Balkan Filo Cheese Pie for Your Holiday Table
 
Prep time
Cook time
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A traditional filo cheese pie, very popular in the Balkans, made with Feta cheese, yogurt and eggs. It’s perfect for breakfast or as a snack and it’s best enjoyed warm!
Author:
Recipe type: Appetizer
Cuisine: Balkan/Mediterranean
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 12 oz. Greek Feta cheese, crumbled
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup Greek yogurt
  • ¼ tsp. sea salt
  • ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp. baking soda
  • 1lb. package filo pastry (I used organic Fillo Factory)
  • 3-4 oz. butter
  • 2 TBSP. extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 360℉.
  2. Remove the filo pastry from the refrigerator (where it should be thawed from the night before). Place it on the counter, but do not open the package until your filling is ready.
  3. Crumble the Greek Feta with a fork and set it aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs and then mix in the yogurt, salt, pepper and baking soda. Add the Feta cheese into the egg mixture.
  4. Melt the butter and allow it to cool. Brush some of the melted butter on the bottom and sides of an oven-safe 9” x 13” baking sheet. Remove the filo sheets from the package and place them on a clean surface. Keep them covered with a piece of plastic and a kitchen towel, while you work with each filo sheet.
  5. Spread one sheet of filo on the counter in front of you, with the narrower side facing you. Brush some of the melted butter over the sheet (it does not have to cover the entire filo). Top the sheet with a second one and lightly butter it as well. Spoon some of the Feta mixture (about ½ cup) over the top filo layer and spread it around. Lift the edge that is closest to you and roll it away from you, enclosing the filling and forming a little log. Repeat this with more filo to create five filo rolls in total.
  6. Spread one sheet of filo on the buttered pan, scrunching it as needed to cover the base of the pan. Lightly brush it with some butter. Place the five filo rolls on top of that one sheet of filo lengthwise, each touching the other. Brush the top with some olive oil and transfer in the oven.
  7. Bake in the middle rack for 30-35 minutes, or, until it is golden brown and puffed over the top of the pan. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly before slicing each log into bite-sized pieces. Enjoy!
Recipe by Marilena's Kitchen at https://marilenaskitchen.com/balkan-filo-cheese-pie/