Sweet Filo Cigars Recipes

SWEET FILO CIGARS

Steps:

• Put the frozen filo pastry in the refrigerator the night before you make the recipe, allowing it to thaw gradually.
• Preheat the oven to 400*F.
• Pulse the almonds in a food processor. You want to end up with a light powder. You could also chop them finely by hand or grind in a hand cranked grinder.
• Toss with the sugar, cardamom, and enough orange flower water to dampen the mixture slightly.
• Unroll the filo and cut it crosswise into strips 5-7" wide. Stack the strips in a pile and cover with a barely damp towel. Place a piece of pastry on the table, heap 2 tbls. almond mixtue at one end, then fold over the outer edges and roll it up. Brush the surface with butter. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheets until golden brown, about 12 minutes.
• 2nd version:.
• For a crunchier pastry that can be baked ahead of time, sprinkle 2 tbls. of the almond mixture over the entire surface of each filo strip. Fold in the long edges by 1/2" If the dough is brittle and won't bend without breaking, brush a little butter on it to make it pliable. Roll, then brush the surface with a little butter and bake for 8-10 minutes, until nicely browned.

MOROCCAN MEAT CIGARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
• Heat olive oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Cook ground beef until it loses its pink color and begins to brown. Drain fat from skillet. Add tomatoes, cinnamon, cumin, paprika and allspice. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until mixture reduces slightly, about 10 minutes.
• Remove one phyllo sheet from package and keep the rest covered with a clean cloth until ready to use. On a flat work surface, cut the phyllo sheet into 2 14x9-inch rectangles. Spray the first half-sheet with cooking spray, place the 2nd half on top of it and spray again with oil. Place a generous teaspoon of the meat mixture near the narrow end of the dough. Fold dough over the top of the meat, fold in the sides of the dough, and roll into a narrow tube (cigar) shape. Repeat until all the meat has been rolled up. Arrange cigars on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until lightly browned, about 25 minutes.

MINI CHICKEN CIGARS WITH SWEET AND SOUR DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• For the chicken cigars: Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Place chicken in a bowl and mix with spices and parsley. (I actually used my food processor to shred/chop chicken and mix in the spices and it worked nicely--use it to chop the parsley first and then add other ingredients).
• Place a piece of phyllo on a nonstick cookie sheet and brush with some of the melted butter. Repeat 3 more times, placing each of phyllo over the last buttered sheet to make 4 layers. Cut layered phyllo into 16 rectangles (4 x 4).
• On one end of each of the rectangles, place a heaping tablespoon of chicken filling. Roll up tightly to make mini "cigars". Cut each of these in half and place on a cookie sheet. (They should overlap slightly on the bottom--they will stay together nicely if you press them gently after you place them on the cookie sheet). Butter the tops of each.
• Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until golden brown.
• Repeat with second half of phyllo sheets and chicken mixture.
• Make the sweet and sour dipping sauce by whisking together plum or duck sauce and vinegar in a bowl. Stream in oil and continue whisking to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Fold in mango and sliced scallions.
• Serve either hot or at room temperature with dipping sauce.

SWEET FILO CIGARS

Steps:

• In a food processor, mix the almond and pistachio into a fine paste. Place the nuts in a frying pan and add 4T of water and the sugar. Cook over low heat unit the sugar has dissolved, about 4min. Remove from heat and stir in the egg yolk and lemon zest.
• Put 1 sheet of pastry on a clean surface. Spread 1T of the nut mix in a thin strip along the edge closest to you, leaving 3/4 of an inch on the left and right side. Fold the two sides over the paste and roll away from you to create a compact cigar. Tuck the top edge in and seal with a bit of the beaten egg white. Repeat with all the pastry and filling.
• Pour enough oil into a frying pan to come 3/4in up the sides. Heat oil over medium-high heat and fry cigars for 10 seconds each side, until golden.
• Place the cigars on a plate lined with paper towels and allow to cool. Place the honey and remaining 1T water in a small saucepan and boil. When it is hot, lightly dip the cigars in the syrup for a minute and stir gently until well coated. Remove and arrange on a serving place. Sprinkle with crushed pistachio garnish.