Bougatsa Thessalonikis Food

BOUGATSA THESSALONIKIS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 °F, 180 °C.
• Begin by making the custard. Combine the milk, salt, semolina, sugar, and corn starch in a saucepan. Cook over medium- heat while stirring constantly until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat.
• Combine the egg and egg yolk in a small mixing bowl and whisk together. Temper the eggs by whisking in one cup of the hot custard mixture. Whisk well.
• Add the egg mixture to the custard in the pot and whisk well until smooth.
• Add the butter and vanilla extract and whisk to combine.
• Brush a 8 -inch by 8 -inch baking dish with melted butter. Place one layer of phyllo on the bottom of the pan allowing the excess phyllo to hang over the side of baking dish (if you were looking at the dish as a clock, the phyllo will hang out at the 6:00 position) Drizzle with butter.
• Place another layer of phyllo (9:00 position) in the dish and drizzle with butter. Place the third phyllo sheet on top (at the 12:00 position) and drizzle with butter.
• Place the last sheet on top (at the 3:00) position.
• Pour the custard in the center of the sheets and spread.
• Cover the custard with the phyllo that is hanging from the pan and drizzle butter between each layer.
• Optional: If you like a nice thick top crust layer, add 1 more sheet of phyllo on top and tuck the excess of the phyllo into the pan. Brush with butter.
• Scour 4 slices into the top of the pie.
• Bake for 35 minutes or until golden.
• Garnish with a heavy dusting of confectioner's sugar and some ground cinnamon.
• Allow the pastry to sit at room temperature at least 25 minutes before serving so that the custard can set.
• Enjoy!

BOUGATSA

Steps:

• Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese at high speed until light and fluffy.
• Lower the speed and add the ricotta, cottage cheese, 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar, and the nutmeg.
• Beat for 1 minute at high speed, then set aside while you prepare the phyllo.
• Lay the phyllo flat on a table and keep covered with a damp towel over waxed paper or plastic wrap.
• By stacking 4 sheets, form a base of 15 x 18 inches, brushing the top of each sheet with melted butter as you stack them.
• Then lay 2 sheets at right angles over the center, using the "base" as a diamond, not a square, brushing the center of each with butter.
• Divide the filling into 3 parts and spread one part over the phyllo to form a 7-inch square.
• Set the rest of the filling aside.
• Fold the top phyllo sheet over the cheese and brush with butter, and continue folding the phyllo over the cheese to make a square, brushing each time with butter.
• With a wide spatula, lift the bougatsa and invert onto a cookie sheet.
• Brush the top with butter and set aside.
• Repeat with the remaining phyllo, filling until all 3 square pies are folded.
• Bake in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes or until the phyllo puffs up and turns a golden chestnut color.
• Cut into small squares and sprinkle with additional sugar.
• Serve piping hot.