Traditional Greek Tiropetes Cheese Phyllo Pie Food

TRADITIONAL TIROPITA RECIPE (GREEK CHEESE PIE WITH FETA)

Steps:

• If you choose to prepare this Greek tiropita recipe with commercial phyllo dough, it is important to thaw completely the phyllo dough by putting it in the fridge from the previous day. For the beginners at working with phyllo, check the handling tips before starting.
• Prepare the filling for the tiropita. This traditional tiropita recipe, calls for three different kind of cheese for extra flavour! Use a fork to crumble the feta cheese into a large bowl and add the beaten eggs along with the rest of the grated cheese and heavy cream. Chop some fresh mint and add to the mixture. Season with freshly ground pepper and blend well with a spoon. Place the mixture in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.
• For this tiropita recipe you will need a large baking tray, approx. 20*30 cm. Using a pastry brush, butter the bottom and sides of the tray. Place one sheet of phyllo at the bottom of the pan and with a cooking brush sprinkle some olive oil or melted butter. Repeat the procedure, adding 4-5 more sheets of phyllo dough. You will use 5-6 phyllo sheets for the bottom of the tiropita.
• Pour in the feta cheese mixture and smooth with a spatula. With a knife trim some of the excessive phyllo, and fold the excess phyllo sheets flaps over the mixture. Top the tiropita with 4-5 more phyllo sheets, making sure to oil or butter each one, before adding the other; roll in the edges. Brush the top with oil or butter, sprinkle with water and sesame seeds. If using commercial phyllo dough to make this tiropita recipe make sure to scar the top with a sharp knife, to help release the steam.
• Bake the tiropita in a preheated oven at 180C for 45-50 minutes, until the phyllo is crisp and golden. Let it cool down for a while before serving. Enjoy!

GREEK FETA CHEESE PIE (TIROPITA) WITH PHYLLO

Steps:

• To prepare this Greek Feta cheese pie (Tiropita) with phyllo start by buttering the baking dish and preheating the oven to 180c or 356F. Melt the butter and set it aside. Whisk three eggs and set them aside too.
• To prepare the filling, in a mixing bowl, combine crumbled Feta cheese, greek strained yoghurt, melted butter, sunflower oil, whisked eggs and seasoning. Should you wish to taste the seasoning on the filling, do so prior to adding the whisked eggs. Remember that tanginess of Feta differs between brands, and you may wish to add more salt. Mix the ingredients until combined.
• Lay two phyllo sheets on the bottom on the baking dish side by side making sure the bottom and the sides of the baking dish are covered. Set aside one phyllo sheet for the outermost pie layer. Take a couple of tablespoons worth of filling and spread it evenly all over the phyllo sheet. Repeat the process until you have run out of either filling or phyllo pastry sheets. Lay the last phyllo sheet on the pie tucking in the corners.
• Prepare the egg wash by whisking an egg with one tablespoon of water. Pierce the pie evenly and brush with the egg wash. Lay evenly the diced butter on the top phyllo. Bake the Greek Feta cheese pie (Tiropita) with phyllo at 180C (360F) for 55-60 minutes. Cover with foil at around 35 minutes to achieve a nice golden colour.
• Kali Orexi!

TIROPETES

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until smooth. Gradually stir in the hot milk so that no lumps form. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens enough to coat a metal spoon. Season with salt and white pepper, remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
• When the sauce is cooled, stir in the feta cheese, egg yolks, Monterey jack cheese, 3 tablespoons melted butter and parsley.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Cut the sheets of phyllo dough into strips about 3 inches wide. Use one stack at a time, covering the rest with a damp towel to keep them from drying out.
• Lay out one piece of phyllo at a time. Brush with butter, and place about 1 teaspoon of the cheese mixture on one end. Fold one corner up to match the other edge. Continue folding in triangle shape until you reach the end of the strip. Place on a baking sheet, and continue with the remaining strips of dough.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown. These can also be prepared ahead of time, and frozen after folding. Bake when ready to serve.

KREATOPITA (GREEK MEAT PIE USING PHYLLO PASTRY)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, coat bottom of pan with olive oil and add ground beef (and mushrooms, if using). Cook, breaking up meat with back of spoon, and stirring often until meat and mushrooms are browned and liquid emitted has evaporated (make sure all the liquid has evaporated - you don't want a soggy pita!).
• Add onions, garlic, tomato paste, oregano and cinnamon and cook until liquid emitted from onions has evaporated, too.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool for about 20 minutes, stirring a couple of times to bring hot filling up (to cool faster).
• Add cheese, parsley and eggs to meat filling and combine thoroughly to blend. Taste filling and adjust seasoning to suit your taste.
• In a 15 x 10 inch pan (or large pan), layer half the phyllo sheets, brushing each one generously with olive oil (use a pastry brush), before adding the next sheet of pastry.
• Pour the meat filling into the phyllo-lined pan.
• Layer the remaining phyllo sheets in the same way, over the filling, brushing each one generously with olive oil before adding the next sheet of pastry. When you reach the last sheet (the top one), brush this one slightly more generously than the rest, tuck in any overhang you have neatly into the pie and score pie, lengthwise, into 4, using the tip of a small, sharp knife and making sure you don't cut all the way through the bottom of the pastry (just the top crust and slightly into the filling).
• Position baking rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 190°C (375°F).
• Bring your pan next to the sink and run the cold water tap. Wet the tips of your fingers and shake the water onto the pastry. Do this a few times to ensure droplets of water fall all over the pastry (this ensures a crisp crust upon baking).
• Bake pie for approximately one hour, until you achieve a deep golden crust. If you have a flat-bottomed oven (no element), do put your pan on the floor of the oven for the last 20 minutes or so to ensure an even crisper bottom crust.
• The pita is best slightly warm or at room temperature.
• Enjoy!

QUICK & EASY SPINACH AND FETA PHYLLO PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Spray an 8x8 glass baking dish with the cooking spray.
• In a medium bowl, stir together everything except the phyllo.
• Lay one sheet of phyllo in the baking dish, allowing the edges to hang over the sides of the dish.
• Spray with cooking spray.
• Repeat with 4 more sheets of phyllo, spraying and alternating the direction of each sheet.
• Spoon spinach mixture on top of the prepared phyllo in the pan.
• Spray and layer remaining 5 sheets just the same as you did before.
• Roll edges of dough to form a rim.
• Spray the top.
• Bake for 35-45 minutes or until golden brown.
• Let stand 5-15 minutes before cutting and serving.