Phyllo Crisps Recipes

PHYLLO CRISPS

Steps:

• Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Have a second baking sheet ready.
• Combine the orange zest with the sugar in a small bowl, using your fingertips to rub the orange zest into the sugar to release its essential oils. Add the cinnamon and cardamom and mix to combine.
• Place 2 sheets phyllo on the parchment-lined baking sheet. (When working with phyllo, always keep a clean, moist kitchen towel over the stack of dough that you're not handling. Phyllo is very thin and will dry out quickly, becoming brittle and impossible to work with.) Using a pastry brush, gently apply a thin layer of melted butter to the top sheet of phyllo and sprinkle liberally with some spiced sugar. Place another 2 sheets phyllo dough on top of the first layer and press lightly. Brush with a little more melted butter and sprinkle with more spiced sugar. Then top with 2 sheets phyllo and, once again, lightly brush with butter and sprinkle with spiced sugar. You may have some leftover spiced sugar.
• Completely cover the layered phyllo with damp paper towels or plastic wrap to prevent the fragile phyllo dough from drying out and cracking and refrigerate until the butter returns to a solid state, at least 10 minutes. (Don't worry, the sugar didn't stick to the damp paper towels, even though we thought it might.)
• Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C).
• When the butter is solid, remove and discard the paper towels or plastic wrap. Using a pizza cutter or a very sharp knife, cut the layers into approximately 2-inch (5-centimeter) squares. Cover with a sheet of parchment paper and the second baking sheet to weight the phyllo for baking- this ensures that they puff just enough to be flaky while still maintaining a crisp, linear look.
• Bake the phyllo crisps for 10 minutes. The crisps should be lightly browned, especially along the edges. Remove the top baking sheet and rotate the bottom baking sheet 180°, then bake for another 10 to 12 minutes, until the crisps become evenly golden, crisp, and flaky.
• While the crisps are baking, place the honey in the microwave for 20 seconds or in a small saucepan over low heat for 1 minute. You want the honey to be warm and runny and spreadable.
• Immediately after removing the phyllo crisps from the oven, brush them with the warm honey and sprinkle with a pinch granulated sugar (or, if desired, any leftover spiced sugar). Let cool at room temperature. The crisps are best served fresh that day but can be covered with parchment paper and kept overnight at room temperature.

PHYLLO PECAN CRISPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a food processor grind pecans with sugar until finely chopped. In a piece of parchment paper on a work surface arrange 1 phyllo sheet and brush with some butter. Sprinkle phyllo sheet evenly with half of pecan sugar and top with a second phyllo sheet, some butter, remaining pecan sugar, and remaining phyllo sheet, pressing down gently with your fingers and brushing with some butter. Slide a baking sheet under parchment and chill phyllo 10 minutes.
• Transfer phyllo with parchment to a cutting board and with sharp knife cut stack lengthwise into 2-inch-wide strips, cutting through parchment and discarding excess. Cut each rectangle diagonally in half and transfer triangles on parchment to baking sheet, separating triangles slightly. Cover triangles directly with another parchment sheet and bake in lower third of oven 15 minutes, or until golden. Cool crisps on baking sheet on a rack. Crisps keep in an airtight container at room temperature 1 week.

HERB PHYLLO CRISP

Steps:

• For ratatouille: Saute each vegetable in olive oil separately until tender. Return the vegetables to a large saucepan, adding garlic, tomatoes, tomato juice and remaining olive oil. Reduce by two thirds or until liquid is like a paste. Season with salt and pepper and add a handful of chopped herbs. Allow to cool completely. Herb phyllo crisp: Working with phyllo can be tricky for a first time user, but if you'll remember a few simple steps you will always have success.
• a. Never buy just one box, since some sheets are torn or matted together.
• b. Make sure the box is completely thawed out before attempting any dish.
• c. Always cover sheets not being used with a damp cloth towel; phyllo will dry out and turn to cracker mill right before your eyes.
• Unfold phyllo sheets out of the box and cover with a wet cloth. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place chopped herbs in a workable container, pour melted butter into a workable container, have your paint brush ready, then clean your work space. The idea is to layer melted butter and chopped herbs in between layers of phyllo, brush with melted butter, sprinkle with chopped herbs and repeat for 3 layers. With a sharp knife, cut 6 even strips going vertically and then cut 4 even strips horizontally, making 24 even squares.
• Carefully mold each square into each space of the muffin pan until all are completed. Place in the middle rack and bake for 2 to 3 1/2 minutes. They cook very quickly. Remove from pan. Repeat this step until you have enough phyllo crisps for your party.
• Fill herb phyllo crisps with room temperature ratatouille, a small spoon of goat cheese, and you are ready to serve.

PISTACHIO PHYLLO CRISPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Finely grind pistachios in an electric coffee/spice grinder, then stir in sugar.
• Cut phyllo sheet crosswise into 3 equal pieces, then stack pieces between wax paper and cover stack With a lightly dampened kitchen towel. Arrange 1 piece of phyllo on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet and brush with some butter. Sprinkle with half of pistachio sugar and top with another piece of phyllo. Brush phyllo with some butter and sprinkle with remaining pistachio sugar. Top with remaining piece of phyllo, pressing down gently, and brush with some butter. Chill stack 10 minutes.
• Using rim of a ramekin as a guide, cut out 2 (4-inch) rounds with a sharp paring knife and discard scraps. Cover rounds with a piece of parchment and bake in middle of oven until golden, about 10 minutes. Cool crisps on baking sheet on a rack.

PEAR AND APPLE PHYLLO CRISP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees with a rack in top position. Combine pecans, breadcrumbs, sugar, and cinnamon.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment, and top with 1 phyllo sheet. Brush phyllo all over with butter, and sprinkle pecan mixture evenly over top. Repeat 4 times. Top with remaining phyllo sheet, and brush with all but 2 tablespoons butter.
• Slice pears and apples 1/8 inch thick; discard seeds. Arrange pear and apple slices in a single layer on phyllo, leaving space between fruit and a 1/4-inch border around edges. Brush fruit with reserved 2 tablespoons butter. Sprinkle with sugar, and dust with cinnamon. Bake, rotating sheet halfway through, until phyllo is golden brown and fruit is soft, 28 to 32 minutes. Let cool slightly. Cut into 8 pieces.

HOMEMADE PHYLLO (OR FILO) DOUGH

Steps:

• Place 2 cups flour in a mixing bowl; make a well in the center. Drizzle in olive oil and add salt; add white wine vinegar and warm water. Mix until dough just comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, 1 or 2 minutes. Transfer dough ball to a lightly floured work surface.
• Knead until dough is smooth, using just enough flour to keep it from sticking to the work surface or your hands, 2 or 3 minutes. Continue to knead until dough is supple and elastic, about 5 more minutes. Wrap dough ball in plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature, 1 to 2 hours.
• Divide dough into 20 (20 gram) portions using a kitchen scale; roll each portion into a ball. Place on plate and cover with plastic wrap to prevent dough balls from drying out while you begin to roll them out. Work in batches of 5.
• Mix cornstarch and 2 tablespoons flour together in a bowl. Dust a work surface and the first dough ball with the cornstarch mixture. Flatten out the dough ball and roll out into a circle, about 5 inches in diameter. Dust again with cornstarch mixture. Set circle to one side. Roll out 4 more dough balls to about the same diameter and stack them on the first one, dusting each layer with more of the cornstarch mixture to keep them from sticking together.
• When you have 5 circles, roll out the stack to a larger circle about double in size, turning as you go to maintain a round shape. Separate each layer and lay out the circles. Re-apply more cornstarch mixture where needed and restack them. Roll again until the 5-layer stack is paper thin, about 10 to 12 inches in diameter. Place on a sheet of parchment paper; top with another piece of parchment. Gently roll up the dough; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate.
• Repeat with the remaining 15 balls of dough in batches of 5.

SAUTEED MUSHROOMS IN PHYLLO CRISPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees with the rack positioned in the center. Melt 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, and set aside. Set 2 tablespoons of the thyme aside. Brush a mini-muffin tin with melted butter, and set tin aside.
• Place 1 sheet phyllo dough on a clean, dry work surface; brush the entire sheet generously with melted butter. Sprinkle lightly with reserved thyme. Place another sheet phyllo on top, brush with butter, and sprinkle with thyme. Repeat with 2 more sheets phyllo. Cut stack into twelve 3-inch squares. Gently press each square into muffin-tin cup. Bake until edges are just golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Repeat step two with 4 more sheets phyllo dough, melted butter, and thyme. Repeat again, for a total of 36 crisps. (The crisps may be made one day ahead and kept in an airtight container.)
• In a large skillet, melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add shallots, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in mushrooms, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons thyme. Continue cooking, stirring often, until mushrooms have released some liquid and have cooked through, about 5 minutes.
• Place 1/4 teaspoon goat cheese in the bottom of each phyllo crisp, and place 1 heaping teaspoon of the mushroom mixture on top of the goat cheese. Transfer the filled cups to a baking sheet. Cook in oven just until heated through, about 3 minutes. Garnish with more thyme, and serve.