Delia Glyka (DEL-ee-ah GLEE-kah)
Ancient Delos Honey Treat
Embark on a culinary journey to the Greek island of Delos with Delian Sweets, a delightful ancient treat. These honey cakes, rich in history and flavor, were a cherished offering to the gods, embodying the sweetness and simplicity of the Aegean culinary tradition.
Recipe Directions
Bring the water to the boil and add the sifted flour in one go, beating vigorously to incorporate.
Cook out for a few minutes and turn out on to a large plate, or a marble slab if you have one.
Allow to cool completely. Heat the olive oil in a deep-fryer or pan.
Cut the paste into cubes – it will be firm but still a little sticky.
Test the oil for temperature with a little of the mixture – if it rises and colours, the oil is ready.
Drop the cubes in the oil, 2 or 3 at a time.
Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until golden-brown and lift out on to kitchen paper.
While they are still warm, garnish with a little warmed honey over the fritters and sprinkle them with either poppy seeds or freshly ground pepper.History
This recipe is from the Greek island of Delos. The recipe from Athenaeus is sketchy and difficult to interpret. Were the dried fig and the walnuts ingredients in basyniai, or were they a separate offering to the goddess? Here we have assumed that they were separate – you can serve the figs alongside your Delian Sweets. The second recipe, quoted from Apicius, is a little clearer as to the method of making he sweets.
Pepper was once very common as a seasoning for sweets. It is surprisingly good with honey. Nutmeg has commonly replaced pepper in desserts and sweet cookery, but nutmeg was practically unknown to the classical Greeks and Romans.
Substitute honey for maple or date syrup to make these vegan.
These sweets symbolize reverence and celebration in ancient Greek culture, often associated with religious ceremonies and festive occasions.
Pepper was once very common as a seasoning for sweets. It is surprisingly good with honey. Nutmeg has commonly replaced pepper in desserts and sweet cookery, but nutmeg was practically unknown to the classical Greeks and Romans.
Substitute honey for maple or date syrup to make these vegan.
'On Hecate's Island,' says Semus in Deliad II, 'the Delians sacrifice what they call basyniai to Iris, goddess of the dawn. It is wheat dough, boiled, with honey and the so-called kokkora (which are a dried fig and three walnuts).'
'Another sweet: Take durum wheat flour and cook it in hot water so that it forms a very hard paste, then spread it on a plate. When cold cut it up in lozenges, and fry in best oil. Lift out, pour honey over, sprinkle with pepper and serve.'
These sweets symbolize reverence and celebration in ancient Greek culture, often associated with religious ceremonies and festive occasions.
Ingredients
170ml water60g plain (all-purpose) flour
Olive oil for deep-frying
2 tbsp honey
Poppy seeds or freshly ground black pepper
