Sweet Custard Filo Pie (Bougatsa)
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
This is a delicious treat that can be found in every bakery and small pastry shop everywhere in Greece.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: Greek
Serves: 16
Ingredients
  • For the Custard Filo Pie:
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • --- ribbons of lemon peel
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • ⅔ cup fine semolina or wheat farina (cream of wheat)
  • ⅔ cup sugar
  • 2 lrg. eggs
  • 2 lrg. egg yolks
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 lb. filo dough, size 4 (thin), defrosted
  • --- melted butter (for brushing on the filo)
  • For the Topping:
  • --- Confectioner's sugar
  • --- ground cinnamon
Instructions
  1. In a saucepan, warm the milk and lemon peel. Bring to a boil and set aside.
  2. In a medium pot, melt the butter. Stir in the farina and mix with a wooden spoon, until fragrant and lightly brown, about 4 minutes. Gradually add the hot milk, mixing well until thoroughly blended. Next, add the sugar and stir well until the mixture is thickened. Remove from the heat and set aside, stirring occasionally to keep the custard from forming a skin on top. Allow the custard to cool slightly.
  3. In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs, egg yolks, and vanilla. Add slowly to the pot and mix well to combine. Discard the lemon rind, cover with plastic wrap, and then set the mixture aside until ready to use.
  4. Preheat the oven to 375 °F.
  5. Lightly brush a deep baking pan (15x10x2), glass or ceramic, with the melted butter. Line the bottom of the pan with 8 sheets of filo, brushing each sheet well with the melted butter. Add the custard filling. Fold the excess filo that overlap the pan in and over the custard. Using scissors, trim the remaining sheets of filo to fit the size of the pan. Top the custard with the trimmed, remaining filo, brushing each with butter. Carefully score the top few layers to form squares about 2”x2”, so you have a total of 16 pieces. (This will make it easier to cut and serve later.) Brush the top lightly with butter and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
  6. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with the Confectioner's sugar and cinnamon while hot, and allow it to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
Recipe by Marilena's Kitchen at https://marilenaskitchen.com/sweet-custard-filo-pie-bougatsa/