I've been making these recently, with some success:
Greek
Pies with Feta and Greens
INGREDIENTS
FOR
THE PHYLLO DOUGH:
3 cups/375
grams all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon
kosher salt
¼ cup
+ 1 T. olive oil
3 tablespoons (white
wine) vinegar
½
c water
Cornstarch
or rice flour, for dusting
FOR
THE FILLING:
one small bunch kale
1 cup/30
grams chopped parsley
½ cup/15
grams finely chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon fresh Greek oregano
Salt
and pepper
Crushed red pepper
1 cup/120
grams crumbled feta cheese
Olive
oil, for brushing
PREPARATION
Make
the phyllo dough: combine flour and salt in the work bowl of a stand
mixer fitted with dough hook. Add olive oil, vinegar and 1/2 cup
cold water (or one jumbo egg and quarter cup water). Mix at medium
speed for about 5 minutes to obtain a smooth soft dough. If the
dough seems dry, add up to 3 tablespoons more water. Wrap in plastic
film and let rest for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile,
make the filling: Blanch greens in salted boiling water for 30
seconds. Drain, rinse with cool water, squeeze dry and chop fine. In
a small bowl, put chopped greens, parsley, dill, oregano, black
pepper to taste, a pinch of crushed chile and feta. Mix with a fork
to combine.
Give
dough a quick knead and divide into 6 pieces. Dust dough with
cornstarch or rice flour, then roll each piece of dough as thinly as
possible, stretching gradually to a diameter of 16 inches.
Alternatively, roll dough to the thinnest possible setting of a
pasta machine. Cut each circle in half and dust pieces with
cornstarch or rice flour and stack off to the side. Alternatively,
roll dough to the thinnest possible setting of a pasta machine
and make smaller pies.
Assemble
the pies: Put a ridged stovetop grill or cast-iron skillet over
medium-high heat. For each pie, lay one sheet phyllo on work surface
and brush with olive oil. Cover half the sheet lightly with filling,
using 3 to 4 tablespoons of mixture per pie. Fold over the other
side and press down to seal pie. It will be a rough, very flat
triangle shape.
Brush
both exterior sides with olive oil, carefully lay pie on the grill
and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until golden and crisp (reduce heat as
necessary). Flip pie and cook the other side for 3 to 4 minutes,
until golden and crisp. Remove and serve warm, cut into smaller
pieces if desired. Continue to make pies with remaining ingredients.
I've been adding finely chopped red onion to the mix, as well as a small fennel bulb that I had laying around from our share. I've also brushed the pastries with oil and baked them because the onion wasn't cooking fully when I just fried the pies. Of course, I could also precook the onions, just like I blanch the greens first.
At any rate, Once I make a batch of filling, I end up with enough to fill several pies, esp. having added the onion and some additional feta (I sometimes double the feta). These pies are really quite delicious, as K, Peter, and I know from having tasted various versions of them. I've also taken to adding more parsley, as well as chives instead of onions when I'm out of onions. A big part of what makes them easy to eat is the vinegar in the pastry, because since the crust has a pleasant flavor, it's find just to eat it when the filling is not in every bite.
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