Phyllo Straws Recipes

PHYLLO STRAWS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375*F.
• On a cutting board, lay out one sheet of phyllo dough, brush with clarified butter and sprinkle evenly with Parmesan cheese (keep the remaining phyllo covered with a moistened tea towel).
• Place the other sheet of phyllo on top of the cheese and brush it with clarified butter.
• Using a sharp knife, cut the buttered phyllo sheets lengthwise into thirds (you will have three long srips, each about 3 inches wide and 18 inches long).
• Next, cut these strips crosswise into 1 1/2 inch rectangles.
• Wrap each rectangle lengthwise around a pencil or wooden skewer.
• Remove the pencil or skewer and place the rolls on a greased baking sheet.
• Continue this process until all of the phyllo has been rolled.
• Refrigerate the phyllo straws on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes, or until they are firm.
• Bake about 9 minutes, until golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and, using a spatula, slip the straws onto paper towels to cool.
• The straws can be kept in a sealed tin for several days.

CREAMY PHYLLO CHEESE STRAWS IN PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, lightly beaten egg, Parmesan, and salt. Stir to combine. Spoon mixture into a plastic zip-top bag. Set aside. To use as a pastry bag, cut corner off bag to make a 1/4-inch diameter opening.
• Lay out thawed phyllo dough. Working quickly to keep dough from drying out: brush top sheet with melted butter, pipe cheese filling along long edge of phyllo 1/2-inch from each end. Fold over ends to seal in filling and roll up straw. Repeat with remaining sheets of phyllo and place on a baking sheet. Bake until golden, about 10 minutes.
• Serve warm with pesto for dipping.

PARMESAN CHEESE STRAWS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a large nonstick baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a small bowl, mix the cheese, chili powder and cumin. Place the sheets of phyllo on a work surface and cover them with a damp towel. Remove the first sheet and place it with short side toward you. Coat with nonstick cooking spray (butter-flavored is nice), then sprinkle with about 2 teaspoons of the cheese mixture; fold the phyllo in 1/2 to form a 12 by 8 1/2-inch rectangle. Spray the phyllo again and sprinkle with 2 more teaspoons of the cheese mixture; fold in 1/2 again to form a 6 by 8 1/2-inch rectangle. Spray the phyllo again and sprinkle with 2 more teaspoons of the cheese mixture; fold in 1/2 again to form a 6 by 4 1/4-inch rectangle. Spray again and sprinkle with just a bit of the cheese mixture; with a serrated knife, cut into 8 short strips. Transfer the strips to the baking sheet, placing them about 1/2-inch apart. Repeat the process 2 more times to make 24 cheese straws. Bake until the cheese straws are crisp and golden, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

PUFF-PASTRY CHEESE STRAWS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine cheese and cayenne in a bowl.
• Lay each puff-pastry sheet flat on a lightly floured work surface. Roll out two 11-by-16-inch rectangles. Dividing evenly, brush with some of beaten eggs and sprinkle with cheese mixture. Using a pastry cutter or sharp paring knife, trim long ends to make even, then cut each rectangle crosswise into fifteen 1/2-inch-wide strips.
• Working with one at a time, twist each strip into a spiral and transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets, 1 inch apart. Using your thumb, press ends of strips onto parchment to prevent unraveling during baking. Chill until firm, at least 30 minutes.
• Bake until pastry is golden, rotating sheets halfway through, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks before serving or storing.

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.

PESTO TWISTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°., Unfold puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. Roll each sheet into a 12-in. square. Spread pesto onto 1 pastry sheet to within 1/4 in. of edges. Sprinkle with cheese. Top with remaining pastry, pressing lightly. Cut into twelve 1-in.-wide strips. Twist each strip 4 times. Place 2 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets, pressing down ends., Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

3-INGREDIENT CINNAMON-SUGAR TWISTS

Steps:

• Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 400°F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment. Mix sugar, cinnamon, and salt on a large plate. Fill a small bowl or glass with cold water.
• Roll out pastry between 2 sheets of parchment until short side is 10" long and dough is about 1/8" thick. Freeze dough 5 minutes. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut dough crosswise into 1" strips. Transfer half of strips to refrigerator. Working one at a time, brush strip lightly with water (or use your fingertips), then immediately transfer to sugar mixture and turn to coat.
• Starting from the middle, use both hands to twist dough to the ends. Transfer to prepared sheet, arranging twists vertically. Repeat with remaining dough. Freeze 10 minutes.
• Bake twists, rotating sheets front to back and top to bottom halfway through, until golden brown and beginning to caramelize, 18-20 minutes. Using tongs, immediately lift twists from parchment and let cool with 1 end on rim of baking sheet (work carefully, sugar coating will be very hot).