Nutrition Spotlight
You probably already know how much I love whole grains. Their nutritional value may be up to 75% bigger than that of processed grains and grain products like white flour. According to a survey that was published in April 2019, not eating enough whole grains is actually one of the three worse mistakes we can make in our diet.
But it’s not just because they’re healthier and more nutritious that I prefer them. They also have all the flavor! One of my favorite things to experiment with when cooking, is trying to tweak common recipes that use processed grains and flour into their wholegrain alternatives.
The recipe below is a wholegrain edition of one of Greece’s most favorite snack! The famous Greek “Tyropitakia” are mini cheese pies made with phyllo or simple dough and filled with feta cheese. White flour is substituded by whole wheat flour and the margarine used in the original recipe is replaced by olive oil and eggs. The result is a filling snack much higher in nutritional value.
Wholegrain Greek Mini Cheese pies
Equipment
- Standing Mixer (whisk & hook attachment)
- Medium mixing bowl
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Pastry brush
Ingredients
For the dough
- 2 large eggs (*See notes below.)
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 cup Greek yogurt, low-fat
- 1 packet self-raising whole wheat flour (500 gr.)
- ¼ cup grated parmezan (optional)
For the filling
- 200 gr Greek feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 large egg
- Freshly-ground pepper
For the egg wash topping
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tbsp water
- Sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
Prepare the dough.
- In the bowl of a standing mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the eggs in medium 1 speed for two minutes. Reduce the speed to low and slowly add olive oil, yogurt and parmesan. Beat until they are fully incorporated.
- Change the attachment to dough hook and add the flour. Start the mixer in low speed and then increase to medium. Beat until a smooth dough has formed. Let the dough stand for 10 minutes.
Prepare the filling.
- In a medium bowl, beat the egg. Add the crumbled feta and freshly-ground pepper. Gently stir with a fork to mix them together.
Assemble and bake.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F / 200°C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the dough on your kitchen counter, cut it into pieces and divide it into small balls (about 30). Roll each ball in your palms and then press it on the counter to even it out into a dough circle.
- Add a small quantity of the filling (about a teaspoon) on the half part of the circle and close the other half on top to create a semicircle. Press the edges with your fingers to seal. Place the mini cheese pies on the lined baking sheet.
- In a small bowl mix the egg yolk and water with a fork until it is completely dissolved. Brush the top of the mini pies with the egg wash and sprinkle the sesame seeds on top.
- Bake for 25 minutes.
NOTES
- If your eggs are small, you might need to add a little more olive oil if the dough seems too stiff.
