A.K.A

filo or fillo dough

What is it?

Phyllo is a tissue-thin dough used widely in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking. Made from flour, water, and a little bit of oil, paper-thin sheets of phyllo dough are usually layered and brushed with butter to create that characteristicly crisp, flaky, golden-brown pastry we see in popular dishes like spanakopita and baklava.

Phyllo dough is not to be mistaken forpuff pasty, which is also commonly sold frozen. Both are flaky and crisp, but puff pastry is buttery, soft, and of course, puffy, where phyllo dough is not. The two are generally not interchangeable.

How to store:

Frozen phyllo can be stored for up to a year. Just leave yourself enough time to thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before using. Do not attempt to refreeze phyllo, it will become brittle.

Recipes

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  Recipe

  Kale and Caramelized Onion Turnovers with Lemon and Pine Nuts

  Slowly sautéing onions brings out a deep, sweet caramelized flavor that works wonderfully with the earthy kale, tangy lemon, and crisp, buttery phyllo.

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  Recipe

  Roasted Red Pepper Pinwheels

  Middle Eastern muhammara, a delicious roasted red pepper and walnut dip, fills these pinwheels, and the garnish of fresh chopped arugula gives them a bright finish.

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  Recipe

  Pancetta and Parmesan Tartlets with Basil and Cherry Tomatoes

  Crossing Mediterranean borders, this dish merges Greek phyllo with Italian influences in delicate and crisp tartlets. If you want a smoky flavor, substitute American bacon for the pancetta. Serve with…

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  Recipe

  Spicy Beef Rolls

  Flaky cigar-shaped phyllo rolls filled with meat seasoned with the warm spices of cumin, cinnamon, allspice, and cayenne are delightful when served with refreshing tzatziki or your favorite marinara sauce…

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  Ricotta and Goat Cheese Tart with Fresh Figs

  The flavors of this tart are second only to its beautiful presentation. You can substitute sunflower seeds for the pumpkin seeds, if you like.

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  Pistachio Phyllo Bites

  Reminiscent of baklava, these treats are ready in minutes. A perfect sweet bite to cap off a meal, they look especially pretty garnished with a bright green raw pistachio.

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  Recipe

  Dukka Goat-Cheese Cheesecake

  Dukka is an Egyptian spice mixture, often used as a dip for flatbreads--first into olive oil, then into this heady, fragrant blend. This cheesecake recipe takes advantage of its unusual,…

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  Recipe

  Greek Spinach & Feta Pie (Spanakopita) Recipe

  Spanakopitacan also be made with other greens, such as dandelion or chard, in place of spinach. You can use 1 lb. frozen chopped spinach instead of fresh. Thaw the…

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  Recipe

  Hazelnut & Chocolate Baklava with Espresso-Frangelico Syrup

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  Recipe

  Apricot & Pistachio Baklava with Orange-Cardamom Syrup

  This variation of the classic baklava injects a tart, citrusy note into the sweet, flaky layers.