Jono & Jules do food & wine

This is a Greek mezedes dish which works really well as a starter for 4 with some crusty bread. We divided this onto plates but its also nice (and more common in Greece) to plonk the dish on the table and let everyone serve themselves. Saganaki dishes take their name from a small shallow frying pan used to fry or braise small portions of food, like cheese or shellfish.

Garides saganaki (Prawn saganaki) – to serve 4

• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 200g tinned chopped or fresh tomatoes, peeled and diced
• ½ tsp sugar
• 5 tbsp dry white wine
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 16 large prawns, peeled and deveined
• 3 tbsp finely chopped parsley or mint
• 100g feta cheese, diced

Heat the oil in a pan. Add the onion and cook over a medium heat for 4-5 minutes, or until soft and translucent. Add the tomatoes, sugar, wine, and oregano and season with salt and pepper. Turn up the heat and cook, uncovered, over a high heat for about 10 minutes, until thickened. Meanwhile, preheat the grill.

Add the prawns to the pan and cook for another few minutes. Stir in the parsley or mint and transfer the mixture to a small flameproof dish. Sprinkle over the cheese and grill for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and starting to brown.

Wine Suggestion: Serve with a glass of anise-scented ouzo if you’re feeling really authentic! Or try and search out some of the excellent, new-generation of Greek wines, like a white Assyrtiko.