Description
Irresistible Middle Eastern “oven baked feta rolls” dance with sweet and spicy flavors, creating a mouthwatering appetizer that blends creamy cheese and golden pastry. Crisp phyllo layers drizzled with chili-infused honey promise a delectable experience you won’t forget.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 6 sheets phyllo pastry, halved
Seasoning and Herbs:
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
Sauce and Brushing:
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup melted butter or olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
Instructions
- Create a creamy cheese mixture by blending crumbled feta, ricotta, and chopped thyme in a mixing bowl until smooth and uniform.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and prepare a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Lay out a phyllo sheet on a clean workspace, keeping remaining sheets covered with a damp towel to prevent drying.
- Delicately brush the phyllo sheet with melted butter, ensuring an even, light coating.
- Position a generous tablespoon of cheese mixture near one edge of the phyllo sheet.
- Carefully fold the side edges inward to contain the filling.
- Roll the sheet tightly and uniformly, creating a neat, compact cylinder.
- Place the roll seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
- Repeat the rolling process with remaining phyllo sheets and cheese mixture.
- Lightly glaze the exterior of each roll with additional melted butter.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until achieving a golden, crispy exterior.
- Simultaneously, gently warm honey in a small saucepan over low heat.
- Incorporate red chili flakes into the warming honey, allowing flavors to meld for 1-2 minutes.
- Remove chili-infused honey from heat and let rest.
- Once rolls are baked, drizzle with warm chili honey or serve as a dipping sauce.
- Serve immediately while rolls remain warm and crisp for optimal taste and texture.
Notes
- Choose high-quality feta and ricotta for maximum flavor complexity and creamy texture.
- Work quickly with phyllo pastry to prevent drying and cracking, keeping unused sheets covered with a damp kitchen towel.
- Experiment with alternative cheese combinations like goat cheese or ricotta mixed with herbs for unique flavor profiles.
- For gluten-free options, replace phyllo with gluten-free wrappers or use thinly sliced zucchini as an alternative roll base.
- Adjust chili honey heat level by increasing or decreasing red pepper flakes according to personal spice tolerance.
- Prepare cheese mixture ahead of time and refrigerate for more convenient assembly and enhanced flavor melding.
- Use parchment paper for easy cleanup and preventing rolls from sticking to the baking sheet.
- Serve immediately after baking to maintain crispy exterior and warm, gooey cheese interior.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15–20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 345 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg