Before you cook
Background Recipe story & origin
Hilopites are Greek egg noodles, typically square or lozenge-shaped, traditionally homemade and dried for storage. The name may derive from 'hilos' (fodder) plus 'pitta' (bread). Hilopites are ancient - pasta-like preparations existed in Greece before Marco Polo's Asian journeys. Traditional recipes vary by region: some use only egg and flour; others add milk; Mani's hilopites include soured milk (trachanas). The noodles are rolled thin, cut into squares, and dried. They're cooked in broth (kotósoupa me hilopites - chicken soup with hilopites) or with roasted chicken or lamb. The dish represents Greece's homemade pasta tradition, distinct from Italian pasta culture, predating Italian-American influence. Hilopites exemplify Greek nonnas' cooking - labor-intensive, made in batches, preserved for winter. They're comfort food, associated with family and village traditions.
Before you start Equipment you'll need
- pot — Provides capacity for cooking egg noodles in boiling water until tender
Safety Safety & allergen notes
- Use caution with hot surfaces and oils.
- Ensure proteins are cooked to safe internal temperatures.
Non-negotiables Rules for success
-
Cook the hilopites
Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Cook hilopites (Greek egg noodle squares) according to pack...
-
Toss to combine
Return pasta to pot. Add 1 cup warmed tomato sauce and 2 tbsp olive oil. Toss to coat, adding pasta ...
-
Add the toppings
Top with grated mizithra or Parmesan cheese.
Prep Get set first
About 10 min of prep
- Prepare pot
This recipe takes about 25 minutes total.
Ingredients
Instructions
Unlock Grouped Step Actions
Plus members get tap-to-check action steps and live ingredient swaps for this recipe.
-
Cook the hilopites
Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Cook hilopites (Greek egg noodle squares) according to package directions until tender. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
-
Toss to combine
Return pasta to pot. Add 1 cup warmed tomato sauce and 2 tbsp olive oil. Toss to coat, adding pasta water if needed.
-
Add the toppings
Top with grated mizithra or Parmesan cheese.