Savory Kataifi Rolls with Ham and Cheese
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
An incredibly delightful appetizer with a delicious cheese and ham filling and a crispy kataifi pastry wrapped around it!
Author:
Recipe type: Appetizer
Cuisine: Greek/Mediterranean
Serves: 16 pieces
Ingredients
  • 1 package kataifi pastry (I use Fillo Factory), thawed
  • 4 oz. Greek Feta cheese, drained and crumbled
  • 2 oz. Gruyère cheese (or, Greek graviera), grated
  • 2 oz. Perocrino cheese (or, Greek kefalotiri), grated
  • 3 oz. ham, chopped
  • 1 extra large egg, (or, two large)
  • 6 oz. butter, melted
  • --- honey for drizzling
  • --- pistachios, chopped for topping
  • --- rose petals, for decorating (optional)
Instructions
  1. Bring your thawed kataifi to room temperature for an hour, without removing from the package.
  2. In a medium bowl, place all ingredients for the filling and mix gently. Refrigerate for half an hour.
  3. Prepare an 8" by 8" baking pan (or, two smaller ones), by brushing some butter all over the base and sides of the pan.
  4. Preheat the oven to 360° F.
  5. Open the package and pull out small bundles of kataifi and place on a clean work surface. Using scissors cut them to about 10”long and about 2½” wide.
  6. Place one tablespoon of the cheese mixture at the end of one bundle. Brush the strand with some melted butter. Roll the kataifi up, folding the sides inwards to cover the filling and form a small, tight roll. Lightly wet your hands and squeeze each roll to ensure the pastry binds together and holds its shape during cooking. Place on the prepared pan.
  7. Repeat with the rest of the kataifi bundles until you finish all your filling (you will still have some leftover kataifi, wrap it well and return the the refrigerator). Place the rolls, seam down on the pan, close to each other. Brush the tops generously with more melted butter.
  8. Bake the kataifi rolls until golden brown, about 40 minutes.
  9. Remove from the oven, drizzle with some honey and sprinkle some chopped pistachios on top.
  10. Serve warm or at room temperature. A light dusting of culinary rose petals is optional.
Recipe by Marilena's Kitchen at https://marilenaskitchen.com/savory-kataifi-rolls-with-ham-and-cheese/