Ανοίγω τη ζύμη με τον πλάστη και μετά τη βάζω στο ταψί.

I roll out the dough with the rolling pin and then put it in the baking tray.

Breakdown of Ανοίγω τη ζύμη με τον πλάστη και μετά τη βάζω στο ταψί.

• και: and
• με: with
• μετά: then
• σε: in

Questions & Answers about Ανοίγω τη ζύμη με τον πλάστη και μετά τη βάζω στο ταψί.

Why does ανοίγω mean something like roll out here? Doesn’t it usually mean open?

Yes. Ανοίγω very often means open, but in cooking it also has the extended meaning to spread out / roll out dough.

So with ζύμη (dough), ανοίγω τη ζύμη means I roll out the dough.

This is a very common cooking use:

• Ανοίγω τη ζύμη = I roll out the dough
• Ανοίγω φύλλο = I roll out pastry sheet / phyllo

So this is one of those cases where the basic idea of opening/spreading becomes a specialized cooking meaning.

Why is it τη ζύμη and not η ζύμη?

Because ζύμη is the direct object of the verb.

• η ζύμη = the dough as the subject form
• τη(ν) ζύμη = the dough as the object form

Here, the speaker is doing something to the dough, so Greek uses the accusative:

• Ανοίγω τη ζύμη = I roll out the dough

Compare:

• Η ζύμη είναι έτοιμη. = The dough is ready.
  (η ζύμη = subject)
• Ανοίγω τη ζύμη. = I roll out the dough.
  (τη ζύμη = object)