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Homemade Flaky butter phyllo for Greek pies

Homemade Flaky butter phyllo for Greek pies

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This homemade flaky, butter phyllo is a simplified way of making dough similar to puff pastry, which makes it ideal for Greek Pites (pies).

Although this butter phyllo does not puff as much as puff pastry, by making it with layers of butter between each phyllo, when baked each phyllo will form many flaky, tender layers as compared to regular phyllo dough.

It is the perfect phyllo to make homemade pies such as Spanakopita, tyropita, kreatopita (meat pie) and many more.

Ideally make this pastry the day before using so you have time ahead of you.  You can make the phyllo rolling it by hand or using a pasta machine.

Pizza Dough picture

How to make Phyllo with Butter

Step 1: Prepare the dough

Attach the dough attachment on your stand mixer.

In the mixer bowl put the flour and the olive oil and start stirring.

Add the salt, vinegar and soda water gradually.

dough image

We know that the dough is ready when we see that it does not stick on the bowl.

Stop the mixer and if the dough does not stick on your fingers it is ready. If it does, add some more flour. See video How to make Dough.

This will depend on several factors, such as the kind of flour used or the weather conditions, such as humidity, the dough may need a little bit more or less water than this recipe calls for.

Cover the dough with a cling film and leave it to rest for 30 minutes. Otherwise knead by hand, following same procedure).

Step 2: Rolling the dough with a pasta machine and adding butter

To roll out the dough, flour your working surface and divide the dough in ten pieces.

To make two phyllo sheets, the six pieces will be used for the one placed below and the other four for the smaller one on top of the  pie.

Dough cut image

Using the pasta machine roll out phyllo starting from number 1 and continue rolling making a thin phyllo.  See my video making phyllo here.

Making phyllo on a pasta maker


If your pasta machine is numbered from 1 – 6 stop at number 4.   If it is from 1 – 8, stop at number 6.   You will get a long piece of phyllo from each piece of dough.  

Leave the butter at room temperature until it becomes very soft or if you have forgotten to do this, just heat the butter in the microwave for 1 minute or until it becomes soft.

On each phyllo you roll out, spread butter with a brush.  If the phyllo is too long for you to handle, cut it in the middle. Brush the first piece with butter, place the second sheet of phyllo on top and butter it again. Continue until you have buttered six pieces. 

This one will be used for the one placed on the baking tin and should be bigger to cover the sides of the baking tin.   Butter phyllo and fold it every 20 centimetres and again whenever folding put a thin layer of butter.   Continue with the remaining 5 pieces, buttering and placing them on top.  Fold in cling film.

Continue with the remaining four pieces, which again wrap in cling film.  This one will be used on top.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Making flaky butter phyllo image

Step 2a: rolling the phyllo with a dowel and adding butter

Prepare the dough as above. Let it rest for 30 minutes and divide it into four equal pieces.

Dividing the dough in 4 equal pieces image

Roll the phyllo as thin as you can. You can watch me making the phyllo by hand here.

Making homemade phyllo image

Brush the phyllo with butter and cut it into 8 pieces.

Brushing the phyllo with butter and cutting it into 8 pieces image

Fold and butter each piece of dough.

Continue with the second sheet, which place on top of the first one. When done wrap in cling film and refrigerate.

When done wrap in cling film and refrigerate.

Do the same with the third and fourth phyllo.

When ready to use, if the dough is very firm, allow it to sit at room temperature for a few minutes before rolling.

Starting with the first piece, roll the phyllo with a rolling pin so that you give it the shape of your baking tin.

Rotate the dough regularly, adding flour on the work surface and on the dough.

When it becomes big, start rolling it on the rolling pin and work with your fingers, pressing it gently from the centre to the edges, so that it stretches.

Keep rolling, until the phyllo is big enough to cover the sides of the baking tin.

Grease your baking tin and add the phyllo.  You can use any savoury fillings to make pies such as spanakopita, tyropita, kreatopita etc.

Add the filling of your choice and then roll out the second phyllo, which place on top of the filling. Cut any excess phyllo hanging over the sides of the baking tin.

Continue with the second sheet of phyllo. If it is a big bigger, no worries. Just crease it until it fit in the baking tray.

Take both the phyllo sheets and pinch them with your thumb and index so as to join them. Try giving them a lovely shape as possible.

Making a pie in a round baking tin image


Brush the top with butter or olive oil and score the pie into as many pieces as you like. You can use the leftover pieces to decorate your pie, using a cookie cutter.

Bake in a preheated oven to 180ο C/ 350ο F for about 1 hour or until golden and crispy on top.

Festive Kreatopita decorated pie image

As soon as you remove it from the oven, cut the pieces, where previously scored, so that the steam will escape and prevent the phyllo from becoming soggy.

Making flaky butter phyllo image

Homemade Flaky butter phyllo for Greek pies

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 1 hour
Additional Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

This homemade flaky butter phyllo is a simplified way of making dough similar to puff pastry, which makes it ideal for Greek Pites (pies).

Ingredients

  • 500 grams all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive
  • 3 tablespoons vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 250 - 300 ml soda water
  • 150 grams butter, at room temperature

Instructions

  1. Attach the dough hook on the stand mixer.
  2. In the mixer bowl put the flour and the olive oil and start stirring. (If we are doing this by hand just rub the flour with the olive oil, until absorbed).
  3. Add the salt, vinegar and soda water gradually. Mix, until the flour absorbs the water. Stop the mixer and check to see that the dough does not stick on your fingers or on the side of the bowl. If it does, add some more flour, a tablespoon each time, until it doesn't. The perfect dough should be soft and elastic.
  4. Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and leave it to rest for 30 minutes. If you don't have a stand mixer, you can knead the dough by hand.
  5. To roll out the dough, flour your working surface and divide the dough in ten equal pieces. (To make two phyllo sheets, the six pieces will be used for the one placed below and the other four for the one, which will be placed on top of the pie).
  6. Using the pasta machine roll out phyllo starting from number 1 and continue rolling making a thin phyllo Ensure that your dough has plenty of flour to prevent it from sticking to the working surface. See my video making phyllo here.
  7. If your pasta machine is numbered from 1 - 6 start from number 1 and stop at number 5  If it is from 1 - 8, stop at number 6  You will get a long piece of phyllo from each piece of dough 
  8. Leave the butter outside of the fridge to come to room temperature and become soft. Otherwise, heat the butter in the microwave for 1 minute or until it becomes soft.
  9. On each phyllo you roll out, spread butter with a brush  Place a second sheet of phyllo on top and brush with more butter. Continue until you have buttered six pieces  Fold all six about 20 centimetres long and whenever folding, brush it again with a thin layer of butter  Fold the buttered dough in cling film.
  10. Continue with the remaining four pieces, which again wrap in cling film  Refrigerate both for at least 1 hour.
  11. When ready to use, if the dough is very firm, let it sit at room temperature for a
    few minutes before rolling.
  12. Starting with the big piece, roll the phyllo with a rolling pin so that you give it the
    shape of your baking tin. Ensure that your dough has plenty of flour to prevent it from sticking to the working surface or the rolling pin. Roll until it becomes bigger than the size of your baking tin.
  13. Grease your baking tin with butter or olive oil and add the bottom layer phyllo Cut any excess dough hanging on the side of your baking tin. (Add your filling. You can use any savoury fillings to make pies such as spanakopita, tyropita, kreatopita etc).
  14. After adding the filling, roll out the second layer phyllo, which must be
    around the size of the baking tin. If it is a bit bigger, no problem. Just put it on top without stretching it, making some creases
  15. Brush the top with olive oil or butter and score the pie to the desired pieces.
  16. Bake the pie in a preheated oven to 180 degrees C/ 350F for about an hour or until golden and crispy.
  17. Remove from the oven and cut the pieces where previously scored in order to release the steam.
  18. Set aside to cool for 15 minutes and then serve.
Nutrition Information
Yield 1 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 1122Total Fat 125gSaturated Fat 78gTrans Fat 5gUnsaturated Fat 39gCholesterol 323mgSodium 3368mgCarbohydrates 2gFiber 1gSugar 0gProtein 2g

"These values are automatically calculated and offered for guidance only. Their accuracy is not guaranteed."

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Greek Pies (Pites)

Greek pies (pita plural pites) are a staple in Greek cuisine. They are very versatile and can be either savoury or sweet. You can make a "pita" with vegetables, meat, fruit, etc.

Collage Homemade Flaky butter phyllo for Greek pies

Kopiaste and Kali Orexi!

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A Savoury Exploration Into Spanakopita: Substituting Pie Crust For Phyllo Pastry | Del Buono's Bakery

Tuesday 7th of February 2023

[…] the spanakopita is golden. When finished baking, let cool for a few minutes and enjoy! The flaky, buttery phyllo dough and layers of spinach, feta, and ricotta cheese makes Trader Joe’s Spanakopita a delicious […]

Ivy

Monday 31st of December 2007

Yes the roller is really handy. You won't believe it but I got it from a "panygiri". I've been using the manual pastry machine for many years but as I was a good girl Santa got me a new mixer and his elves got me the pastry attachment (lol).

Eva

Monday 31st of December 2007

Hi Ivy,Where did u get ur roller from? it looks like a handy tool..:)can u tell me if ur pastry machine is manual or electronic..i find the manual hard to use..many thanks and good luck with ur work!!!i became an addict of ur blog:)Eva

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