* Exported from MasterCook *
BIRD'S NESTS WITH CHEESE
Recipe By :
Serving Size : 4 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Greek
Amount Measure Ingredient
-- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
-----FILLING-----
2
Eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 c
Cheese, parmesan, grated
2 tb
Cheese, ricotta
2 ts
Mint, fresh, chopped OR
1/2 ts
Mint, dried
1 pn
Pepper, black, ground
-----PASTRY AND GARNISH-----
8
Pastry, phyllo, sheets
1/2 c
Butter, clarified **
3/4 c
Cheese, Kasseri, crumbled OR
3/4 c
Cheese, feta, crumbled
8
Olives, calamata (garnish)
** See "Clarified Butter" recipe.
Filling:
˙˙˙
In mixing bowl, combine eggs,
Parmesan, ricotta, mint and pepper.
Set aside.
Preheat oven to 375 F.
Cut phyllo pastry sheets in half
crosswise and cover with waxed
paper and a lightly dampened kitchen towel.
Place 2 half sheets of phyllo, one on
top of the other,
horizontally on a work surface, trim off and discard a 1 inch strip
from 1 short edge of sheets.
Pull top sheet toward you so that it
overlaps bottom sheet by
about 1 1/2 inches. Dot exposed surfaces with clarified
butter.
Place a 1/2 inch diameter dowel or
no. 11 knitting needle about
1 1/2 inches from long edge farthest from you. Fold edge over
dowel.
Spread about 1 teaspoon of filling
along edge of folded flap.
Fold dowel over filling; then
carefully roll up phyllo toward
you, leaving 1 1/2 inch strip at bottom edge.
Holding edges of the pastry at ends
of dowel, gently press them
toward center, forming pleats as you would on a curtain rod.
(Do not worry if some filling oozes
out.)
Firmly holding ends of pastry to
maintain pleats, carefully pull
out dowel. Bring rolled edges of pastry around, forming a
circle; the
unrolled border will form bottom of each bird's nest.
Transfer bird's nest to ungreased
baking sheet. Brush all
exposed surfaces of pastry generously with clarified butter.
Bake
until golden, about 15 minutes.
Remove baking sheet from oven and
place about 1 1/2 tablespoons
of Kasseri in center of each nest. Return to oven until
cheese is
bubbly. 3 to 4 minutes.
Place an olive in center of each nest.
Serve hot.
Source: New York's Master Chefs,
Bon Appetit Magazine
: Written by Richard Sax,
Photographs by Nancy McFarland
: The Knapp Press, Los Angeles,
1985
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