Daktyla Kyrion (Cypriot Ladies' Fingers)

butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil provides a dairy-free option with similar texture.

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Honey adds natural sweetness with a unique flavor.

walnuts

🥗Healthier: almonds

💰Cheaper: pecans

Almonds are a healthier nut option with good fats.

dates

🥗Healthier: dried figs

💰Cheaper: raisins

Dried figs offer similar sweetness and texture.

Prepare the dough and set aside to rest.

Put the sugar, honey, water, cinnamon stick, cloves and lemon peel in a pot and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove cinnamon, cloves and lemon peel and add the lemon juice and blossom water and let it cool.

Finely pound the almonds but do not powder them and mix with sugar, cinnamon, and as much of blossom water to make them hold together.

Roll out the dough to make a very thin phyllo. Make a long piece of phyllo with width not more than 6 cm (2½”). Place about 1 tsp of filling at the edge and roll twice to the shape of a finger.

Cut with a knife and press the edges firmly with a fork to seal. You can also make one large phyllo and add the filling alongside leaving gaps between each other about 4 cm (1½”).

The remaining procedure is the same: roll it twice, cut it lengthwise, separate among the gaps, cut and then press with a fork.

Place them on a floured surface not too close to each other because they may stick together. Cover first layer with cling film and add another layer on top.

Heat plenty of olive oil in a frying pan and fry on both sides, until golden. Remove in the syrup until the other batch is fried.

Remove to a colander for a few seconds and then place on a platter.

Cooking Techniques

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens