Make Ahead

Lamb Phyllo Pockets

by:
March  3, 2010
5
2 Ratings
  • Serves small party
Author Notes

I'm a big fan of "do ahead" so that I can enjoy my own party. With this recipe, you can make the filling ahead of time and roll them up and toss them in the oven at the last minute for a hot appetizer. —nannydeb

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Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 cup onion, diced small
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 pound ground lamb or beef
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
  • 1/2 cup blood orange juice
  • 1/2 cup blood orange segments, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh mint, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups crumbled feta cheese
  • 1 box frozen phyllo dough sheets
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions
  1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook about 2 minutes.
  2. Add the lamb and cook until done. If the meat is fatty, drain the fat off.
  3. Add the oregano, salt, pepper and orange juice. Simmer about 5 minutes or until the juice is reduced, almost gone. Set aside.
  4. Once the meat mixture is cooled slightly, add the orange segments, fresh mint and crumbled feta.
  5. Lightly butter a cookie sheet. Spread out one sheet of phyllo dough and brush it with butter. Spread out a second sheet of phyllo dough and brush it with butter too. Cut the sheet in half lenghwise.
  6. Put a heaping tablespoon of the meat mixture on one corner on the end of the phyllo strip. Fold like a flag and when you get to the end, brush it with butter to make it stick.
  7. Repeat the process with the remaining filling and phyllo sheets.
  8. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve hot.
  9. I haven't tried rolling them and freezing them yet, but I bet it would work too.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

Recipe by: nannydeb

Former restaurant manager (and waitress, bartender, etc). I love food: eating, trying new recipes, shopping for it, talking/emailing about it, etc. My foodie friend and pen pal got me interested in recipe contests and also turned me on to food52 and now I'm obsessed!

5 Reviews

cheese1227 March 5, 2010
A new twist on an already great "make-ahead" app.
mrslarkin March 3, 2010
My mom makes a mini version of this - called "chicken pillows". They freeze great after rolling!! Then you could just pop 'em in the oven whenever you feel like a snack, have unexpected company, or are heading out to the swamp. ;) Freeze them individually on a sheet pan, then stick 'em in a freezer bag.
nannydeb March 3, 2010
Thank you so much! I was thinking that it would work and that leaves more time to enjoy the party!
aargersi March 3, 2010
YUM! Make these for our trip to the swamp???? PLEASE?
nannydeb March 3, 2010
Of course! I was thinking this would be good with shrimp too. Mmmm, shrimp and feta...