Stuffed Phyllo Pastries Recipes

STUFFED PHYLLO PASTRIES

Steps:

• To make filling, press spinach in fine strainer to remove all excess moisture; combine with cheeses, eggs, nutmeg and pepper. Set aside. , To assemble pastries, have the following ready: melted butter, pastry brush, knife, a clean, slightly damp towel, the filling, baking sheet and large work surface. Open box of dough; carefully unfold sheets. Pull off 2 sheets; place together on work surface and brush lightly with butter. Pull off another sheet. Place directly over others; brush again with butter. Repeat until you have layered 5 sheets. Cover unused dough with damp towel. , Cut prepared layers in half vertically, then cut halves into 6 strips vertically. Place 1-1/2 teaspoons of filling at the top of each strip. Fold each strip into triangles (as you would fold a flag), starting at bottom near filling. Repeat with additional layers of phyllo dough until the filling is gone. Place pastries on ungreased baking sheet; brush with butter. , Bake at 400° until golden brown, about 10-15 minutes. (Uncooked pastries can be frozen for later use. Frozen pastries can go directly into oven, but baking time must be increased.)

STUFFED PHYLLO BAKED PASTRY POUCHES

Steps:

• 1. Brush each phyllo sheet generously with butter and stack one on top of the other on a cutting board. With a sharp knife, cut the sheets in half, crosswise, to make a total of 24 pieces. Stack once again, and cover with a damp (not wet) clean cotton kitchen towel.2. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a mini-muffin pan or a baking sheet. Working with each piece separately, fold in half and then in half again to make an approximately 6-by4-inch rectangle. Place about 1 tablespoon of the filling in the center, then pick up the phyllo by the four corners and pinch them together just above the filling to seal, making a little pouch. Alternately, tie each one lightly with chives, scallion greens, or thin strips of carrots, or any other greens or vegetables. Repeat with all the pieces.3. Brush all the pouches with the butter, and place each in one cup of the muffin pan or all of them on a baking sheet and bake until crispy and golden, about 25 minutes. Transfer to cooling racks. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.From "1,000 Indian Recipes." Copyright 2002 by Neelam Batra. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

PHYLLO-WRAPPED HALIBUT

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet lightly coated with cooking spray, saute spinach and red pepper until tender. Add 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper and lemon juice. Remove from the heat; cool., Line a baking sheet with foil and coat the foil with cooking spray; set aside. Place one sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface; brush with butter. (Until ready to use, keep phyllo dough covered with plastic wrap and a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.) Layer remaining phyllo over first sheet, brushing each sheet with butter. Cut stack in half widthwise. , Place a halibut fillet in the center of each square; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with cheese and spinach mixture. Fold sides and bottom edge over fillet and roll up to enclose it; trim end of phyllo if necessary. Brush with remaining butter; sprinkle with remaining lemon pepper. , Place seam side down on prepared baking sheet. Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

CHEESY STUFFED CHICKEN IN PHYLLO

Steps:

• Place chicken between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap, and flatten to 1/8-inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper; set aside.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat sauté spinach and onion for 3-4 minutes, or until onion is tender.
• Remove from heat and stir in the cream cheese until blended.
• Add in the mozzarella cheese and the next 6 ingredients; stir to combine.
• Spoon 1/4 cup of the spinach mixture on the center of each chicken breast, and roll up jellyroll fashion.
• Unfold the phyllo sheets on a lightly floured surface.
• Stack 2 phyllo sheets, brushing with melted butter between sheets (keep the remaining phyllo sheets covered with plastic to prevent drying out).
• Place 1 chicken roll on short side of the phyllo stack and gently roll up, folding in long side.
• Repeat procedure with remaining pastry, melted butter and chicken.
• Place the rolls in a greased shallow baking dish/pan, and brush the chicken rolls with melted butter.
• Bake in a 350° oven for 35-40 minutes, or until done.

PHYLLO-WRAPPED BAKED STUFFED APPLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a medium mixing bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Stir in 1/4 cup butter, tossing with a fork until crumbly texture achieved.
• Place one phyllo leaf on a dry kitchen towel and lightly brush with butter, using remaining 1/4 cup of melted butter. Place a second leaf on top of first phyllo leaf and brush with butter. Repeat until four leaves have been used.
• Place peeled and cored (whole) apple in center of layered phyllo. Gently pick up sides of phyllo and gather evenly around apple. Do not enclose apple. Leave the top of the apple exposed and the phyllo edges open. Brush butter lightly around exterior of apple. Repeat process with remaining three apples.
• Pack oat stuffing mixture into cored center of each apple. Mound remaining stuffing atop exposed portion of apple.
• Place each wrapped and stuffed apple in a baking dish, leaving space between so they do not touch.
• Bake for 40-45 minutes or until phyllo and topping are golden brown and crisp, and apple is tender.
• Serve warm.

STUFFED PHYLLO TRIANGLES

Steps:

• 1. Brush each phyllo sheet with melted butter and stack one on top of the other on a cutting board. With a sharp knife, cut them lengthwise into 4 equal strips, each about 3 inches wide. You should have 24 long strips. Stack again and cover with a damp (not wet) clean cotton kitchen towel.2. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a baking sheet. Working with each strip separately, place it lengthwise in front of you on the work surface and put about 1 tablespoon of the filling near the lower right corner. Fold the right corner over the filling to the left side to make a triangle. Repeatedly fold the stuffed triangle diagonally from one side to the other until you get to the end of the phyllo. Tuck in any extra to seal. In the end you should have a multi-folded triangle. Repeat with all the strips.3. Brush the top of all the triangles with the butter, place them on the baking sheet, and bake, turning once midway through baking, until crispy and golden, about 25 minutes. Transfer to cooling racks. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.From "1,000 Indian Recipes." Copyright 2002 by Neelam Batra. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

FETA-STUFFED SHISHITOS IN PHYLLO

Steps:

• Toss peppers with oil; season with salt. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high; add peppers and cook, stirring, until blistered, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate; let cool completely.
• Stir together feta and cream cheese in a small bowl until smooth. Make a small slit along long side of each pepper; stuff peppers with cheese mixture.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lay 1 phyllo sheet on a work surface; brush with oil. (Keep rest of phyllo covered with a damp towel as you work.) Cut lengthwise into 3-to-4-inch-wide strips (slightly smaller than peppers). Place a pepper at bottom of each strip; tightly roll. Transfer, seam-side down, to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush top with oil; sprinkle with sesame seeds. Repeat with remaining peppers and phyllo. (Rolled peppers can be frozen, covered tightly, up to 2 weeks.) Bake until phyllo is golden brown, about 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

PHYLLO TRIANGLES STUFFED WITH FRESH CHEESE (BRIOUATS BIL JBEN)

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl, blend the cheese, egg, and cilantro with a fork.
• On a clean, flat work surface, unroll the phyllo sheets. Cut into strips about 3 in/7.5 cm wide and at least 9 in/23 cm long. Arrange a couple of the strips facing away from you; cover the remaining strips with plastic wrap to keep them from drying out. Lightly brush the strips with olive oil.
• Place 1 Tbsp of the cheese filling on the end of each strip closest to you. Fold over to form a triangle, then fold again to form another triangle, and so on to the end. Brush the end of the triangle with egg yolk and fold the loose end over the brushed yolk. Place the triangles on a plate without letting them touch. Repeat with the remaining phyllo strips and cheese filling.
• Have ready 6 dessert plates. Place a generous dollop of honey in the middle of each.
• In a large skillet or sauté pan, heat at least 1/2 in/1.25 cm of oil until the surface shimmers. Reduce the heat to medium. Working in small batches, gently place the phyllo triangles in the oil and fry, turning once, until firm and golden brown, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Place 2 or 3 rolls on each plate, drizzle with honey, and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve hot.