Shamishi is a Greek Cypriot delicacy, a sweet treat often eaten at Cypriot panigyria (fairs) and something that Cypriot diaspora enjoy making the world over, especially my extended family! If you use water, these are vegan pastries.
A square shaped filo pie (you can use shop bought filo too of course), it houses a sweet semolina cream centre scented with orange blossom water, mastic (optional) and is deep fried in hot oil, donut-style before being sprinkled with icing sugar and cinnamon.
My Dad, Papa G, aka George, often makes these treats and the kids adore them.
Ingredients:
For the Pastry:
200g plain flour
200g self-raising flour
a pinch of salt
125 ml sunflower oil
225 ml warm water
For the Filling:
15g caster sugar
11/2 litres of milk or water
1/2 tsp mastic (optional) or 1 tsp vanilla essence
175g fine semolina
Icing sugar and cinnamon for dusting
Method:
To make the pastry, sieve the flour and salt into a large bowl. Add the oil and rub in until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the water, little by little kneading lightly at the same time to form a smooth firm dough. Warp in cling film and rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Pour the milk in a heavy based medium pan and bring to the boil. Add the sugar and mastic or vanilla and stir until the sugar dissolves. Lower the heat to simmering point and gradually add the semolina, whisking continually until smooth and thick.
Pour into a small tray, flatten with a palette knife and cover the surface with clingfilm to prevent skin from forming. Leave to cool then chill. Take the pastry dough out of the fridge. Knead the dough a little to soften and with a sharp knife cut the dough in 4 pieces. Brush the pieces with a little sunflower oil and knead every piece until it becomes soft and elastic.
Dust your work surface and rolling pin with flour and roll out the pastry to 3 inch thickness. Using a small sharp knife, cut the pastry into squares about 12 cm.
Cut 5 cm square pieces from the semolina mixture and place one buy one in the middle of the pastry squares. Lightly press the filling and fold the four edges to just cover the filling.
Press the edges of the shamishi using your hands or a fork. Fry the shamishi pastries 4-5 at a time in a very hot oil in a large pan doe a couple of minutes/ Heat until golden on both sides. Dust lightly with icing sugar and cinnamon and serve immediately.
Please let me know if you make them!
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I love that so many Greek recipes can bring you back to childhood. I love pastries and this looks delicious. Only problem is I want to eat it all after baking 🙂
Yum! I had this at a potluck recently and would love to try it myself. Thanks for the recipe.
This looks nice. I’ve had baklava but haven’t heard of shamishi before. Looks like something I’d like! 🙂
Zania
x
[…] entering my Turkey Chilli with Baked Beans into a few blogging events: Tasty Tuesday’s over at Honest Mum, Recipe of the Week from A Mummy Too and Cook Blog Share over at Supergolden […]
Ooh those little parcels look utterly yummy – I’ll have to ask my husband if he’s ever tried them as he lived in Cyprus for a year as a teenager!
You must, they are amazing x
I love sugary doughnuts with cinnamon so i’m bound to love these too by the looks of it! The pictures are making me hungry!
Thanks love, you will LOVE these x
Looks yummy must try it.
Thanks, really is delicious x
Was passed out on the couch much of yesterday so forgot to link, but made it at last!! Love the sound of this dessert, yummy! xx
Thanks for linking up gorgeous, hope you feel better x
Sounds absolutely divine!
Thanks Liz, really are yummy x
OMG this looks delish! Think I’ve got some filo in the freezer come to think of it…
Congrats to Papa G! His food is gorgeous! I bet lot of magazine want to interview him!
Thanks Eileen, he has done and does a lot of TV and magazine work! Proud of Papa G x
This looks UNREAL. I love a bit of filo pastry – would it go well with ice cream?
Oh yes Alison, perfectly well! Thanks for your lovely comment!
WOW as always your recipes have my mouth watering while I read them and love the food photos as always. Thanks for hosting my lovely.
Thanks so much lovely Jenny!
These look delicious! I must give them a try, don’t know if mine will look like that once I’ve made them but I like a challenge 🙂
Sure they will Mumma G and whatever, they will taste delicious!
I have never seen this Greek dessert before. How interesting. It looks seriously addictive and I love that touch of cinnamon at the end.
Just entered my viennetta which has been a big success in my household and it was surprisingly so straightforward to make.
Have a fab week 🙂
Sounds wonderful Alida, I can’t wait to read it (and try it out) thanks for your lovely comment x
i love the cinnamon dusting all over the dessert and it sounds really delicious x
@Jennypaulin thanks so much, my favourite Greek dessert x
These sound amazing! They are new to me too, but yum!
Thanks Sara x
That looks amazing. I’ve been to the Olive Tree in Headingley – is that the restaurant? Also, do you use a plug-in to make the recipe card? I love how it looks
So fab you’ve been Rebecca, yes it’s a plug in called Ziplist. Thanks for your lovely compliment!
You had me at filo – which I’m a bit obsessed with! This looks and sounds incredible, one to get Ben to try, so that I can test it out 😉
Oh yes let me know if you do, you guys will love it x
I am always drooling at your food posts! I am now determined to visit your dad’s restaurant & sample all this lovely food myself!
Thanks so much Kitty, let me know if you do x
Wow – here’s a dessert I haven’t heard of before. It sounds delicious though so I will have to give it a try. Luckily still have some mastic gum leftover from Easter : )
Oh wow I’m so impressed you have mastic gum in, let me know if you make it x
These are a new one on me, they look delicious
Thanks Alison, wish I had some here for breakfast!
I had never heard of those little treats and they look delicious! Mel
Thanks Mel, they are amazing!
Ooooh scrummy, pinning this bad boy to give a go! Yum xx
Thanks darling, bad boys they sure are, haha x
This looks delicious! All linked up x
Oh yum, these sound gorgeous.
Thanks Julie, you will love them x
This sounds really interesting hon, might give it a whirl for my daughters lunchbox as she’s currently having to eat a gluten containing diet
Oh you must lovely, really delicious vegan treats x
WOW! This looks so nice. I’m definitely going to try this xx
Thanks so much Michelle, let me know if you do x
I’ve never heard of it before either… But there’s no question of whether or not I’d like it!! 😉
Ha you will LOVE it xx
This sounds delicious. I love the idea of orange blossom water cream. Mmmmm!
Thanks orange blossom water or rose water perfect for this and heavenly, I remember my Grandma using rose water as a natural perfume x
I’ve not heard of this before but it looks really nice. Love sweet stuff!
Thanks darling, utterly scrumptious and always reminds me of holidays in Cyprus where we’d visit fairs and eat these as the sun set-perfection!