Lavender Galaktoboureko Custard Filled Phyllo 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.

LAVENDER GALAKTOBOUREKO (CUSTARD-FILLED PHYLLO)

Steps:

• To clarify butter, place in a small saucepan, and melt over medium heat until bubbling. Remove pan from heat, and cool, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a spoon, carefully skim the milky foam from the top of the butter, and discard. Carefully pour the skimmed butter into another bowl, leaving behind the milk solids and discarding; set clarified butter aside.
• To make syrup, combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Stir in honey. Bring to a boil, and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, and stir in brandy, lemon juice, orange juice, and zest; set aside to cool.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter an 8-by-8-inch Pyrex or metal baking dish. Heat milk in a medium saucepan until hot but not boiling. Add lavender flowers, cover, and let steep about20 minutes. Strain and return milk to saucepan. Whisk remaining 1/2 cup sugar and semolina into milk. Place over medium-low heat, and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until thick and creamy, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and cool slightly.
• Beat the eggs by hand, or in an electric mixer until pale and creamy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Quickly pour the eggs into the semolina mixture, stirring constantly. Let mixture cool before assembling pastry.
• Layer 8 sheets of phyllo pastry in baking dish, brushing with clarified butter between each layer and overhanging the edge of the baking dish. Spread semolina mixture over the phyllo, and top with 6 more sheets of phyllo, brushing with butter between each sheet. Fold over the edges of phyllo, and brush top with butter. Cut 2 sheets of phyllo into shreds and toss in a bowl with some of the butter until coated. Sprinkle over top of pastry. Bake until phyllo is golden brown and filling is set, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Remove from oven, and immediately pour 1/4 cup of cooled syrup over the top, making sure it is evenly distributed. Let cool, and serve, if desired, with remaining syrup.

GALAKTOBOUREKO - GREEK CUSTARD PASTRY

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat add milk, sugar, semolina, 2 ounces butter, vanilla, salt and a sliver of lemon peel.
• Bring to a boil, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
• Beat eggs in a separate bowl then stir into milk mixture. Set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Line a 9 X 13 buttered baking pan with half the sheets of phyllo, brushing each sheet with the melted butter and allowing the edges to overlap the sides.
• Spread custard evenly over phyllo.
• Cover with remaining sheets of phyllo, brushing each sheet with the melted butter.
• Trim the edges and fold in carefully to seal the filling.
• Brush the top with melted butter and seal edges with a bit of cold water.
• Bake 45 minutes or until golden.
• Meanwhile make the syrup; In a small saucepan combine the sugar, water, lemon juice and sliver of lemon peel and boil for 10 minutes.
• When Galaktoboureko is done and still hot from the oven, spoon syrup over a little at a time until absorbed by the pastry.
• Cool completely, cut into diamond shape and serve.
• NOTES : This is best made the day before it is needed. It gives the pastry time to absorb the syrup and the filling to become firm.

GALAKTOBOUREKO - MILK CUSTARD WRAPPED IN PHYLLO DOUGH

Steps:

• Syrup: The morning you are going to bake, combine 4 cups sugar, 2 cups water, 1 cinnamon stick and 2 slices lemon.
• Boil for 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat; remove cinnamon stick and lemon slices, and cool syrup completely. Also may be made a day in advance and refrigerated, covered.
• When syrup is cooled, preheat oven to 350°F
• Brush softened butter inside 9x13x2-inch glass baking dish.
• For the filling, place milk, sugar, semolina, ¼ stick softened butter, beaten eggs and extract in a heavy 4-quart pot over low heat, and mix.
• Stir continuously until the mixture becomes thicker than pudding consistency.
• Set aside to cool slightly.
• SEE NOTE: To assemble, fold 10 to 12 pieces of phyllo, one at a time, into the buttered baking dish, lightly brushing each piece with melted butter as it is placed. , Make sure to leave half of the sheet lapping over the side of the dish.
• Pour in warm custard filling.
• Layer 10 more phyllo pieces on top, buttering each layer.
• Score the top layer to form roughly 2x2-inch squares. Bake at 350 F for 30 to 45 minutes, or until lightly golden.
• When removed from oven, pour cold syrup over hot Galaktoboureko (sizzling is normal) and allow it to cool to room temperature before serving, 45 minutes.