Greek Food, Cooking and Recipe Community

Portokalopita Recipe?

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paharo45

paharo45

Active member
I love portokalopita and want to start making it. I got a recipe from a friend. Wanted to run it by you to ask if you all thought it looked good. I didn't include the instructions because I figured it's kind of obvious.

Ingredients:​

Pie​

  • 1 lb phyllo dough (thawed if frozen)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • Zest of 2 oranges
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Syrup​

  • 1 ⅔ cups water
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • 1 cinnamon stick
 
Your recipe looks great and quite traditional! Portokalopita is all about that fragrant orange syrup soaking into the crispy phyllo, and your ingredient list hits all the right notes. A couple of thoughts:
  • Phyllo prep: I assume you'll be crumbling the phyllo before mixing it into the batter? Letting it dry out first (either overnight or in a low oven for a few minutes) helps it absorb the batter better and prevents sogginess.
  • Syrup tip: Make sure the syrup is completely cool before pouring it over the hot pie, so it soaks in properly without making it mushy.
  • Extra flavor boost: Some people like adding a splash of orange liqueur (like Grand Marnier) to the syrup for a deeper citrus aroma.
Overall your recipe looks pretty close to mine!
 
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