Greek Custard Phyllo Triangles Recipes

GALAKTOBOUREKO

Steps:

• Pour milk into a large saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium heat. In a medium bowl, whisk together the semolina, cornstarch, 1 cup sugar and salt so there are no cornstarch clumps. When milk comes to a boil, gradually add the semolina mixture, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Cook, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and comes to a full boil. Remove from heat, and set aside. Keep warm.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs with an electric mixer at high speed. Add 1/2 cup of sugar, and whip until thick and pale, about 10 minutes. Stir in vanilla.
• Fold the whipped eggs into the hot semolina mixture. Partially cover the pan, and set aside to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish, and layer 7 sheets of phyllo into the pan, brushing each one with butter as you lay it in. Pour the custard into the pan over the phyllo, and cover with the remaining 5 sheets of phyllo, brushing each sheet with butter as you lay it down.
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until the top crust is crisp and the custard filling has set. In a small saucepan, stir together the remaining cup of sugar and water. Bring to a boil. When the Galaktoboureko comes out of the oven, spoon the hot sugar syrup over the top, particularly the edges. Cool completely before cutting and serving. Store in the refrigerator.

HONEY CUSTARD FILLED PHYLLO TRIANGLES WITH STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Mix strawberries, wine and 2 tablespoons sugar in small bowl. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, 3 tablespoons honey and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in medium bowl until smooth. Mix in cream, egg, vanilla. Spoon mixture into 9 inch glass pie dish. Bake until custard is set, about 20 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool completely.
• Combine butter and remaining 2 tablespoons honey in small saucepan. Stir over low heat until butter melts and honey dissolves. Remove from heat. Arrange 1 phyllo sheet on work surface with long side parallel to edge of surface (cover remainder with plastic wrap and damp kitchen towel). Brush lower half of phyllo lengthwise with butter mixture. Fold phyllo in half lengthwise. Brush with butter mixture. Spoon 1/8 of custard mixture near 1 short edge of phyllo. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon almonds. Fold 1 corner of phyllo over custard; continue folding as for flag, forming triangle and enclosing filling completely. Repeat with remaining phyllo, butter, custard and almonds.
• Transfer pastries to buttered baking sheet. Brush pastries with remaining butter mixture. Bake until golden brown, about 18 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature with sliced strawberries and juices.

GREEK SPINACH TRIANGLES

Steps:

• * To cut calories, you can use butter-flavored cooking spray in place of the butter.
• Cook spinach according to directions; drain well.
• Mix spinach, eggs, onion, cream cheese, pepper and feta cheese together.
• Refrigerate mixture at least 1 hour.
• Open package of phyllo pastry; cut a strip 2" wide, cutting through all layers.
• Cover remaining dough with a damp cloth to prevent cracking.
• Separate dough so that you have 2 sheets for each triangle.
• Brush the dough with melted butter.
• Put 1 rounded teaspoon of spinach mixture at the top of the strip.
• Fold pastry over like folding a flag.
• Place on well-buttered baking sheet; brush top with butter.
• Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.
• Serve warm.
• To freeze the triangles before cooking, butter both sides of triangle and wrap well.
• Bake when needed.

GALAKTABOUREKO-GREEK SEMOLINA CUSTARD BAKED IN PHYLLO

Steps:

• Semolina Custard
• In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk 5 cups of milk with the sugar and bring almost to a boil. Whisk in the semolina. Bring to a boil, whisking, then cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thick, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add the butter, stirring until incorporated. Cool for 5 minutes, then stir in the vanilla, the remaining 1 cup of milk, and the eggs, mixing thoroughly. Cool, cover with plastic or waxed paper, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Syrup
• Place the sugar, cinnamon, water, zest, and juice in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring, for about 10 minutes, until the syrup thickens and coats a spoon. Remove the cinnamon stick.
• To Assemble
• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan.
• In a small bowl, mix together the almonds, bread crumbs, and sugar. Line the baking pan with 8 sheets of phyllo, one sheet at a time (each sheet should overlap its neighbors by an inch or so). Brush each sheet with butter and sprinkle lightly with the almond mixture. The pastry edges should overlap the entire perimeter of the pan. Pour in the cooled custard, spreading evenly, and fold the pastry edges over the custard.
• Arrange 8 phyllo sheets over the top of the custard, leaf by leaf, brushing with butter and sprinkling with almond mixture as before. Trim the edges to 1 inch and fold them inward, tucking them down inside the pan. Brush the top with butter and score diagonally with the tip of a sharp knife in two directions, to make diamond-shaped slits in the pastry. Sprinkle the top with water (about 3 tablespoons) and bake for 15 minutes, then lower the heat to 325°F and bake 45 more minutes.
• When the top is golden brown and flaky, remove from the oven and immediately pour the cooled syrup over the pastry. Let the custard set until cool, then cut into pieces and serve.
• Semolina
• Semolina is durum wheat that is more coarsely ground than other flours. It is the primary ingredient in the best pasta and in couscous, and it's also popular as porridge. It gives cakes a heartier, more substantial texture.