Watermelon pie – or karpouzenia – is one of the most distinctive summer sweets of the Cyclades, especially on the island of Milos.
Its history goes back to a time when every household made the most of what the land and season had to offer. The island’s juicy summer watermelons were combined with flour, fragrant spices, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds to create a dessert without butter or eggs, yet full of aroma and flavor.
Its texture is something truly unique – somewhere between Greek must pudding (moustalevria) and the syrupy texture of Farsala halva: soft, moist, and velvety, with a thin sesame crust on top.
The warm scent of cinnamon and clove marries beautifully with the freshness of watermelon, bringing to life a one-of-a-kind dessert that instantly transports you to a sun-drenched Aegean courtyard.
If you love traditional, simple, and aromatic desserts, this recipe is bound to become one of your favorites.
Ingredients
- 1 kg watermelon flesh (seedless, with all its juice)
- 1 cup sugar
- 50 ml honey
- 3/4 cup sunflower oil
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground clove
- 25 g sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200 °C (392 °F).
- Pour the sunflower oil into a baking pan, keeping a little aside. Place the pan in the oven to heat the oil – this will form a natural crust so the pie doesn’t stick.
- In a large bowl, mash the watermelon flesh with your hands together with all its juice – these juices are essential for the pie’s velvety texture and will set during baking.
- Add the honey, cinnamon, clove, and a bit of the reserved oil. Mix well.
- Gradually add the flour and stir until you have a smooth batter.
- Remove the pan from the oven, pour in the batter, and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake for about 45 minutes, until the top is golden and the texture has set.
- Let it cool completely before cutting into squares or triangles.
Extra Tips for Perfect Results
- Keep the juices: They are what give the pie its signature velvety, moist texture.
- Flavor variations: You can add a handful of raisins or coarsely chopped walnuts for extra richness.
- Serving: Delicious at room temperature or chilled from the fridge, paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or thick Greek yogurt drizzled with honey.
- Vegan version: Replace honey with agave syrup or carob molasses.
Nutritional Value (per ~100 g slice)
- Calories: ~200 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Sugars: 18 g
- Fat: 7 g (mostly unsaturated from sunflower oil)
- Fiber: 1–2 g
- Vitamins & Minerals: A good source of vitamin C, lycopene (a powerful antioxidant), and magnesium.
This watermelon pie is summer in a bite – sweet, fragrant, and steeped in tradition, just as it’s made in the courtyards of Milos.
CookTheGreekWay 