Fanouropita
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| Type | Cake |
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| Place of origin | Greece, Cyprus |
| Cooking time | 60 minutes |
| Main ingredients | flour |
| Similar dishes | vasilopita |
Fanouropita is a sweet cake recipe from Greek cuisine and is traditionally a lenten cake, also called "lost and found cake." It is traditionally served on St. Fanourios' feast day on August 27, given to Greek Orthodox believers as a blessing.[1]
Fanouropita is oil-based and does not contain any butter or eggs so that it can be eaten on holy fasting days. Believers offer the cake expecting "revelations" on objects or people, or to find something they are looking for.
When made without raisins and walnuts the cake will be more crumbly, similar to the texture of biscotti. To achieve a cake like texture, add both raisins and walnuts. Modern recipes suggest substituting with different kinds of nuts (almonds, cashews) or different kinds of dried fruit (dates, dried figs, and so on) if you do not have raisins and walnuts or do not wish to add them.[1]
Etymology
[edit]The name fanouropita is derived from the patron saint of Rhodes, Saint Phanourios. His name translates in Greek as "the one who discloses" (Greek verb: "φαίνω").[2][3] He is the saint of "lost things".[4]
Origin
[edit]The tradition of fanouropita originated around 1500 AD, or 1355-1369 AD, to venerate the icon of Saint Fanourios when he was discovered untouched between ruins in Rhodes or Cyprus. In local Orthodox tradition, Saint Fanourios has been since known as the patron saint of lost objects. When a lost object is revealed or found, followers of Saint Fanourios have often baked Propitiation[5] in memory of his mother. His mother was known as a cruel sinner, sent to hell because of her shameful life. Fanourios prayed that her soul would be saved, begging God for her salvation.[5][6]
Description
[edit]Fanouropita is usually 25-30 cm diameter. It is puffy, oily, aromatic, and sometimes powdered with sifted white sugar.[7][2]
Ingredients
[edit]Fanouropita traditionally consists of seven, nine, or eleven ingredients, the number varying by region. In its simplest version, propitiation has only seven ingredients.[2] The essential, most common ingredients are: flour, vegetable oil, sugar, orange juice, baking powder, nuts, and raisins. Other ingredients may include cinnamon, cloves, soda, and water.[2][8][9]
Tradition
[edit]Fanouropita is blessed in church and its pieces are offered to people.[2] According to tradition, it is offered for the forgiveness of Saint Fanourios' mother, a sinful woman who was cruel towards the poor.[1]
In popular culture
[edit]In various areas of Greece and Cyprus, the tradition is followed by Orthodox Christians asking Saint Fanourios to "reveal" a job to the unemployed, to salvage an item that was lost, or to give health and find a groom for unmarried girls.[1][10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 "Why do we make Fanouropita when we lose something? The story behind the custom" (in Greek). 20 August 2026. Archived from the original on 26 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Fanouropita: The cake that summons divine help for life's little - and big - problems". 26 August 2026. Archived from the original on 26 August 2026.
- ↑ "Fanouropita: 14 recipes, ranging from traditional and Smyrna-style made to those with tahini or mastic" (in Greek). 25 August 2026. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
- ↑ Lynn Livanos Athan (26 August 2010). "Saint Fanourios Cake for Lost Things (Fanouropita)".
- 1 2 "Saint Fanourios: What tradition says, what the custom is - Recipe for Fanouropita" (in Greek). 26 August 2022. Archived from the original on 29 August 2026.
- ↑ Voutsina, Evi (29 August 2026). "Fanouropita: The story of the pie said to find lost items - 7 recipes". Archived from the original on 29 August 2026.
- ↑ Psyhouli, Eleni (27 August 2014). "A delicious Fanouropita, so that "your fortune may be revealed" - The history and a recipe". LiFO Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 August 2026. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ Sarah-Edem (20 March 2019). "Fanouropita recipe". Archived from the original on 29 August 2026.
- ↑ Politis, Mary (20 May 2025). "Fanouropita: The cake of lost things and a Saint's sweet blessing". Archived from the original on 29 August 2026.
- ↑ "Fanouropita: What it symbolizes, when and why we make it" (in Greek). Archived from the original on 4 June 2026.
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