Tiropitakia Miniature Greek Cheese Pies Recipes

GREEK FETA CHEESE TRIANGLES RECIPE (TIROPITAKIA)

Steps:

• For the beginners at working with phyllo, check the handling tips before starting.
• To prepare the tiropitakia, start by preparing the filling. Crush the feta cheese into a large bowl and add the grated cheese, the egg, a splash of milk, the yoghurt and season with freshly ground pepper. Mix well with a spoon to combine the ingredients. (At this point you can add some chopped fresh herbs if you like; some fresh dill or mint will surely lift the flavour).
• Preheat the oven at 180C and start preparing the tiropitakia.
• Spread one sheet of the phyllo dough on the kitchen counter and with a cooking brush drizzle with some melted butter or olive oil. Spread one more sheet on top and drizzle with some more butter.
• Cut the sheets into three or four lanes (depending on if you like the tiropitakia to be small or larger). At the end of each lane add one tablespoon of the filling. Fold one corner to form a triangle and continue folding the triangle upon itself, until the entire piece of phyllo is used. Continue with the rest phyllo sheets and filling.
• Oil the bottom of a large baking tray, place the tiropitakia and brush them with some melted butter on top. Bake in preheated oven at 180C for 25-30 minutes, until golden and crispy.
• Serve this delicious Greek feta cheese triangles as a great starter with some Greek salad aside.

TIROPITAKIA (LITTLE CHEESE PIES)

Steps:

• Crumble or mash the feta cheese with a fork.
• Add the grated cheese, parsley, eggs and pepper.
• Cut pastry sheets in strips about 2x12 inches.
• Stack them one on top of the other to prevent From drying.
• Brush a strip of phyllo with melted butter, lay another strip on top and brush that one with butter too.
• Put one teaspoon of the filling on the short end of the strip, facing you, and fold over one corner to make a triangle.
• Continue folding pastry strip from side to side in the shape of a triangle until the entire pastry strip covers the filling. (Remember how we were taught to fold a flag into a triangular shape? Think of that as you keep folding the dough over. You should have a nice, neat, triangular packet.)
• Proceed in this manner with remaining pastry strips and filling until all are used.
• Put"tiropitakia" on a buttered baking sheet, brush generously with melted butter and bake in a moderate oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
• Serve hot.
• You can also make these ahead, put on a baking sheet and freeze, unbaked. When frozen, just keep them in a ziploc bag and you can have tiropitakia at a moment's notice. Just add 5 more minutes to the baking time if you're using frozen ones.

TRADITIONAL TIROPITA RECIPE (GREEK CHEESE PIE WITH FETA)

Steps:

• If you choose to prepare this Greek tiropita recipe with commercial phyllo dough, it is important to thaw completely the phyllo dough by putting it in the fridge from the previous day. For the beginners at working with phyllo, check the handling tips before starting.
• Prepare the filling for the tiropita. This traditional tiropita recipe, calls for three different kind of cheese for extra flavour! Use a fork to crumble the feta cheese into a large bowl and add the beaten eggs along with the rest of the grated cheese and heavy cream. Chop some fresh mint and add to the mixture. Season with freshly ground pepper and blend well with a spoon. Place the mixture in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.
• For this tiropita recipe you will need a large baking tray, approx. 20*30 cm. Using a pastry brush, butter the bottom and sides of the tray. Place one sheet of phyllo at the bottom of the pan and with a cooking brush sprinkle some olive oil or melted butter. Repeat the procedure, adding 4-5 more sheets of phyllo dough. You will use 5-6 phyllo sheets for the bottom of the tiropita.
• Pour in the feta cheese mixture and smooth with a spatula. With a knife trim some of the excessive phyllo, and fold the excess phyllo sheets flaps over the mixture. Top the tiropita with 4-5 more phyllo sheets, making sure to oil or butter each one, before adding the other; roll in the edges. Brush the top with oil or butter, sprinkle with water and sesame seeds. If using commercial phyllo dough to make this tiropita recipe make sure to scar the top with a sharp knife, to help release the steam.
• Bake the tiropita in a preheated oven at 180C for 45-50 minutes, until the phyllo is crisp and golden. Let it cool down for a while before serving. Enjoy!

GREEK NO-FILO CHEESE PIE (TIROPITTA HORIS FILO)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C.
• In a large bowl combine butter, lightly beated eggs, baking powder, cheese, pepper, yogurt and flour.
• Stir until thoroughly blended.
• Lightly butter a wide baking pan and transfer mixture to the pan.
• Bake for 30 - 35 minutes.
• Let it cool slightly then cut into small squares.
• Serve hot or cold.

TIROPITAKIA (MINIATURE GREEK CHEESE PIES)

Steps:

• Remove the filo pastry from the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature about 1 hour.
• Make the filling by mashing the feta until it crumbles.
• Add to this the eggs, Emmenthal cheese, ricotta, parsley, mint and pepper and blend well.
• Cut each filo leaf into a strip 6 x 12" (15 x 30 cm).
• Brush each leaf with the melted butter.
• Fold the leaves in half lengthwise making strips 3 x l1" (6 x 30 cm).
• Again brush with butter and place 1 Tbsp.
• of the filling at the bottom of each leaf.
• Fold over to form a triangle (like you were folding a flag) and continue folding until the strip is completed.
• Repeat with each of the strips and place the completed triangles on a well greased cookie sheet.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Brush the tops of each triangle with butter and then with a mixture of the egg yolk and 2 Tbsp of water.
• Sprinkle over with the sesame seeds and bake in a medium oven until the pastries are golden brown and flaky (about 20- 30 minutes).
• Serve hot or cool.
• Yields 16- 24 pastries.

GREEK FETA CHEESE PIE (TIROPITA) WITH PHYLLO

Steps:

• To prepare this Greek Feta cheese pie (Tiropita) with phyllo start by buttering the baking dish and preheating the oven to 180c or 356F. Melt the butter and set it aside. Whisk three eggs and set them aside too.
• To prepare the filling, in a mixing bowl, combine crumbled Feta cheese, greek strained yoghurt, melted butter, sunflower oil, whisked eggs and seasoning. Should you wish to taste the seasoning on the filling, do so prior to adding the whisked eggs. Remember that tanginess of Feta differs between brands, and you may wish to add more salt. Mix the ingredients until combined.
• Lay two phyllo sheets on the bottom on the baking dish side by side making sure the bottom and the sides of the baking dish are covered. Set aside one phyllo sheet for the outermost pie layer. Take a couple of tablespoons worth of filling and spread it evenly all over the phyllo sheet. Repeat the process until you have run out of either filling or phyllo pastry sheets. Lay the last phyllo sheet on the pie tucking in the corners.
• Prepare the egg wash by whisking an egg with one tablespoon of water. Pierce the pie evenly and brush with the egg wash. Lay evenly the diced butter on the top phyllo. Bake the Greek Feta cheese pie (Tiropita) with phyllo at 180C (360F) for 55-60 minutes. Cover with foil at around 35 minutes to achieve a nice golden colour.
• Kali Orexi!