South African Greek Cheese Pie Recipes

GREEK CHEESE PIE - TIROPITA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350* F.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
• Brush 2 sheets of phyllo with the melted butter and spread them gently in the pan, one at a time. The phyllo I use is purposely larger than my baking pan, so I can let the phyllo edges hang outside the pan as I will roll them over later. Take another 2 sheets and repeat the same process adding the phyllo so that the edges cover the rest of the pan. Make sure the phyllo edges are buttered as well. That way, they won't get dry by the time you roll them in.
• In a large bowl, mix well the crumbled feta, grated cheeses, Philadelphia, thyme, the eggs, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Divide the phyllo pack in half and set one half aside, covered with a damp towel, so it does not get dry. Brush one phyllo at a time with butter, crumple it and place in the pan. Repeat the process until all of the sheets of that half of the pack are done.
• Spread the cheeses mix evenly in the pan. Setting two phyllo sheets aside cover with the remaining half of the package in the same process as before. Brush with butter, crumple, and add to the pan.
• Cover pie with the two buttered phyllo sheets. Gently bring all the phyllo edges into the pan, fold them, almost creating a "phyllo border."
• Score gently with a sharp knife.
• Pour the milk evenly all over the pie. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds.
• Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 10 minutes. Uncover and bake for 30 min or until cooked through, and the top is golden brown.

GREEK CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans.
• Mix feta cheese and eggs together in a bowl for the filling; set aside.
• Lay out 1 sheet of phyllo on a work surface and brush liberally with olive oil. Top with another sheet and brush with oil. Repeat for a total of 4 sheets, but do not brush the top of the fourth sheet. Transfer the stack of oiled sheets to one of the greased cake pans. Drape over the bottom of the pan, trying not to be too perfect about it; you want some folds and wrinkles in the phyllo.
• Spread 1/2 of the filling over the phyllo in an even layer. Fold the overhanging phyllo over the filling, again letting natural folds and wrinkles occur. Loosely lay 1 sheet of phyllo over the top, brush with oil, and use the oiled brush to pat down the sides all around the circumference of the cake pan.
• Repeat with remaining phyllo, oil, and filling to assemble the second pie.
• Bake the cheese pies in the preheated oven until the tops are a deep golden brown, 45 to 60 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.

GIBANICA SERBIAN CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• Combine 5 eggs, kefir, feta cheese, 1/2 cup oil, vegetable seasoning, and baking soda in a bowl.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a baking pan.
• Cover the bottom and sides of the baking pan with 2 sheets phyllo dough. Crinkle 2 more sheets into loose balls; dip balls into the egg mixture until lightly coated. Place into the pan and cover with a flat sheet of phyllo. Repeat crinkling and layering the remaining phyllo, ending with 2 flat sheets.
• Mix the remaining egg, yogurt, and 2 tablespoons oil in a small bowl; spread mixture on top of the pie.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top turns reddish brown, about 1 hour.

SOUTH AFRICAN-GREEK CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• Oven: 400 deg F, or 375 deg F for fan ovens. (200 deg C, 180 deg C fan ovens).
• I used a 7" x 7" x 1 1/2" glass oven dish, which is small but just the right size. Oil dish very lightly.
• Open the phyllo pastry, lightly butter or the top sheet, and line the dish. Don't cut off the overhang. Carry on like this, lightly pressing the next 2 sheets on to the previous ones. Leave the overhang as is.
• Mix the cheeses, nuts, chopped peppers and spring onions in a bowl. Toss until well mixed but work lightly. Add the breadcrumbs and toss through.
• Beat the eggs in a bowl until foamy, and add the Tabasco to the eggs if you are using it. Add to the cheeses, and mix through.
• You will need very little milk -- this depends on your cheeses and eggs -- so as to "wet" the mixture but not saturate it.There should only be the tiniest bit of liquid on the bottom of the bowl if you lift the mixture.
• Scrape into the phyllo-lined dish, and smooth top. Fold the phyllo overhang over the cheese, and oil the bits lightly. The overhang should be adequate to cover the pie. If it does not, it doesn't matter. (S A phyllo sheets are quite large, so it all depends on that!)
• Bake in the pre-heated oven for 40 - 45 minutes, turning DOWN heat to 350 deg F/180 deg C after about 10 minutes, or less for convection/fan ovens. Watch that the top does not burn.
• This is a rich dish, and can be a main vegetarian dish, with a nice salad. If you use a flatter dish, it can be cut into small squares as a snack.