Basic Recipe For Phyllo Dough

HOMEMADE PHYLLO (OR FILO) DOUGH

Steps:

• Place 2 cups flour in a mixing bowl; make a well in the center. Drizzle in olive oil and add salt; add white wine vinegar and warm water. Mix until dough just comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, 1 or 2 minutes. Transfer dough ball to a lightly floured work surface.
• Knead until dough is smooth, using just enough flour to keep it from sticking to the work surface or your hands, 2 or 3 minutes. Continue to knead until dough is supple and elastic, about 5 more minutes. Wrap dough ball in plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature, 1 to 2 hours.
• Divide dough into 20 (20 gram) portions using a kitchen scale; roll each portion into a ball. Place on plate and cover with plastic wrap to prevent dough balls from drying out while you begin to roll them out. Work in batches of 5.
• Mix cornstarch and 2 tablespoons flour together in a bowl. Dust a work surface and the first dough ball with the cornstarch mixture. Flatten out the dough ball and roll out into a circle, about 5 inches in diameter. Dust again with cornstarch mixture. Set circle to one side. Roll out 4 more dough balls to about the same diameter and stack them on the first one, dusting each layer with more of the cornstarch mixture to keep them from sticking together.
• When you have 5 circles, roll out the stack to a larger circle about double in size, turning as you go to maintain a round shape. Separate each layer and lay out the circles. Re-apply more cornstarch mixture where needed and restack them. Roll again until the 5-layer stack is paper thin, about 10 to 12 inches in diameter. Place on a sheet of parchment paper; top with another piece of parchment. Gently roll up the dough; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate.
• Repeat with the remaining 15 balls of dough in batches of 5.

BASIC PHYLLO DOUGH

Steps:

• In the bowl of a mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine 3 1/4 cups of the flour and salt. Add the water, olive oil and vinegar or lemon juice. Mix on low speed for 3 minutes, then increase speed to medium. Knead with the hook, stopping the mixer to add additional flour in 1/4-cup increments as needed, until the dough is very smooth and pliant. The whole mixing process should take about 10 to 12 minutes.
• Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, and let stand for 1 hour at room temperature. You can store the dough, well wrapped, in the refrigerator for several days or in the freezer for up to two weeks. Bring to room temperature before using. (If it's frozen, first defrost in the refrigerator.)

EASY APPLE STRUDEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place raisins, water and extract in a large microwave-save bowl; microwave, uncovered, on high for 1-1/2 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. Drain. Add apples, 1/3 cup sugar, flour and cinnamon; toss to combine., In a small bowl, mix melted butter and oil; remove 2 teaspoons mixture for brushing top. Place 1 sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface; brush lightly with some of the butter mixture. (Keep remaining remaining phyllo covered with a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.) Layer with 7 additional phyllo sheets, brushing each layer with some of the butter mixture. Spread apple mixture over phyllo to within 2 in. of 1 long side., Fold the short edges over filling. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting from the side with a 2-in. border. Transfer to a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Brush with reserved butter mixture; sprinkle with remaining sugar. With a sharp knife, cut diagonal slits in top of strudel., Bake until golden brown, 35-40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. If desired, dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.

BASIC RECIPE FOR PHYLLO DOUGH

Steps:

• Sift the flour with the salt.
• Make a well in the middle of the flour.
• In the well put the water and the olive oil.
• Work the dough until it hangs well together.
• Dust flour on a table or board.
• Knead the dough for about 5-7 minutes.
• The dough should be smooth and not stick to the board.
• Roll the dough out to a big rectangle.
• Lay a damp towel over it and let it rest for about 15 minutes.
• Flour your hands and work the dough from the middle outwards until you have the dough stretched to about 3 ft by 3 ft (1meter x 1meter)If work table is not big enough to roll out a 3 ft. by 3 ft. dough, divide the dough into 9 (divide into 3, then divide each third into 3 more) and roll out each portion into 1 ft. by 1 ft. sheet. Cut the dough with a sharp knife or pizza cutter to the desired sheet size.
• Continue with the recipe that requires the phyllo dough.