I love this family recipe which has a slight hint of mastiha. Over the years I have reduced the amount of sugar significantly. Great on their own or with fig jam and feta!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup sugar or less
• 1 cup fresh orange juice
• 1 cup warm water
• Just under 1kg SR flour
• Sesame seeds
• Black Nigella seeds
• Mastiha (about 1 tspn ground to a powder)

Method:

Put all ingredients into a large bowl except the flour and mix together – you can just use your hands for this – to make a liquid mixture. Add flour until right consistency…just until it holds its shape so that it can be gently kneaded and set aside for a little (up to half an hour).

Meanwhile put sesame seeds and nigella seeds into a strainer and wet. Put on a tea towel or paper towel.

Divide dough into portions – the quantity should make about 6 – shape into thick sausages.   Put on towel then roll loaves onto seeds. Put on an oiled tray or on to baking paper. Mark a series of slices with a knife without cutting through to the bottom.

Bake in a moderate oven (190 degrees) for 25 minutes. Let cool.

Then cut through with a knife or carefully pull apart. Put back in a very slow oven until completely dried out.