Lost something? Bake a Fanouropita.

Being the cook out of all my cousins it was only natural that my cousins Sergio called me up a few weeks ago telling me he lost a very meaningful bracelet that one of our Yiayia’s brothers gave to him and he needed to bake a fanouropita. You’re probably thinking, what does a cake have to do with finding Sergio’s missing bracelet? Well, here’s a Greek tradition I’ve recently learnt.

Saint Fanourious is the Saint of ‘lost things’. His name comes from the word ‘fanerono’ which means ‘to reveal’ or ‘I reveal’. Tradition has it, that if you lose something, physical or metaphorical object, you bake a Fanouropita and St Fanourios will help you find it.

ALL ABOUT THE RECIPE

What you didn’t know…

The number of ingredients in fanouropita should be 7 or 9, both numbers are considered sacred and have religious significance. You will find the recipe will vary from region to region and each family will have their own twist on it as it’s been passed down. Yiayia has also told me, at least 7 people need to eat a piece of the cake.

Fanouropita Cake

Ingredients

375 gr Flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

180 ml olive oil

310 ml orange juice

200 gr sugar

70 gr walnuts

75 gr golden raisins

Method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees, and line a round baking tin

Sift the flour and combine with the baking soda, cinnamon & salt - set aside

In a stand up mixer combine the olive oil, orange juice & sugar, mix till combined

Slowly mix in the dry ingredients

Once combined, remove form mixer and fold through the walnuts and golden raisins

Pour the batter into a greased or lined tin and bake for 40-45 minutes till cooked through

OPTIONAL Serve with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar

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