Phyllo Knots With Goat Cheese And Spinach Recipes

WARM GOAT CHEESE IN PHYLLO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Unroll the sheets of phyllo dough on a flat surface and cover them with a slightly damp towel. (If the towel is too wet, the dough will get sticky.) Working quickly so the dough doesn't dry out, place one sheet of phyllo on a board, brush lightly with melted butter, and sprinkle lightly with bread crumbs. Place a second sheet of phyllo on top, brush with melted butter, and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Continue until you have 4 sheets stacked up. Cut the sheets in half crosswise to make 2 almost-squares.
• Cut one of the goat cheeses in half horizontally, making 2 thin discs. Place each disc in the center of one phyllo square. Starting at one corner, fold the phyllo up over the cheese and continue folding and pleating the phyllo around the cheese, as though you're wrapping a round gift that's tied on top. You will end with extra phyllo dough on top; twist the excess into a topknot. Brush the discs all over with melted butter and place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Continue with the remaining phyllo dough and 2 goat cheese discs to make 4 additional packages.
• Bake for 20 minutes, until the phyllo is lightly browned. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.
• While the cheese packages bake, place the salad greens in a large bowl. Whisk the vinegar, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl. Still whisking, slowly add the olive oil, making an emulsion. Toss the salad greens with enough vinaigrette to moisten.
• Distribute the salad among 6 plates and place one warm goat cheese package in the center of each plate. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve.

PHYLLO KNOTS WITH GOAT CHEESE AND SPINACH

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium heat, cook scallions in oil until soft. Add spinach and reserved liquid; cook until warm. Transfer mixture to a thin kitchen towel or cheesecloth; wring liquid into a bowl. Reserve 2 tablespoons liquid, discard the rest. Cool spinach to room temperature.
• Process spinach, reserved spinach liquid, parsley, dill, goat cheese, eggs, and salt and pepper to taste in a food processor until combined.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees.with two racks. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a #2 tip (or a 3/8-inch-diameter coupler) with spinach mixture. Set aside. Place phyllo flat between two damp kitchen towels. Lay another damp kitchen towel on work surface. Place one phyllo sheet on towel (re-cover remaining phyllo to prevent drying). Brush with butter. Place a second sheet on top; brush with butter. Cut phyllo in half lengthwise and then crosswise to make four pieces. Pipe a line of filling across top of each piece, leaving 1 1/4 inches on each end. Roll each piece into a tube starting with top-filling side and rolling down toward you, brushing phyllo with butter. Brush completed tube with butter; gently tie into a loose knot.
• Place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Brush tops with butter. Bake until golden, 15 to 20 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking. Transfer to cooling racks. Serve warm or at room temperature.

GOAT CHEESE TART ON PHYLLO

Steps:

• Remove phyllo dough from package and cover with a dry towel. Using a pastry brush, spread olive oil on 1sheet of dough. Place another sheet on top and brush with more oil. Repeat 3 more times to finish with 5 layers. Cut the dough into 4 equal squares. Place each square on an inverted ramekin on a sheet pan. Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 5 to 8 minutes or until golden brown.
• Make the vinaigrette by simply mixing all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl.
• Cut the 8 ounces of goat cheese into 4 equal parts. Place the goat cheese into the phyllo "cup" and put in a 300 degree oven for about 2 minutes. Remove from oven and place onto a plate. Toss the greens with the vinaigrette and place on top the cheese. Serve immediately.

SPINACH AND GOAT CHEESE TARTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Melt 1 tablespoon butter. Place 1 phyllo sheet on a clean surface (cover the other sheets with a damp towel), brush with melted butter and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon parmesan. Cover with another phyllo sheet, brush with more butter and sprinkle with another teaspoon parmesan. Top with the remaining phyllo sheet and brush with butter. Cut the phyllo stack into 24 squares, about 3 inches each. Brush a 24-cup mini muffin tin with oil, then firmly press a phyllo square, buttered-side down, into each cup. Bake until golden, 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallot and garlic and cook until translucent. Stir in the flour, then add the milk and stir until the mixture is smooth, 1 minute. Add the nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Stir in the goat cheese, lemon zest and vinegar until the cheese melts. Remove from the heat and mix in the egg yolks, then the spinach.
• Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks and fold into the spinach filling. Spoon about 1 tablespoon filling into each phyllo cup and top with the remaining parmesan. Bake until the filling is set, 15 minutes. Cool slightly in the pan; remove and top with the chives.