply combine some rice or oatmeal with milk or water until each serving is half full (about 240g). This will provide just enough nutrition while allowing everyone access
The cake must first come to room temperature before being chilled. similar to any other cake or dish that has been doused in syrup. If heated syrup is refrigerated, the syrup may crystallize. Old-fashioned Greek cake known as portokalopita is created of phyllo crust, Greek yogurt, and syrup after baking.
You could also just sprinkle some ground cinnamon and some raw honey on top. Or you could add a dollop of Greek yogurt to it to make it even more cooling. Some people even top their Portokalopita with a dollop of ice cream, and I say yes to that as well!
If you want a unique dessert that will impress your guests, this is it. This Greek orange pie recipe is perfect for any occasion and it’s so easy to make!
