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Phyllo-Custard Pie

3.9

(16)

This recipe for the classic Greek dessert called galaktoboureko is from Romeo, a delightful place in Old Town.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 10 to 12

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups sugar
2/3 cups water
2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/2 cup semolina flour*
3 cups whole milk
11 tablespoons (about) unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
10 fresh phyllo pastry sheets or frozen, thawed
*Available at specialty foods stores, Italian markets and some supermarkets.

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Stir 1 1/4 cups sugar and 2/3 cup water in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Add cinnamon sticks and 1/2 teaspoon orange peel and simmer 2 minutes. Set syrup aside to cool.

    Step 2

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix semolina and 1/2 cup sugar in heavy medium saucepan. Whisk in milk and 4 tablespoons melted butter; bring to boil, whisking occasionally. Boil until mixture is thick and creamy, whisking constantly, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk eggs and 1/2 teaspoon orange peel in medium bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in semolina mixture. Mix in vanilla. Cool filling completely.

    Step 3

    Lightly butter 10-inch glass pie dish. Place 1 phyllo sheet in bottom of dish. Brush with melted butter. Top with second sheet. Continue layering with 3 more sheets, brushing each with butter. Spoon filling into dish. Top with 5 more phyllo sheets, brushing each with butter. Using scissors, trim excess phyllo from sides of dish. With very sharp knife, score tip of phyllo sheets, forming diamond pattern.

    Step 4

    Bake pie until phyllo is golden brown and filling is set, about 45 minutes. Transfer pie to rack. Immediately strain 1 cup cooled syrup over pastry. Cool completely. Cut into wedges and serve.

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