Filo Dough
Filo dough is a type of thin pastry used in many famous dishes in Turkish and Middle Eastern cuisine. It consists of extremely thin layers of dough stretched and layered on top of each other to form a large pastry sheet.
Filo dough is used in preparing various recipes such as borek, samosas, pastries, and Middle Eastern desserts like baklava. It is characterized by its thin and crispy texture, making it perfect for filling with a variety of ingredients and baking for delicious and flavorful recipes.
Preparation of Filo Dough
To prepare filo dough, you will need the following ingredients:
- 3 cups of flour
- 1 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 2 tablespoons of corn oil
- 1 egg
- 1/4 teaspoon of liquid vanilla
- 1 cup of warm water
Preparation Method:
1. In a large bowl, place 2 and a half cups of flour and add the salt, oil, egg, vanilla, and water.
2. Begin kneading until the ingredients are well combined, then gradually add the remaining flour until the dough becomes completely soft.
3. Shape the dough into small balls, then cover and let it rest for half an hour.
4. After resting, cut the dough into thin rectangular sheets.
5. Sprinkle starch on the dough surface and starting from the longer edge, tightly roll it.
6. Continue this process with the remaining dough.
7. Filo dough can be used to prepare a variety of dishes such as borek, samosas, pastries, and Middle Eastern desserts.
Usage Tips:
- Before using filo dough, make sure to handle it carefully to maintain its softness and crispiness.
- To prevent unused filo dough from drying out, it should be covered with a damp cloth or plastic wrap.
- Filo dough can be used to prepare appetizers such as cheese-filled rolls or meat-filled rolls, in addition to Middle Eastern desserts like baklava.
Storage Method:
- Frozen filo dough can be stored in the top of the refrigerator for up to a year.
- Place the dough in the refrigerator two days before use to thaw, and avoid thawing it at room temperature to prevent the layers from sticking together.
Delicious Recipes with Filo Dough
.jpeg "Delicious Recipes with Filo Dough: Borek, Samosa, Baklava, and Pastry")
Samosas with Meat
Ingredients:
- 500 grams minced meat
- 1 medium-sized onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon of spices (such as cumin, coriander, black pepper)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of canned tomatoes
- Filo dough
- Melted butter for brushing
Preparation Method:
1. In a skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil then add the onion and sauté until translucent.
2. Add the minced garlic and sauté for a minute until lightly browned.
3. Add the minced meat and cook until fully cooked and turns light brown.
4. Add the spices, salt, and black pepper, and stir well until the flavors blend.
5. Add the canned tomatoes and stir them with the meat for 5 minutes, then let the mixture cool.
6. Cut the filo dough into small squares.
7. Place a teaspoon of the filling in the center of each filo square.
8. Fold the dough over the filling to form a triangle and press the edges tightly to seal the samosa.
9. Place the samosas on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
10. Before putting them in the oven, brush the samosas with melted butter.
11. Bake the samosas in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
Tips:- You can prepare the filling in advance and store it in the refrigerator to save time.- A variety of fillings can be used according to preference, such as cheese or spinach.- Serve the hot samosas with tomato sauce or whipped yogurt.
Almond Baklava
.jpeg "Delicious Recipes with Filo Dough: Borek, Samosa, Baklava, and Pastry")
Ingredients:
- 500 grams of filo pastry sheets
- 350 grams of ground almonds
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1 cup of melted butter
- 1 cup of hot syrup (water, sugar, and a little lemon juice)
Preparation Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius before starting.
2. In a large bowl, mix the ground almonds with sugar and cinnamon.
3. Place a layer of filo pastry in a buttered baking dish, then brush it with melted butter.
4. Place another layer of filo pastry and brush it with butter.
5. Repeat this process to form two layers of pastry.
6. Then, sprinkle a thick layer of the almond mixture (almonds, sugar, cinnamon) over the pastry.
7. Cover the filling with two additional layers of filo pastry and brush with butter.
8. Continue layering until all the filo pastry and filling are used.
9. Using a sharp knife, cut the baklava into squares or rectangles.
10. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake the baklava for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown.
11. After removing it from the oven, pour the hot syrup over the baklava gently.
12. Let the baklava cool slightly, then cut it into small pieces before serving.
13. Serve the baklava with a cup of hot tea and enjoy the delicious taste.
Tips:- You can store the baklava in an airtight container to preserve its flavor for several days.- You can garnish the baklava with some toasted almonds before serving for added aesthetics.
Meat and Cheese Pastry
.jpeg "Delicious Recipes with Filo Dough: Borek, Samosa, Baklava, and Pastry")
Ingredients:
- Filo dough
- 250 grams minced meat
- 1 medium-sized onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon of spices (cumin, black pepper, cinnamon, salt, red pepper)
- 100 grams shredded mozzarella cheese
- 50 grams shredded parmesan cheese
- Melted butter for brushing
Preparation Method:
1. In a skillet over medium heat, heat the oil and add the onion, sauté until translucent.
2. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
3. Add the minced meat and cook until browned.
4. Add the spices and stir for two minutes until the flavors blend, then let the mixture cool.
5. Cut the filo dough into small rectangles.
6. Place a spoonful of the meat mixture at one end of each piece of dough.
7. Sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan cheese over the meat.
8. Roll the filo dough around the filling and shape it into a triangle.
9. Brush the top with melted butter.
10. Place the pastry on a baking tray and bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 20-25 minutes or fry it until golden brown and crispy.
11. Serve the pastry hot as a snack or main dish with tomato sauce or fresh salad.
Tips:- You can use any type of cheese according to your preferences, such as cheddar or feta cheese.- You can add your favorite vegetables to the meat mixture, such as sweet peppers or mushrooms.- Make sure to cover the dough completely with butter for a beautiful golden color and crispiness.
Cheese Borek
.jpeg "Delicious Recipes with Filo Dough: Borek, Samosa, Baklava, and Pastry")
Ingredients:
- 500 grams of filo dough
- 2 cups of vegetable oil for frying
Filling Ingredients:
- 250 grams of feta cheese
- 500 grams of mozzarella cheese
- Half a cup of fresh parsley
- A teaspoon of nigella seeds
- Half a cup of vegetable oil
- A cup of liquid milk
- A tablespoon of white vinegar
- Two eggs
- A pinch of salt and black pepper
Preparation Method:
1. Crumble the feta cheese and mozzarella cheese into a large bowl, then add the nigella seeds and parsley and mix well.
2. In another bowl, beat the eggs and add the milk, oil, vinegar, salt, and black pepper, and mix well.
3. Cut the filo dough into rectangles, and place several layers of dough on top of each other.
4. Brush the sheets with the egg and milk mixture, then stuff one end of the rectangle with a tablespoon of the filling.
5. Close the empty end of the filling, and use a fork to press the edges of the dough and shape it, repeating this step until the filling is used up.
6. Heat the oil in a wide skillet and fry the borek until golden brown, then drain them from the oil and serve hot.
Tips:- While making the filo dough, make sure to add starch to prevent the dough from sticking.- You can use the same method to make baklava as well, whether walnut, almond, pistachio, or cashew.
Enjoy your meal!
Greetings to you | Home Recipes Kitchen | Chef Mahmoud Abdel Jalil | Looking forward to your feedback on our recipes and waiting for your comments.
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