Greek Croustade Recipes

MUSHROOM CROUSTADES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Generously butter (or spray with butter-flavored Pam) 48 mini-muffin tins.
• Cut a 2-inch round from each slice of bread and press into muffin tins. Bake for 6 to 7 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove from tins and cool on a wire rack.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add onions and mushrooms and cook until tender and the moisture from the mushrooms has evaporated. Sprinkle with flour; stir thoroughly, reduce heat to low and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add cream and stir constantly while bringing to a boil. Add wine, reduce heat and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and stir in cayenne pepper, parsley and green onion. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spoon mushroom filling into croustades and place on a large cookie sheet. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Heat in oven for 10 minutes or until bubbly.

SAVORY CROSTATA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Heat an oven-proof 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and onions and reduce the heat to medium. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are a dark golden-brown, about 15 minutes. Season with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Stir in the balsamic and sprinkle the oregano over the top. Turn off the heat and spread the onions evenly over the bottom of the pan, using a rubber spatula.
• Place the ricotta in a small bowl. Season with 1/8 teaspoon each kosher salt and black pepper. Dollop the ricotta over the onions in 8 to 10 places. Using a fork, prick the puff pasty a few times evenly. Place the puff pastry over the top of the filling, pressing down gently to make sure the dough is touching the ricotta and onions.
• Bake until the pastry is puffed and golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and cover with a plate slightly larger than the skillet. Invert the crostata onto the plate, replacing any onions that may have stuck to the pan. Set aside to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, dress the arugula with the lemon juice. Sprinkle the arugula over the cooled crostata and nestle the tomatoes into the onions. Slice into wedges or squares and serve.

GREEK STYLE CROUSTADE

Steps:

• Cook spinach acc to pkg directions; drain well and squeeze out all liquid.
• In saucepan, cook onion in the 3 T butter; stir in flour, tarragon, and pepper.
• Add milk all at once;cook and stir until thick and bubbly.
• Stir half the hot mixture into eggs, return all to saucepan.
• Stir in spinach, cottage cheese and feta cheese.
• Brush 1 sheet of phyllo dough with butter, fold into thirds.
• Place one end in center of 14in pizza pan, extending sheet over the edge of the pan.
• Brush with butter.
• Repeat until all 10 sheets of dough are used.
• Make sure middle of pan is covered with dough.
• Place filling in an 8in circle at the center of pan.
• Starting with the last sheet you laid, lift end up and bring toward center, twist the end of the sheet, coil, and tuck under.
• Repeat with remaining sheets.
• Sheets will not meet in the center, center will be open.
• Drizzle any remaining butter over top.
• Bake at 375* for 35 minutes, until golden.
• Cut into wedges.

GREEK CROUSTADE [BHG 1983]

Steps:

• For filling
• In a saucepan cook onion in 2 tablespoons of butter until tender. Stir in flour, tarragon, and black pepper. Add milk all at once; cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Stir half of hot mixture into egg; return all to saucepan. Cook and stir for 1 minute more (don't boil!) Remove from heat, stir in spinach and feta then set aside.
• -.
• Preheat oven to 375°F Brush a 12-inch pizza pan with some of the 1/3 cup melted butter; set aside. Unroll phyllo dough; remove 1 sheet of the phyllo dough at a time (As you work, cover remaining phyllo dough with plastic wrap to to prevent it from drying out) Lightly brush the first sheet with remainder of butter fold phyllo into thirds lengthwise to form a strip; brush the top butter. Place one end of strip in center of prepared pan, extending it over side of pan. Repeat with remaining phyllo dough and butter arranging strips spoke-fashion evenly around pan. (ends of strips will overlap in center and be about 3 inches apart at outer edges).