Greek cornbread from the Pindos Mountain Villages of Epirus and the Thessalian Plain

In the high Pindos mountains, where the topography is such that wheat cannot be grown, cornmeal is used as “phyllo” or cornbread is baked with cheeses and vegetables in a number of variations. On the other side of the mountains, in the Thessalian Plain, equal amounts of wheat flour and cornmeal are mixed to make “bobota” or cornbread in various forms, plain, savory or sweet. 

Batsaria: Greens pie with cornmeal phyllo

Cornmeal Phyllo:
500gr cornmeal
450gr hot water
1tsp salt
200gr Greek yoghurt
Mix the cornmeal and salt. Add the water slowly and then add the yoghurt. Set aside until greens filling is prepared.

Greens filling
450gr mixed spring greens
450gr spinach
6 fresh green onions, chopped
1 red onion, finely chopped
Dill
400gr feta cheese, crumbled
1/3 cup EVGE EVOO

Saute the onion in EVOO until soft and then add the fresh green onion. Add the spinach and greens until just wilted. Take the pot off the stove and add the dill and feta.
Oil a 9×11 pan with EVOO and spread about half the cornmeal phyllo. Then add the greens filling and top with the rest of the cornmeal phyllo and some EVOO.
​Cook in a hot oven at 350F for 1 hour.
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Kali Epitychia kai Kali Orexi!!

 Batsina: Greek cheese filled cornbread

We have all three of the Greek cheeses below. However, you cannot find kefalograviera, good substitutes are pecorino Toscano, pecorino Romano, Parmesan, Asiago, or aged Gruyère . The best substitutes for kasseri are caciocavallo, mozzarella, asiago, romano, colby, or provolone. 

500ml boiling water
500gr corn meal
125gr fresh milk
250gr feta, crumbled
125gr  kefalograviera, grated
100gr kasseri, grated
1/3 cup melted butter
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp dried thyme or any dried herb of choice
bread crumbs
salt & pepper

Boil 1lt of water, take off stove and add a teaspoon or so of salt and the cornmeal. Mix well and as soon as it cools a bit, add the milk and mix well.
Butter a large pyrex or pan and dust with breadcrumbs.
Add the  egg beaten with salt and pepper, the thyme, the cheeses and some of the melted butter. Mix well and pour into the prepared pan. Dust the top with bread crumbs and the rest of the butter.
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Kali Epitychia kai Kali Orexi!!