Baked Feta Bites in Phyllo Pastry

Baked feta bites in phyllo pastry are fun little appetizers, perfect for any occasion. A drizzle of honey balances the saltiness of the cheese and brings these bites into a whole new level. For this recipe, I do something similar, but instead make small phyllo cups for a fancy looking appetizer and just add some feta and bake. Then you drizzle with honey and add a sprinkle of sesame seeds and they are ready. The end result is not only an elegant looking appetizer, but they also taste amazing. The combination of savory and sweet, along with that crunchy phyllo, trust me…everybody will love them, including you! Apart from the flavor, I love these because they are extremely easy to make, and you only need 5 ingredients to make them.

As you may know Greeks love feta, they eat it with everything, with their main course, in salads and of course as an appetizer. One of my favorite appetizers is feta served with honey.

Ingredients:

1. Phyllo Dough: It is paper-thin pastry dough made by rolling together layers of dough and it contains flour and water and none or very little oil. Most likely the phyllo you find will be frozen. Make sure you defrost in the refrigerator before using. Do not try to use phyllo that has not defrosted completely, because it will break. You may be tempted to substitute with puff pastry, it is not the same and you will not have the same result neither in flavor, texture, or nutritional value. Puff pastry is much higher in fat and although it’s supposed to be made with butter, the type you find in grocery stores is typically made with inflammatory vegetable oils such as cottonseed and palm. Alternatively, you can use ready-made phyllo shells.
2. Olive Oil: Use a good olive oil, make sure it has not gone rancid, otherwise it will ruin the flavor of these appetizers.
3. Feta: As you may know feta is a traditional Greek cheese made with sheep’s milk (and sometimes some goats milk), it is not made with cow’s milk, although in many countries outside of Europe you will find cow’s milk “feta”, look for Greek feta to get that authentic tangy flavor, it makes all the difference.
4. Honey: A robust honey pairs well with the tangy feta cheese. Look for thyme, pine, or chestnut. But your regular honey will work fine too.
5. Sesame Seeds: The sesame seeds give a nutty crunch; they are lightly toasted.

   

How to make Feta Phyllo Bites?

1. Fill the Phyllo Shells: Arrange the phyllo shells on a large, rimmed baking sheet. Spoon the feta cheese evenly into the shells, about ½ tbsps. per shell.
2. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the phyllo pastry is golden brown and crispy.
3. Garnish & Serve: Sprinkle with sesame seeds and drizzle with honey to taste. Serve and enjoy it.

Health-ier Appetizers:

Since these are made with phyllo, they are much lower in fat, carbs, and calories than other appetizers that are made with other type of dough. Each one is only 45 calories.

Make Ahead

Once baked, do not add the honey, let them cool, close in a sealed container and place in the fridge. They will keep for 1-2 days. When ready to serve, reheat in the oven at 325℉ (160℃) until crunchy. Then drizzle with honey and sprinkle with sesame seeds.