Grilled Manouri Cheese with Honey and Sesame
Grilled Manouri Cheese with Honey and Sesame.
Greek Manouri cheese chargrilled, drizzled with Greek honey, and topped off with toasted sesame seeds. Mild, soft, and extremely versatile, Manouri cheese is a delightful addition to any meze table.
A few summers ago in Greece, I took a trip to my dad’s home city of Lamia. This Greek city is located about two and a half hours north of Athens, nestled in between the valley of mountains that reveal the beautiful Mediterranean Sea just on the other side. At one particular restaurant- which I regret not writing down the name- they had manouri me meli on the menu- “Manouri with Honey.” Out came a grilled Manouri cheese, drizzled with rich honey, and covered in sesame seeds. The cheese was soft and easy to spread on top of a piece of the warm toasted bread drizzled in olive oil that was served on the table. There’s something so special about such a simple way of preparing this cheese, and luckily it’s super easy to recreate.
Manouri is a soft, mild Greek cheese made from sheep or goat’s milk that’s extremely versatile. Whether you dress it up salty or sweet, it’s an incredible “meze” or appetizer to enjoy. Depending on where you live, you may or may not be able to easily find Manouri. When I used to live in Astoria, the “Greektown” of New York City, finding Manouri was easy, as I could find it at any Greek market. But now that I’m living in Cincinnati, I sometimes get lucky when I am able to find it my local international supermarket.
Although Manouri cheese is very special in its mild taste and soft yet firm texture, you can substitute any goat cheese that is firm, but slightly on the softer side. Another great option if you’re into the salty and sweet combo is to use feta cheese! Yes, you can grill feta! The saltiness of the cheese combined with the sweetness honey is absolutely divine.
Manouri Cheese. Olive Oil. Honey. Sesame Seeds. Salt.
Salty, sweet, and absolutely divine.
Sounds Good? Here's the Recipe.
Grilled Manouri Cheese with Honey and Sesame
Equipment
- Cast iron grill/griddle
- Nonstick pan
- Shallow dish
Ingredients
- 150-200 grams Manouri cheese room temperature
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1-2 teaspoons sesame seeds toasted
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Over medium heat, add the sesame seeds in a pan and stir occasionally, about 3-5 minutes, until toasted. Let cool and transfer to a small cup.
- Pat the Manouri cheese dry. In a shallow dish, pour the olive oil, then dip the Manouri cheese in the olive oil on both sides until fully coated. Season with a pinch of salt.
- Heat a cast iron grill/griddle over medium heat. Grill the Manouri for about 3-5 minutes on each side, or until grill marks form.
- Transfer the Manouri to a plate. Drizzle with honey and top with sesame seeds. Serve with toasted pita or bread.
Notes
- Let the Manouri cheese reach room temperature before grilling. This will ensure that the center will be heated once grilled.
- You can use as little or as much honey and sesame as you desire.
- If you don't want to grill the cheese, you can bake the Manouri at 200ºC|400ºF for about 5 minutes, and broil for one minute to caramelize the top. Then, drizzle with honey and top with sesame seeds.
