Crispy Greek phyllo pastry rolled and twisted around a classic spinach, feta, and herb filling, then baked until golden and crunchy — perfect for brunch or a dinner party appetizer.
#4 phyllo pastrythawed and at room temperature1 lb
salted butter, melted12 oz
fresh spinach leavescoarsely chopped1 lb
fresh dill (or substitute dried dill)if using dried dill, about 3 tsp~2-3 tbspest.
scallionsthinly sliced6
cream cheese (or substitute ricotta cheese)at room temperature15 oz
feta cheesecrumbled by hand from a block, not pre-crumbled1 lb
eggsat room temperature3
olive oil
3-4 tbsp
salt½ tsp
freshly cracked black pepper1 tsp
panko breadcrumbs1 cup
Steps
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1
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line two baking trays with parchment paper.
2
Thinly slice the scallions and finely chop the dill, discarding thick stems.
3
Place the room-temperature cream cheese in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the scallions, dill, and olive oil, and mix until combined.
4
Mix in the eggs, then gradually add the spinach in batches, seasoning with salt and black pepper partway through.
5
Crumble the block of feta cheese by hand into the mixture and mix until incorporated — the filling is now ready.
6
Lay one sheet of phyllo and brush lightly with melted butter, then layer a second sheet on top and brush again — using two layers per twist.
7
Gently scrunch the phyllo from both long sides toward the center, leaving the middle area for the filling — don't overfill.
8
Spread the filling along the center, fold the phyllo over it, and loosely twist into a spiral — more wrinkles and ridges mean a crispier result.
9
Repeat until all the filling and phyllo are used; wrap any leftover phyllo sheets around extra twists so nothing goes to waste.
10
Arrange the twists on the prepared baking trays and brush the tops generously with melted butter.
11
Bake on the center rack for about 35 minutes, then move to the lower rack for another 10 minutes so the bottoms crisp up golden.
12
Let the twists rest for 10–15 minutes before serving — they'll be crispy outside and juicy inside.