Misplaced Pages

Koulourakia

Koulourakia
Alternative names	Easter biscuits
Type	Pastry
Course	Dessert
Place of origin	Greece
Region or state	Greece, Pontos
Serving temperature	Hot or cold
Main ingredients	Butter
Media: Koulourakia

Koulourakia or Koulouria, or kerkele in Pontic Greek, are a traditional Greek dessert, typically made around Easter to be eaten after Holy Saturday.

They are a butter-based pastry, traditionally hand-shaped, with egg glaze on top. They have a sweet delicate flavor with a hint of vanilla. Koulourakia are well known for their sprinkle of sesame seeds and distinctive ring shape. In fact, the word is the diminutive form for a ring-shaped loaf or roll.

The pastries can be shaped into braided circles, hairpin twists, figure eights, twisted wreaths, horseshoes or Greek letters, although they are still often shaped into a snake style. Often, a clove is added atop the center of the pastry for added flavor. They are commonly eaten with morning coffee or afternoon tea. Like all pastries, they are normally kept in dry conditions in a jar with a lockable lid.

History

Koulourakia have been prepared since at least the time of the Minoan civilization. The Minoans sometimes prepared the pastries like small snakes, because they worshiped the snake for its healing powers.

See also

• Easter biscuit – An English Easter treat
• Biscotti

Footnotes

1. (Greek: Κουλουράκια, IPA: [Kuluˈraca]; singular: Greek: Κουρουλάκι, romanized: Koulouráki)
2. (Greek: Κουλούρια, IPA: [Kuluˈra]; singular: Greek: Κουλούρι, romanized: Kouloúri)

References

1. "Easter in Pontus". Pontos World.
2. ^ Lubbers, Caroline (April 17, 2018). "Greek Easter cookies (Koulourakia)". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
3. "See what's for dessert at LI Greek festivals". Newsday. May 26, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
4. Rodale, Maria (April 25, 2016). "Koulouria--A Traditional Greek Dessert". HuffPost. Retrieved June 25, 2018.

External links

• "Joy of Easter treats: Koulourakia". The Australian.

v t e Greek cuisine
History	Ancient Greek cuisine Ancient Greece and wine Byzantine cuisine
Ingredients	Basil Caper Dill Eggplant Garlic Honey Mastic Olive oil Olives Oregano Raisin Saffron Semolina Tomato Thyme Walnuts
Breads	Daktyla Eliopsomo Eptazymo Kritsini Koulouri Lagana Paximadi Pita Stafidopsomo Tsoureki Zea
Salads & Dips	Dakos Greek salad Melitzanosalata Pasta elias Skordalia Taramosalata Tirokafteri Tzatziki
Appetizers & Coldcuts	Apáki Antzougies Bakaliaros Bouyiourdi Dolma Fava Gigandes plaki Kalamaria Kalitsounia Kolokythoanthoi Kolokythakia Kolokythopita Lakerda Loukaniko Loutza Noumboulo Octopus Pitaroudia Piktí Spanakopita Salami Saganaki Syglino Tyropita Strained yogurt
Cheeses	Anevato Anthotyros Feta Formaela Graviera Halloumi Kasseri Kefalotyri Kefalograviera Kalathaki Limnou Kopanisti Mykonou Ladotyri Mytilinis Manouri Mastelo Metsovone Metsovela Mizithra Sfela San Michali Talagani Xynotyro Xynomizithra
Dishes	Meat Bifteki Britzola Drunken chicken Giouvetsi Gyros Keftedakia Kokkinisto Kleftiko Kokoretsi Kontosouvli Kreatopita Kotopita Moussaka Paidakia Pansetta Pastitsio Pastitsada Papoutsaki Pizza Sheftalia Smyrna meatballs Snails Spetzofai Stifado Sofrito Souvla Souvlaki Tigania Yahni Pasta (Zimariká) Gogges Hilopites Flomaria Makarounes Kritharaki Striftaria Trahanas Fish Atherina Bakaliaros Bourdeto Brantada Garides Grivadi Glossa Gavroi Mussels Sardeles Savoro Tonos Xiphias Soups Avgolemono Bourou-bourou Fasolada Hortosoupa Lentil soup Kotosoupa Magiritsa Manestra Manitarosoupa Psarosoupa (Kakavia, Grivadi) Revithada Trahanas Omelettes Classic omeletta Sfougato Strapatsada Tsouchtí Froutalia Vegetable Anginares alla Polita Fasolakia Gemista Leaf vegetable Spanakorizo Tourlou Tsigareli Tsigaridia Tomatokeftedes
Desserts	Amygdalota Amygdalopita Baklava Bougatsa Copenhagen Diples Fanouropita Finikia Flaouna Galaktoboureko Galatopita Halva Karydopita Kourkoubinia Koulourakia Kourabiedes Lazarakia Loukoumades Loukoumi Melekouni Mandolato Melitini Melomakarona Melopita Moustokouloura Pastafrola Platseda Pasteli Spoon sweets Tiganites Tahinopita Trigona Vasilopita
Wines	Agiorgitiko Aidini Assyrtiko Athiri Kotsifali Lesbian Limnio Mavrodafni Mandilaria Malagousia Malvasia Moschofilero Moschato Retsina Robola Savatiano Vilana Visanto Xinomavro
Drinks	Kitron Kumquat Koriantolino Mastika Metaxa Ouzo Rakomelo Sideritis Souma Soumada Tentura Tsipouro Tsikoudia Zivania Frappé coffee
Varieties	Ionian islands Cretan Macedonian Epirotic Kykladitiki Rhoditiki
See also	Filo Greek chefs Food writers Kafenio Meze Ouzeri Taverna Greek restaurant Agriculture in Greece Notable products Avgotaracho Florina peppers Greek wine Fava Santorinis Kalamata olive Krokos Kozanis (Saffron) Menalou honey Rodi Ermionis Santorini tomato Sardeles Kallonis Tonos Alonnisou Zante currant
Greece portal

This dessert-related article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e

• Greek desserts
• Greek pastries
• Easter food
• Easter traditions in Greece
• Pontic Greek cuisine
• Dessert stubs