Cypriot · Authentic-ish Cypriot
Anari me Meli
203 kcal a serving, against 227 for the traditional version. That is 24 kcal off, or 11%, with 9.4g of protein. Serves 4. 10 minutes.
What the traditional version is
Slices of fresh anari cheese topped with a healthy drizzle of runny honey, maybe a bit of orange zest or carob syrup depending on whose grandmother you're copying. No mystery, no secrets, just sweet cheese and syrup. It's all about the milkiness of the anari and whatever sunshine you can pour over it.
What changed, and what each change costs
Swap most of the honey for carob syrup, and use just a drizzle of honey on top
Carob syrup's big in Cyprus, especially when someone's grandma claims it'll fix everything from sore throats to heartbreak. It's not as sweet or floral as honey, but it's got a depth that does the trick. It's also got about half the sugar of honey, so you can use a bit more of it, and keep the sweetness without the same rush.
What it costs you. You lose the clear, wild-flower taste of good honey, and carob is an acquired taste. Be honest: you'll miss honey's sunshine hit. That's why I keep a little on top - for the hit without the flood. If you can't stand carob, just use less honey and call it done.
Add a dusting of orange zest over the top
If you're cutting back the honey, you want something fresh to give the cheese a lift. Orange zest is the first rescue here. It wakes up the whole dish and gives you a burst of aroma without adding sugar or fat.
What it costs you. It isn't quite the same as a puddle of honey, but it stops things getting too austere. If you don't like orange, swap it for lemon and pretend you're being creative.
The numbers
| Per serving | Traditional | Lightened |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 227 | 203 |
| Protein | 9.5g | 9.4g |
| Fat | 11g | 11g |
| Saturated fat | 6.9g | 6.9g |
| Carbohydrate | 24.1g | 17.4g |
| Protein per 100 kcal | 4.2g | 4.6g |
Every figure is computed from the recipe's own weighed ingredient list against public food composition databases. The appendix in Authentic-ish Cypriot prints the exact database row used for each ingredient, so any number here can be checked.
Allergens. milk.
The method is in the book
I won't kid you: the original with all the honey is pure pleasure, and there's nothing subtle about spooning it on thick. Carob syrup is the second act, but it's Cypriot and that counts for something. The extra protein comes purely from not messing about with the cheese. You get a pudding that doesn't make you want to sleep it off or run a marathon out of guilt. If you want a hit of pure sugar, save it for baklava. This is what you eat when you've had enough, but still want a sweet finish.
The quantities and the method for this dish are in Authentic-ish Cypriot, along with 47 more. It is not out yet. The swap kit is free in the meantime.