Culture

Filo is not scary. Filo is your friend. The fear is understandable; I too once considered filo to be a fearful and tricky business.
That was before I actually used it and realised how easy it is. SO EASY. I swear. It’s not nearly as time consuming as you might assume, it’s extremely versatile and it’s healthier and yummier than flaky or shortcrust pastry. So this week I bring you a recipe that will honestly make you fall in love with the stuff. I implore you: if you haven’t already, lose your filo virginity!
 

First, some filo basics. You can find filo next to the fresh pasta in the supermarket. It’s about $5 a packet which is usually enough for two meals (depends on how big your flat is really). Don’t freeze it. This is important. This just makes it unnecessarily difficult. If you use some and want to save the rest, peg the plastic bag so it’s airtight then store it in the fridge.
 

One of many delicious filo options is to create spanakopita-esque triangle parcels. If I were posh I would use ricotta and fresh spinach, but I’m not, so I will settle for cottage cheese and silver beet. Frozen spinach would work too. This should make about four parcels.
 

1 onion
8-10 silver beet leaves
Salt and pepper
1tsp crushed garlic
Spring onion (optional)
Parsley or dill or some another herb – up to your instincts
Half a tub of cottage cheese
Some feta (you could grate some budget cheese instead)
Oil

 
Wash the silver beet and cut away the majority of the stems and shred the leaves. Add salt and pepper to taste, chopped spring onion if you have it and herbs. Leave this to sit for a bit while you do the next bit. It lets the leaves absorb the flavours and any water settle. (If you are using frozen spinach make sure it’s well drained). I also added some sad looking broccoli that was in the fridge.
 

Chop the onion reasonably finely, heat some oil in a frying pan and cook onion until soft and translucent. Press out all the liquid from the silver beet mix and add it to the onion. Heat on low until silver beet has wilted a little. Take off the heat and add cottage cheese and feta if you have it. Mix.
 

Now is the daunting part. Lay one sheet of pastry on a dry bench. Pour some oil into a bowl and, using a pastry brush (or the back of a spoon), paint some oil onto the sheet. Then place a second sheet on top – the oil is the glue. Do this again – you want it to be about four sheets thick. Now cut the sheets in half lengthways. Place a dollop of sliver beet mixture at the bottom of one piece of pastry and fold it into a triangle shape. Seal parcel with some more oil. Place parcels on an oven tray and bake at 180 degreesC for 30 mins or until golden.
 

If you have any recipes you think other students would enjoy, send them (with a photo) to food@critic.co.nz. Thanks!