I am so excited to show you how I make Skepasti because it’s always been a favorite sandwich of mine. In Greece this sandwich is equally as popular as a Gyro. And, like the gyro, everyone has a slightly different way of making and serving theirs. The consistent features of this sandwich are that meats and vegetables are cooked together, then topped with shredded cheese and served on a toast pita.
For my version I like to use bacon and turkey for the proteins. Bacon is so incredibly flavorful and I like to cook the vegetables in the bacon fat. Turkey is leaner and balances out the bacon a little bit so that the sandwich isn’t too heavy. The peppers and onions taste so good and are some of the ubiquitous vegetables in a Greek garden. You can use any variation of peppers and onions that you like!
For the cheeses in the dish, I mostly use cream cheese as a spread, and shredded cheddar folded into the meat mixture. However, in the past I’ve used mixtures of shredded cheese and even feta, and they all taste great.
I toast my Skepasti in the oven because I think it’s the best way to melt the ingredients evenly, However, you can also use a sandwich maker or a stovetop skillet and it will work well. When you encounter skepasti in Greece or beyond you’ll sometimes see it made with lamb or pork. These all taste amazing! But making it at home I still prefer the bacon and turkey. Feel free to try making it and then swap in whatever meats you’d like to try..
I love sharing classic Mediterranean recipes with you. If there’s anything you’ve tried or are interested in learning more about, please let me know and I’ll share them in a video soon!
Skepasti
This is a classic sandwich Greece that’s equally as popular as the Gyro. It’s made with combinates of vegetables, meats, and cheese and served on toast pita bread. This is my family’s favorite version and it always hits the spot when people are hungry!
Makes 2 sandwiches
1 cup chopped Bacon
½ green pepper (chopped)
½ red pepper chopped
4 scallions (chopped)
¼ cup grape tomatoes cut in half
1 cup chopped turkey
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 pitas
4 tbsp cream cheese
olive oil for brushing on pita
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Cook bacon until crispy and remove from pan to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
To the pan, add the peppers and scallions, cook them until they are softened, then add tomatoes let them cook through.
Add the turkey and bacon back to the pan and add the ½ cup shredded cheese and allow everything to warm through.
Remove the pan from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
Brush all 4 pitas with olive oil on bottom side and lay flat on parchment paper on a baking sheet
Spread cream cheese on the top of two pitas.
Divide the bacon mixture on top of the pitas with the cream cheese.
Top with ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese on top of the bacon mixture.
Close the pita sandwiches with the plain pitas and bake them for about 15 minutes, or until the pita is toasted and everything is melted through.
Nikki Glekas is the owner of Nikki Glekas Events, a full-service catering and events company located in Stamford, CT.. To discuss further please contact team@nikkiglekascollective.com or call 203.658.8659.
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