Biscuits from Smyrna

Biscuits from Smyrna

For 3 generations, this recipe has been in our family. It originated in Smyrna, Smyrna was an Ancient Greek city which is known today as İzmir in Turkey. The evacuation of Smyrna resulted in much of the Greek population to migrate to Greece. The cosmopolitan Greeks of Smyrna brought many recipes back with them that had influences from Middle Eastern countries.

Ingredients:

• 500 gr butter
• 500gr sugar
• ½ cup of sunflower oil
• ½ cup of orange juice
• Zest of one orange
• ½ glass brandy or brandy (wine glass)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tsps. baking powder
• ¼ tsp of bicarbonate of soda
• 1 kg of all-purpose flour &
• 250gr of all-purpose flour
• cloves

Method:

1. Add butter, sugar and sunflower oil in a mixer and mix until fluffy.
2. Add orange juice, orange zest, vanilla extract and cognac.
3. Mix well and slowly add the 1kg flour and the baking powder.
4. Once the mixture becomes a dough, put it in a bowl and use the rest of the flour to knead the dough.
5. When the dough is not sticky separate it in little balls.
6. It’s better to flatten every ball with your palm and shape it into a biscuit.
7. Line them on to baking trays and brush each one with egg.
8. For decoration, stick one clove in the centre of each biscuit.
9. Cook until golden brown I 160c.
10. Let them cool and keep them in a tin container so they remain fresh.
11. Enjoy your biscuits from Smyrna!