Samsades

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

Samsades is a traditional dessert consisting of phyllo dough that’s rolled around a filling of nuts, baked, and then drenched in sugar or honey syrup, local thyme honey, or grape must ( petimezi ). The filling typically consists of almonds and sesame seeds, although walnuts are also occasionally added to the combination, and it's often flavored with cinnamon, cloves, and almond flavoring or floral water. Similar to baklava, the dessert is usually made with a type of thin Greek pastry called phyllo kroustas , and it is one of the traditional desserts prepared on the island of Lemnos and Laconia. These sweet pastries are commonly enjoyed alongside a cup of coffee or tea, and they’re typically made around New Year’s and Christmas, although nowadays, they can be found year-round in bakeries.