Summer Herb Feta Pies Recipes

SUMMER HERB & FETA PIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Remove any thick stalks from the watercress, then chop the rest and put in a food processor with the herbs and spring onions. Blitz for a few secs, then add the eggs, nutmeg and some seasoning, and blitz again briefly - you don't want too fine a chop. Tip the mixture into a bowl and stir in the feta and artichokes.
• Melt the butter and unwrap the filo sheets. Cut them into 12-13cm squares through the layers - you may have too much pastry but the leftovers can be re-wrapped and saved for another recipe . Stack 4 squares of pastry on top of each other, brushing lightly with butter as you go, offsetting each square to get a star shape all round the edge. Continue until you have 8 stacks.
• Press each stack into a deep-hole muffin tin and fill with the feta mixture. Fold over the pastry to enclose the filling, pinching it together. Brush the tops with the remaining butter and sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake for 25 mins until the pastry is golden and crisp. Leave to cool for a few mins, then remove the tins and cool completely on a wire rack. Pack into a plastic container to take to the picnic and serve with a tomato salad, if you like.

GREEK ZUCCHINI AND HERB PIE

Steps:

• Grate the zucchini using a food processor or a hand grater. Place in a large colander, salt generously, and let drain for 1 hour, pressing down on it occasionally to squeeze out liquid. After an hour, take up handfuls and squeeze out moisture (or wrap in a kitchen towel and twist the towel to squeeze out the moisture). Place in a bowl.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat, and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes, then add the garlic. Cook, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant, about one minute. Transfer to the bowl with the zucchini. Stir in the herbs, feta, eggs and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 10-inch pie or cake pan. If using phyllo, line the pie dish with seven pieces of phyllo, lightly brushing each piece with oil and turning the dish after each addition so that the edges of the phyllo drape evenly over the pan. Fill with the zucchini mixture. Fold the draped edges in over the filling, lightly brushing the folded in sheets of phyllo, then layer the remaining five pieces on top, brushing each piece with olive oil. Stuff the edges into the sides of the pan. If using the olive oil pastry, divide the dough into two equal pieces. Roll out the first ball to a circle 2 inches wider than the pan. Line the pan with the pastry, and brush with olive oil. Top with the filling. Roll out the remaining dough. Place over the filling. Press the edges of the top and bottom layers of dough together, and pinch to form an attractive lip around the edge.
• Make a few slashes in the top crust so that steam can escape as the pie bakes. Score in a few places with the tip of a knife, and brush with olive oil. Bake 50 to 60 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown. Remove from the heat, and allow to cool 15 to 30 minutes or to room temperature. Slice in wedges and serve.

LEMON-HERB MARINATED FETA

Steps:

• In pint-sized glass jar, arrange herbs, lemon, peppercorns and pepper flakes. Top with cheese. Pour olive oil over cheese mixture; cover and refrigerate 3 days. Serve with toasts. Any leftover cheese mixture can be covered and refrigerated up to 4 days longer.
• At least 1 1/2 hours before serving, make the toasts. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray. Bake French bread 24 to 26 minutes or until browned. Cool completely, at least 30 minutes. Cut into 1/2-inch slices. Brush slices on both sides with melted butter. Return to pan; bake 10 to 15 minutes, turning once, until light golden brown.

HERBED FETA DIP

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the first 5 ingredients; cover and pulse until finely chopped. Add cheese and lemon juice; process until creamy. Serve with vegetables.

HERB AND CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 400°F.
• Cut off stalks from fennel bulb. Chop enough fronds to measure 1/4 cup and discard stalks. Cut bulb (including core) into 1/4-inch dice.
• Cook fennel bulb, scallions, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in 2 tablespoons butter in a 10-inch heavy skillet, covered, over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Remove lid and cook until any liquid is evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in cheeses, eggs, semolina, fennel fronds, dill, pepper, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt until combined.
• Melt remaining 6 tablespoons butter and brush springform pan with some of butter, then sprinkle bottom with 1 tablespoon bread crumbs. Unroll phyllo and cover stack with plastic wrap and a dampened kitchen towel. Working quickly, brush 1 phyllo sheet with some butter (keep remaining sheets covered) and gently fit it into springform pan, allowing ends to hang over. Rotate pan slightly, then butter another phyllo sheet and place on top (sheets should not align). Sprinkle with remaining tablespoon bread crumbs. Butter and fit 4 more phyllo sheets into pan, rotating pan for each sheet (overhang should cover entire rim).
• Spread cheese mixture in phyllo shell.
• Butter another phyllo sheet, then fold in half crosswise and butter again. Fold again (to quarter) and brush with butter, then lay over center of filling. Repeat with remaining phyllo sheet, laying it over folded sheet in opposite direction. Fold overhang toward center to enclose filling and folded phyllo, then brush top with butter.
• Bake until puffed and deep golden brown, 40 to 50 minutes. Once pie is golden brown, loosely cover pan with a sheet of foil to prevent overbrowning. Cool in pan on a rack 5 minutes. Remove side of pan and continue to cool pie on rack.
• Cut into wedges (leave bottom of pan under pie). Serve warm or at room temperature.
• *Available at D. Coluccio & Sons (718-436-6700).

MARINATED FETA WITH HERBS AND PEPPERCORNS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, stir together the olive oil, parsley, preserved lemon, chile, oregano and peppercorns.
• Cut the feta into 1/2-inch cubes and add them to the olive oil mixture. Gently fold together until feta is evenly coated. Transfer to a jar or lidded container and drizzle with more olive oil, if needed to immerse the feta. Refrigerate for at least 24 hours.
• Remove from refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving to allow solidified olive oil to return to liquid form. Serve with crackers or crostini, or spoon on top of seared fish, grilled or roasted vegetables, pasta or salad.

FAST FETA SPREAD

Steps:

• Combine the feta cheese and cream cheese in the container of a food processor or blender. Process until well blended. Remove to a serving dish and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with a sprig of basil, and serve.

GARLIC HERB FETA CHEESE MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and return potatoes to the pot.
• Mash potatoes with a potato masher until smooth. Stir in milk, feta cheese, butter, garlic, oregano, and rosemary. Season with salt and pepper.