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Greek Feta-Phyllo Bites. Cheese Saragli

ByElena Paravantes, MS, RD
feta phyllo bites saragli

Saragli is basically a type of syrupy sweet that resembles baklava. The phyllo is rolled in a long tube and then cut in pieces and baked. Obviously this is not baklava but a savory version, called cheese saragli.

I first noticed them when my brother’s mother in law made them for parties and get-togethers. They were really tasty, they looked nice and everybody liked them. Crunchy phyllo with little chunks of feta and a bit of spiciness from the kefalograviera cheese (cheese used for saganaki), what’s not to like? She shared her recipe with me and here it is.

It is basically like mini cheese pies, but without all the work. There are only 3 ingredients in this: phyllo, olive oil and cheese, plus you freeze it and bake off as needed.

These little morsels are satisfying as a small appetizer, 2-3 pieces per person would suffice, and at 45 calories that’s pretty good. I reduced the kefalograviera a bit from the original recipe for less saltiness. You could also serve these as a side dish for dinner.

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Greek Feta-Phyllo Bites. Cheese Saragli

Servings: 50 – 55 pieces
Author: Elena Paravantes, MS, RD
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Ingredients

  • 16 ounces feta cheese crumbled 450 grams
  • 5 ounces kefalograviera can use pecorino as a substitute grated (150 grams)
  • olive oil for brushing
  • 12 phyllo sheets defrosted
  • Pepper

Instructions

  • Mix the cheeses in a bowl, add some pepper.
  • Place a phyllo sheet on your working surface. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle cheese on the sheet. Place another phyllo sheet and repeat the whole process (olive oil, cheese) 2 more times.
  • Now roll starting from the long side tightly like a cigar, until you have a long tube like a log. After it is rolled, push the ends in so it scrunches a bit. Wrap in plastic wrap and place in the freezer for at least an hour (or for several days) so it hardens. Continue this with all the phyllo sheets. You should have a total of 4 long logs.
  • When ready to bake, preheat oven at 350 Fahrenheit (175 Celsius), take out the rolls, and let them sit for 10 minutes. Cut them in 1 inch slices, place them on a greased pan with cut sides up and down. Bake them for about 20-30 minutes until golden.

Notes

These can be served or warm or in room temperature.

Images by Elena Paravantes © All Rights Reserved

Feta Phyllo Bites Tiropita

Elena Paravantes, MS, RDN is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist by the U.S. Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). She is an expert on the Mediterranean Diet. She has been active as a clinician, consultant, author and lecturer for 20 years, both in the U.S. and Greece. An expert on the Greek Mediterranean Diet, her interviews and articles have been published in many publications including CNN, U.S. News and World Report, Prevention, NPR, and Shape. Elena has collaborated with a number of organizations including Loyola University, Yale University, University of Missouri, Louisiana State University, and the American College of Greece. Elena earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Dietetics and her Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She holds has a Master’s Degree of Science in Health Management.

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8 Comments

  1. Hi, what does this mean in step 4 “with cut sides up and down” alternating cut side up and cut side down?

    Reply

  3. Just curious as to what number filo works best with this recipe,
    thanks, can’t wait to make these.

    Reply

  5. Hey! Thanks for the wonderful recipes! I made these last weekend for an appetizer for a party, and they were so so so good. Not a single one was left. I didn’t have enough cheese filling to do a fourth roll, so I just put a bit extra in my third one. Next time I will increase the quantity of cheeses. Thanks again, I love this little treasure trove website.

    Reply