{{Short description|Cheese-filled pastry from Cyprus}} {{Infobox food | name = Flaouna | image = Flaounes halved.jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = A flaouna halved, showing both the sesame seed topping and the raisins inside | alternate_name = | country = Cyprus | region = | creator = | course = | type = Baked goods | served = | main_ingredient = Cheese | variations = May include raisins | calories = | other = }} '''''Flaouna''''' ({{langx|el|φλαούνα}})<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kitcheninred.com/recipe/zeytinli-hellimli-bitta-kibris-zeytinlisi/|title = Zeytinli Hellimli Bitta (Kıbrıs Zeytinlisi) Tarifi| date=15 August 2012 }}</ref> (Turkish: Pilavuna) is a cheese-filled baked goods from Cyprus, also consumed in parts of Greece. Most recipes may include raisins or be garnished with sesame seeds. '''Flaounes''' are traditionally prepared for Easter.<ref name="a">{{cite web|last1=Christou|first1=Eleni|last2=Demetriou|first2=Demetra|last3=Lazarou|first3=Stalo|title=Φλαούνα, η|url=http://foodmuseum.cs.ucy.ac.cy/web/guest/trofima/civitem/1892#_bs_civitems_tabcyprus.tab2|website=foodmuseum.cs.ucy.ac.cy|publisher=Cyprus Food Virtual Museum|access-date=19 November 2015|language=el}}</ref> Regional names for flaouna include ''vlaouna'', ''fesoudki'' (Greek:''φεσούδκι'') in Karavas, and ''aflaouna'' in Karpasia.<ref name=a/>
The name Flaouna is derived from the Greek word παλάθη<ref>{{cite book|last=Hadjioannou|first=Kyriakos|title=Ta en Diaspora|year=1979|pages=56–65}}</ref> (paláthē> flado> fladoonis> flauna), a cake of preserved or dried fruit.
Flaounes are closely tied to Easter customs and are traditionally prepared in large batches by families in the days leading up to the celebration. The pastries use ingredients such as eggs and cheese that are avoided during the Lenten fast, and they are eaten once the fast ends, often replacing bread on Easter Sunday and continuing to be consumed for several weeks afterward. The preparation itself is commonly a social activity, with relatives gathering to mix the cheese filling, shape the pastries, and bake them together.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Christos |date=2015-11-05 |title=Flaouna |url=https://www.visitcyprus.com/pl/pl-discover-cyprus/pl-food-drink-pl-discover-cyprus/pl-local-produce-pl-food-drink-pl-discover-cyprus/flaouna/ |access-date=2026-02-26 |website=Visit Cyprus |language=pl-PL}}</ref>
==History== 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.<ref name=multibook>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> They are eaten in place of bread on Easter Sunday, and continue to be made and eaten for the weeks following.<ref name=multibook/> Creating the flaounes can often be a family tradition shared with multiple generations.<ref name=familytradition />
Flaounes have also been adopted by many Turkish Cypriots who were influenced by the Greek Cypriots, and are often consumed in Ramadan or alongside special events.<ref>[https://mcmkmk.org/index.php/2020/03/22/7-things-greek-and-turkish-cypriots-dont-know-about-each-other/ 7 things Greek and Turkish Cypriots don’t know about each other]</ref>
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}}.<ref>{{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}}</ref> As part of the celebrations, 20 percent of sales of flaounes in Carrefour stores on the day in Cyprus went to charity.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
Flaounes were featured as a technical challenge in ''The Great British Bake Off'' pastry week episode of season six.
==Recipe== Flaounes are a cheese-filled quick bread dough commonly flavored with mastic, mahleb and spearmint.<ref name=complete>{{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}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{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}}</ref> The bread is described as similar to shortcrust in texture.<ref name=familytradition>{{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}}</ref> A sheep and goat cheese known as ''tiri flaounas''<ref>{{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}}</ref> or flaouna cheese, that is made in the region of Paphos,<ref>{{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}}</ref> is traditionally the main cheese used in the filling. Any mix of graviera, halloumi,<ref> {{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 }} </ref><ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref> fresh anari or kefalotyri<ref name=multibook/><ref>{{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}}</ref> can be further added to the mixture.
Flaounes may be served hot or cold.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Depending on the area of the island in which they are made, the recipes vary so that the bread are either salty, semi-sweet or sweet.<ref name="visitcyprus">{{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}}</ref> They can also sometimes have sesame seeds sprinkled on top or sultanas interspersed with the cheese.<ref name="complete" /><ref>{{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}}</ref>
== See also ==
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{Cuisine of Cyprus}}
Category:Easter food Category:Cypriot cuisine Category:Ramadan