Greek Galaktoboureko Recipes

Steps:

• Pour milk into a large saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium heat. In a medium bowl, whisk together the semolina, cornstarch, 1 cup sugar and salt so there are no cornstarch clumps. When milk comes to a boil, gradually add the semolina mixture, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Cook, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and comes to a full boil. Remove from heat, and set aside. Keep warm.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs with an electric mixer at high speed. Add 1/2 cup of sugar, and whip until thick and pale, about 10 minutes. Stir in vanilla.
• Fold the whipped eggs into the hot semolina mixture. Partially cover the pan, and set aside to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish, and layer 7 sheets of phyllo into the pan, brushing each one with butter as you lay it in. Pour the custard into the pan over the phyllo, and cover with the remaining 5 sheets of phyllo, brushing each sheet with butter as you lay it down.
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until the top crust is crisp and the custard filling has set. In a small saucepan, stir together the remaining cup of sugar and water. Bring to a boil. When the Galaktoboureko comes out of the oven, spoon the hot sugar syrup over the top, particularly the edges. Cool completely before cutting and serving. Store in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Bubble the milk in a large heavy pot over low heat. Add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Add ½ cup butter, the corn starch, and the cream of Wheat Increase the heat to medium and whisk constantly for 10 to 12 minutes until thick.
• In a bowl beat the eggs until fluffy and add the lemon peel. Gradually mix some of the hot mixture in with the eggs, whisking constantly. Then add the egg mixture to the cereal.
• Melt the remaining butter and butter up a 18 by 12 inch baking dish using a little brush.
• Next its time for the phyllo dough. Be sure to have thawed it in the fridge. Directions should be in the package. This step is very important. Trust me.
• Place a sheet of phyllo dough on the bottom and butter it.
• Now place a sheet so that it overlaps and hangs over (about 1.5 inches) the bottom edge of the dish, butter profusely. Place sheets so that they overlap the left side, then the right, the top, you get the idea all the while buttering them so that they don't dry up and rip. Butter the edges of the dish and the corners. If a sheet rips just carefully put another on top.
• After you've gone through this cycle 2 or three times, pour in the custard. Then carefully flip over the phyllo that hangs over each edge so that it wraps over the custard. Then add more sheets on top, buttering each one after you place it just as before. Using your little brush be sure to tuck in the corners.
• Cover with a little more butter using your brush and then cut only the top layers of phyllo into 24 squares. Do not make these incisions too deep, and perforated lines are ok too.
• Sprinkle with a little water and bake for 45 minutes to an hour until the top gets a little brownish.
• For the Syrup: Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer for 5-10 minutes until its a little thick. Add the lemon at the end.
• Pour on top. A tip my grandmother gave me was to either have a hot galaktoboureko with a cooled syrup or the other way around.

Steps:

• Note: Orange flower water can be found in Middle Eastern grocers, near where they sell the Rose water.
• To make the syrup, place all syrup ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Cook for 10 minutes, skimming off any foam; remove from heat and cool.
• To prepare the custard, place milk and sugar in a small saucepan and heat until very hot; stir in Cream of Wheat, then add butter and salt.
• Cook until thickened and smooth, stirring constantly, then remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Beat together eggs and vanilla in a large bowl until light and fluffy; stir in cooled custard and mix thoroughly.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• To prepare pastry, grease an 11x17-inch baking pan with butter.
• Unwrap phyllo, laying out flat, and covering with damp towels when not getting pastry (to keep from drying out).
• Lay 1 sheet of phyllo across the baking sheet and brush with butter (use a pastry brush for this) (cover remaining phyllo while you do this).
• Repeat with more sheet of phyllo to make an 8-sheet layer.
• Pour the custard on top of the 8 buttered sheets and spread it out evenly with a spatula.
• Repeat the process of the phyllo, covering the custard with 8 more buttered sheets.
• When you have those done, take a sharp knife a punch some breathing holes in the top (as you would for a pie).
• Place the galaktoboureko in a preheated oven and bake for 45-60 min, or until custard is set and the pastry shakes loose from the edges of the pan.
• Allow the galaktaboureko to cool about 30 minutes, thenpour the syrup evenly over the pastry.
• Allow it to cool completely before cutting and serving (it is best served chilled or at room temp).
• Serves up to 48, depending on size (diamond shape is the recommended cut).

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat add milk, sugar, semolina, 2 ounces butter, vanilla, salt and a sliver of lemon peel.
• Bring to a boil, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
• Beat eggs in a separate bowl then stir into milk mixture. Set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Line a 9 X 13 buttered baking pan with half the sheets of phyllo, brushing each sheet with the melted butter and allowing the edges to overlap the sides.
• Spread custard evenly over phyllo.
• Cover with remaining sheets of phyllo, brushing each sheet with the melted butter.
• Trim the edges and fold in carefully to seal the filling.
• Brush the top with melted butter and seal edges with a bit of cold water.
• Bake 45 minutes or until golden.
• Meanwhile make the syrup; In a small saucepan combine the sugar, water, lemon juice and sliver of lemon peel and boil for 10 minutes.
• When Galaktoboureko is done and still hot from the oven, spoon syrup over a little at a time until absorbed by the pastry.
• Cool completely, cut into diamond shape and serve.
• NOTES : This is best made the day before it is needed. It gives the pastry time to absorb the syrup and the filling to become firm.

Steps:

• For the syrup: make this first.
• In a small sauce pan, combine the sugar, honey and water. Bring to a slow boil, stirring occasionally until sugar is completely dissolved. Add lemon juice and orange juice. Cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a 4 quart saucepan, mix the butter and milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Add farina and cook for 5 minutes, continuing to stir to prevent lumping. Remove from heat. In a large bowl combine eggs, sugar and vanilla. Slowly add one cup of the hot mixture to the bowl and blend. Return egg mixture to the saucepan and stir until smooth and thick. Set aside to cool.
• Brush a 9″ x 13″ x 2″ baking dish with melted butter. Place 8 filo sheets on bottom of pan, brushing between each one with melted butter. Place an additional 4 filo sheets in pan, allowing the edges to drape over each of the 4 sides of the pan. Brush with melted butter.
• Pour the filling into the filo lined pan and spread evenly. Fold the overlapping filo sheets to envelop the filling. Top pastry with remaining filo, brushing with melted butter.
• Score the dough through the top layers of filo with a sharp knife 4 times lengthwise. Pour any remaining butter over the top of the pastry (this keeps the filo from drying out during baking.).
• Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for one hour or until pastry is golden and puffed.
• Remove pastry to a rack and cool for 5 minutes. Spoon cooled syrup over pastry and allow to stand for 30 minutes.
• Cut into 40 diamond shaped pieces.
• Enjoy this authentic, luscious Greek dessert!

Steps:

• Beat the eggs with the sugar until thick.
• Add semolina, milk, zest and vanilla extract.
• Cook over a low heat until mixture thickens, stirring continuously.
• Remove from heat; stir in 4 tbsp butter.
• Butter a baking pan 9x12x2 inches and lay 2/3 of pastry sheets, brushing each sheet generously with melted butter.
• The edges of the pastry sheets should come up above the top of the pan.
• Spread milk custard mixture over pastry sheets and turn in the edges of the phyllo over the custard.
• Cover with remaining pastry sheets, buttering each one generously with melted butter once it gets into the baking pan.
• Pour any remaining butter over top.
• Cut through the first 3 pastry sheets (no one will kill you if it's 4! Just use a light touch and a very sharp, pointy knife.) in 3 inch squares and sprinkle pastry with water.
• Bake in a moderate (350°F-180°C) oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour- until golden on top (not golden-brown).
• Allow to cool.
• Boil the sugar, water and lemon juice for 5 minutes.
• Pour lukewarm syrup over the cooled 'Galaktoboureko'.
• Cool before serving.

Steps:

• Pour the milk into a large saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium-low heat. Remove from the heat. While you are waiting for the milk to boil, beat the eggs, semolina, and 3/4 cup sugar with an electric mixer until well blended. Use a wooden spoon to stir this into the hot milk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until it just starts to bubble. Remove from the stove, and stir in 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 teaspoon of lemon zest.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter an 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Brush butter onto 6 of the phyllo sheets, and place use them to line the bottom and sides of the baking dish. Pour in the semolina mixture, and spread evenly. Layer the remaining sheets of phyllo dough over the top, brushing each one with melted butter as you lay it on. Sprinkle a few dashes of water over the top. Use a knife to slice through the top layer of pastry in a diagonal pattern.
• Bake for 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the crust is golden brown. While the dish bakes, combine 2 cups of sugar, water, and remaining lemon zest in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, and remove from the heat.
• As soon as the galaktoboureko is removed from the oven, pour hot syrup over it. Let it cool before serving. After it has cooled, store in the refrigerator. It will stay good for 4 to 5 days.