New Years Day Greek Filo Chicken Pie Kotopita Food

KOTOPITA: GREEK STYLE CHICKEN IN PHYLLO PIE

Steps:

• ​Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, 200 degrees Celsius.
• ​Wash the chicken with cold water and pat it dry. Make sure to remove anything that may be inside the cavity.
• ​Pour the olive oil over the chicken and season both sides with the herbs and spices.
• Cover the chicken with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes.
• ​Remove the foil and bake uncovered 40 additional minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked.
• Allow to cool completely.
• ​In the meantime make the filling by cooking the garlic cloves with the diced onions and oil in a pan for about 15 minutes or until soft.
• ​Add the diced bell peppers, season with some salt and pepper and cook 5-6 minutes or until they soften and release their juices.
• ​When the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the meat and set the bones aside to make broth another day.
• Shred the meat or chop it. About 4 cups are needed for this recipe.
• ​Add the meat and the sautéed pepper mixture to a large bowl and mix well to combine.
• ​Make the béchamel sauce by combining the olive oil and flour to a saucepan. Cook over medium heat while whisking until it becomes slightly toasted.
• ​Add the milk, salt. pepper, and nutmeg. Whisk well to combine. Take care to not add too much salt. There will be lots of cheese in the filling which is already salty.
• Bring the mixture to a boil and continue whisking until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
• ​Remove from heat and add about a cup of this mixture to the eggs. Whisk to incorporate and to temper them.
• ​Add the egg mixture to the saucepan and whisk well to combine.
• Pour the béchamel sauce into the mixing bowl with the filling. Add the cheeses and mix well.
• ​Add some fresh thyme and taste to see if any more salt and pepper is needed.
• ​I always add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes. It's up to you to do the same or to just leave it out.
• Set the filling aside.
• ​Note: Phyllo dough comes in various thicknesses. The thinner the phyllo, the more sheets will be in a pack. The thicker phyllo will have fewer sheets since it is sold by weight. I usually buy the #4 thickness. Any phyllo will do.
• ​Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, 170 degrees Celsius.
• Remove the phyllo from its packaging. Separate it into 2 equal stacks. One will be for the bottom and the other for the top of the pie. I like to use a little more for the bottom and less for the top. It's a matter of personal preference. The pie will still be delicious either way.
• Brush the baking pan with melted butter.
• Take 2-4 sheets of phyllo and place them at the 12:00 position of the pan (as if you were looking at a clock)placing half in the pan and the other half should hang out of the pan.
• ​Drizzle some melted butter on top of the phyllo.
• Take 2-4 more phyllo sheets and place them at the 3:00 position of the baking pan, half in half hanging out.
• ​Drizzle them with some more melted butter.
• ​Take 2-4 more phyllo sheets and place them down in the bottom of the pan. Drizzle with melted butter.
• ​Take 2-4 phyllo sheets and place them at the 9:00 position of the baking pan. Drizzle with butter.
• ​Pour all of the filling onto the pan and cover it with the phyllo that is hanging outside of the pan.
• Drizzle with melted butter.
• ​Keep taking 2-4 stacks of phyllo and place them in the pan, tucking the edges in really well. Drizzle with melted butter until all of the phyllo runs out.
• ​Scour the pie into 12 equal pieces and pour the remaining butter all over the pie. Sprinkle thetop with some sesame seeds.
• ​Bake 45 -60 minutes or until the pie is golden brown on top and the filling is bubbling.
• ​Sometimes, it can take 1 hour and 15 minutes to be ready.
• Allow the pie at least 20-30 minutes to rest at room temperature so that the filling sets and it will be easy to slice and serve.
• Enjoy!

GREEK CHICKEN IN FILO (KOTOPITA)

Steps:

• Rinse chicken pieces. In a large heavy Dutch oven, add 1/4 cup butter. When hot, add the chicken. Cover. Cook, turning without browning, for about 15 minutes.
• Remove the chicken pieces and cool slightly. Remove bones and skin from chicken and discard. Chop chicken meat. Set aside.
• Melt 2 Tablespoons butter in a skillet. Add onion, leek, celery, garlic, parsley, and pine nuts. Saute until vegetables are limp.
• Melt remaining butter in a saucepan and blend in flour. Cook 2 minutes. Stir in stock. Simmer until sauce boils. Cool. Stir in cream, eggs, nutmeg, dill, chicken, vegetables, add wine if sauce seems too thick. Season with salt and pepper.
• Butter a 12 x 9 x 3 inch baking pan. Line it with 6 sheets of filo, brushing each filo sheet with butter.
• Spread chicken filling evenly over filo sheet. Top with 6 buttered filo sheets.
• Bake at 350°F about 50 minutes, or until golden in color. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting into squares. Serve warm. 8 to 10 serving.
• CAI Greek Cookbook.

GREEK PHYLLO-WRAPPED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In bowl, mash together feta cheese, egg yolks and garlic.
• Mix in onions, parsley, mint and pepper.
• With sharp knife held horizontally and starting at rounded side, cut chicken in half almost but not all the way through; open like a book.
• Spread feta mixture evenly on 1 half of each breast; fold breast over to enclose.
• Place 1 sheet of phyllo on work surface, keeping remainder covered with a damp towel to prevent drying out.
• Brush lightly with some of the butter; top with second sheet and brush lightly with butter.
• Centre 1 breast on phyllo about 2 inches from the short edge; fold long sides over chicken and roll up.
• Repeat with remaining chicken.
• Place in lightly greased baking dish; brush with remaining butter.
• If making ahead, cover and refrigerate for up to 8 hours.
• Bake in 350 degree F oven until crisp and golden, about 45 minutes.
• Serve with lemon wedges.

KOTOPITA (CHICKEN PHYLLO PIE)

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and leeks and sauté until the onions are translucent and the leeks are tender. This should take about 10 minutes.
• Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, rice, mint, and raisins. Stir.
• Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly.
• Put the shredded chicken, eggs, and grated cheese in a large mixing bowl. Mix until well combined. Add the onion and leek mixture and mix well.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F
• Lightly grease a 9"x13" pan. Place a layer of the phyllo sheets on the bottom of the pan. Brush the sheets with the butter/olive oil mixture.
• Add the chicken mixture, making sure to spread in an even layer, and top with a layer of phyllo sheets.
• Bake for 40 minutes, or until golden brown.