Karpouzopita (Watermelon Pie)
EverydayA traditional summer sweet from Milos Island — fresh watermelon baked with honey, cinnamon, and sesame seeds.
1Ingredients
- 3 lbs (1360g) watermelon, chopped into pieces without any black seeds
- 350g (2 cups) flour, sifted
- 150g (3/4 cup) sugar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp cinnamon, plus a little more to sprinkle on top
- 1 cup sesame seeds
- 1/4 cup EVGE extra virgin olive oil
- Walnuts or raisins (optional)
2Instructions
This is a traditional summer sweet from the beautiful island of Milos in the Cyclades. It's an unexpected dessert — who thinks to bake watermelon? — but the result is wonderfully unique: sweet, fragrant, and perfect for hot summer days.
The Method
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Break watermelon pieces with your hands and put in a strainer. Let drain for about an hour. (Save the juice — it's delicious to drink, or you can make it into a syrup!)
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Preheat oven to 350°F.
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Mix the drained watermelon with sugar, honey, flour, and cinnamon. It should have the consistency of a thick batter.
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Spread olive oil on a 9x13 pan (you can line with parchment paper if you'd like).
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Sprinkle half of the sesame seeds over the bottom of the pan.
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Spread the watermelon batter over the sesame seeds.
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Top with the rest of the sesame seeds and a bit of cinnamon.
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Bake for 45 minutes.
Serving
Cut into pieces and eat alone or with ice cream.
About Milos
Milos is one of the most beautiful islands in the Cyclades, famous for its stunning beaches and the Venus de Milo statue (now in the Louvre). This traditional dessert is a perfect example of Greek island ingenuity — taking the most abundant summer fruit and transforming it into something unexpected and delicious.
Kali Orexi!
3Tips & Notes
A Note on Olive Oil
For authentic results, use a high-quality extra virgin olive oil — and don't be shy with it. Greeks pour, not drizzle.
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