Flaouna

Flaounes are traditionally served in Cyprus, parts of Greece (especially Arcadia) and more widely in the Greek diaspora as a celebratory food for the breaking of the Lenten fast, being prepared on Great and Holy Friday for consumption on Easter Sunday.{{cite book|last1=Thacker|first1=Anita|last2=Barton|first2=Arlene|title=Multicultural Handbook of Food, Nutrition and Dietetic|year=2012|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|location=Chichester, West Sussex|isbn=9781405173582|page=298|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YF1YCg5Ig-EC&q=Flaounes&pg=PA298}}{{cite book|last=Bryant|first=Sue|title=Cyprus With Your Family|year=2008|publisher=Frommer's|location=Hoboken, N.J.|page=77|isbn=9780470722053|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lnCbDAacAfsC&q=Flaounes&pg=PA77|edition=eBook}} They are eaten in place of bread on Easter Sunday, and continue to be made and eaten for the weeks following. Creating the flaounes can often be a family tradition shared with multiple generations.

The Guinness World Records holds a record for the largest flaouna ever made. It was set on 11 April 2012 by the company Carrefour in Limassol. The pastry measured {{convert|2.45|m|ft}} long and {{convert|1.24|m|ft}} wide, weighing {{convert|259.5|kg|lb}}.{{cite web|title=Largest Flaouna|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-1/largest-flaouna/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411014328/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-1/largest-flaouna/|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 April 2013|publisher=Guinness World Records|access-date=3 March 2013}} As part of the celebrations, 20 percent of sales of flaounes in Carrefour stores on the day in Cyprus went to charity.{{cite news|title=Largest flaouna enters Guinness Book |url=http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/largest-flaouna-enters-guinness-book/20120412 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130408004210/http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/largest-flaouna-enters-guinness-book/20120412 |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 April 2013 |access-date=3 March 2013 |newspaper=Cyprus Mail |date=12 April 2012 }}

Flaounes were featured as a technical challenge in The Great British Bake Off pastry week episode of season six.

The name Flaouna is derived from the ancient Greek παλάθη{{cite book|last=Hadjioannou|first=Kyriakos|title=Ta en Diaspora|year=1979|pages=56–65}} (paláthē> flado> fladoonis> flauna), a cake of preserved or dried fruit.

Flaounes are a cheese-filled pastry commonly flavored with mastic, mahleb and spearmint.{{cite book|last=Mallos|first=Tess|title=The Complete Middle East Cookbook|year=1979|publisher=McGraw-Hill|location=New York|isbn=9780070398108|page=88|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yxibclhsYIIC&q=Flaounes&pg=PA88}}{{Cite web |title=Flaouna |url=https://www.cyprushighlights.com/en/flaouna/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414221558/https://www.cyprushighlights.com/en/flaouna/ |archive-date=14 April 2023 |access-date=15 April 2023 |website=Cyprus Highlights}} The pastry is described as similar to shortcrust in texture.{{cite news|last=Lathourakis|first=Patricia|title=My family's Easter tradition|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/good-living/my-familys-easter-tradition/2009/03/30/1238261502592.html|access-date=3 March 2013|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=31 March 2009}} A sheep and goat cheese known as tiri flaounas {{Cite web |title=Τυρί φλαούνας Παφίτικο |trans-title=Flaouna Cheese Pafitiko |url=http://agrino-distributors.com.cy/ta-proionta-mas/turia/turi-flaounas-pafitiko/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414223950/http://agrino-distributors.com.cy/ta-proionta-mas/turia/turi-flaounas-pafitiko/ |archive-date=14 April 2023 |access-date=15 April 2023 |language=greek}} or flaouna cheese, that is made in the region of Paphos,{{Cite web |title=Pafitiko Tyri - Paphos Cheese |url=https://www.cyprushighlights.com/en/pafitiko-tyri-pafos-cheese/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414225027/https://www.cyprushighlights.com/en/pafitiko-tyri-pafos-cheese/ |archive-date=14 April 2023 |access-date=15 April 2023 |website=Cyprus Highlights}} is traditionally the main cheese used in the filling. Any mix of graviera, halloumi,

{{cite web|last=Πέσκιας |first=Χριστόφορος |script-title=el:Φλαούνες |url=http://trans.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_qsite7_1_09/04/2009_274691 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006152533/http://trans.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_qsite7_1_09/04/2009_274691 |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 October 2011 |publisher=Kathimerini.gr |access-date=3 March 2013 |language=el }}

{{cite web |title=My Cypriot Kitchen - Flaounas |url=http://www.foodtv.co.nz/9-44-694/recipe/My-Cypriot-Kitchen---Flaounas |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119201648/http://www.foodtv.co.nz/9-44-694/recipe/My-Cypriot-Kitchen---Flaounas |archive-date=19 November 2015 |access-date=3 March 2013 |publisher=Food Television}} fresh anari or kefalotyri{{Cite web |title=Flaounes |url=https://mitsidesgroup.com/recipe/flaounes/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414225414/https://mitsidesgroup.com/recipe/flaounes/ |archive-date=14 April 2023 |access-date=14 April 2023 |website=Mitsides Group}} can be further added to the mixture.

Flaounes may be served hot or cold.{{Cite web|title=Flaounes recipe|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/pauls_flaounas_89782|access-date=2021-01-31|website=BBC Food|language=en}} Depending on the area of the island in which they are made, the recipes vary so that the pastries are either salty, semi-sweet or sweet.{{cite web|title=Flaouna pastry|url=http://www.visitcyprus.com/wps/portal/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3hXN0fHYE8TIwN3XzdDAyPDQJ9ATx9LQ-dgQ_2CbEdFABEuAf0!/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=%2FEnglish__en%2FCTO+B2C%2FTourist+Information%2FEnjoy%2FFood+and+Drink%2FProducts_and_Recipes%2FFlaouna_pastry|publisher=Cyprus Tourism Organisation|access-date=3 March 2013|archive-date=19 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119213823/http://www.visitcyprus.com/wps/portal/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3hXN0fHYE8TIwN3XzdDAyPDQJ9ATx9LQ-dgQ_2CbEdFABEuAf0!/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=%2FEnglish__en%2FCTO+B2C%2FTourist+Information%2FEnjoy%2FFood+and+Drink%2FProducts_and_Recipes%2FFlaouna_pastry|url-status=dead}} They can also sometimes have sesame seeds sprinkled on top or sultanas interspersed with the cheese.{{cite book|last=Spilling|first=Michael|title=Cyprus|year=2000|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|location=New York|isbn=9780761409786|page=116|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ldSQLD985i4C&q=Flaounes&pg=PA116}}

• Mandelbrot (cookie)

{{reflist|30em}}

• Flaó
• Fiadone

{{Cuisine of Cyprus}}

Category:Easter food

Category:Cypriot cuisine

Category:Ramadan

Category:Cheese pastries