Portokalopita

What is your favorite dessert ever? Maybe ice cream  or maybe brownies, well after trying portokalopita I can almost guarantee you that you will have a new favorite. The English name for it is orange pie and to make it you need:

    200g yogurt
    300 ml oil     300 ml sugar
    300ml orange juice    
 20g baking powder
    Peel of 1 orange
    1 tsp vanilla extract
    440-450g phyllo dough



For the syrup you need.

    400ml water
    400g  sugar
    Peel of 1 orange
   If you want you can add 1 cinnamon stick but it’s not necessary.


to make the cake first
1.)   Unwrap the phyllo dough from the plastic sleeve; place the sheets on a large surface and leave at room temperature for 20 minutes, in order to dry well.


 2.)   Then you need to prepare the syrup. Pour into a pot the water, the sugar and the orange zest (and a cinnamon stick) and bring to the boil. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, until the sugar is dissolved and the syrup has thickened. Leave aside to cool.


 3.)   In the meantime prepare the mixture for the portokalopita. Pour the oil into a large bowl, add the sugar and whisk. Add the yogurt, the orange juice, the orange zest and the vanilla extract and whisk well, until the ingredients combine and the mixture is smooth. Add the baking powder, and blend lightly.


   4.) Tear the sheets of the phyllo dough into small pieces, using your hands and add into the mixture; whisk well


5.)    Using a cooking brush, oil the bottom and the sides of a baking pan and pour in the mixture. bake in preheated oven at 170-180C for 40-50 minutes until, nicely coloured and cooked through. Check if it is ready, by making a hole with a knife. If the knife comes out clean, then the cake is ready.

   

6.) To finish the portokalopita ladle slowly the cold syrup over the hot cake (allow each ladle of syrup to be absorbed, before ladling again).
    Allow time for the syrup to be absorbed and put in the refrigerator. portokalopita is ideally served cold, not hot, so that it does not crumble.