Phyllo Triangles With Basil Zucchini And Pine Nuts Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Toss squash with 2 tablespoons olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, or until the squash is tender and easily pierced with a knife. Allow squash to cool slightly, then mash with a fork or in a food processor.
• Lower oven to 350 degrees. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small skillet and add scallions. Cook, stirring often, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Add to squash and stir together.
• Beat egg in a medium bowl. Add the squash, cheese, mint and salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Melt butter with 2 tablespoons olive oil in a microwave at 50 percent power, or in a small saucepan.
• Take 1 sheet of phyllo dough at a time and lay it horizontally on your work surface. Cut 2 1/2-inch-wide strips. (You should be able to cut about 6 strips per sheet.) Cover the strips you aren't working with, and the rest of the phyllo, with a damp towel. Brush a strip with the butter-olive oil mixture.
• Place a teaspoonful of filling on the strip, about an inch down from the end. Lift a corner of the pastry and fold over filling diagonally until shorter edge of the strip meets the longer edge. Fold triangle of covered filling down toward you, and continue folding over and down at right angles, until you reach the end of the strip. If the phyllo cracks, or if you simply want a thicker wrapper, double wrap the triangle in a second strip.
• Brush with more melted butter and olive oil to seal the end, and place on baking sheet. Continue making filled triangles in this way.
• Before baking, brush triangles with oil and butter. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown. Serve hot.

Steps:

• Wrap ricotta tightly in fine cheesecloth; place in a colander over a bowl. Place a heavy bowl or cans on top; let drain, refrigerated, for 3 hours or overnight.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place almonds on a baking pan; toast until fragrant, about 6 minutes. Transfer from oven to cool, then break almonds into small pieces; set aside. Place raisins in a bowl, cover with 1/4 cup warm water, and set aside.
• Heat a large saute pan coated with olive-oil cooking spray over medium heat. Add garlic and onion; saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms; cook until tender and juices are released, about 3 minutes more. Add raisins, soaking liquid, salt, cinnamon, cayenne, and cumin; cook until the liquid has been absorbed. Stir in balsamic vinegar, and transfer to a medium bowl to cool. When fully cool, about 25 minutes, stir in chopped parsley.
• Place phyllo on a dry work surface; cover with a slightly damp towel. Coat one phyllo sheet with cooking spray. Cover with a second sheet; coat with cooking spray. Place a third sheet on top; cut stack into four 4-by-12-inch strips. Place 1 tablespoon ricotta on bottom of each stack; spread into the left corner to form a small triangle. Top with 2 tablespoons mushroom mixture. Fold phyllo by bringing bottom left corner over to meet right edge of pastry. Fold triangle along strip to fully enclose filling. Place on a parchment-lined baking pan. Repeat with remaining phyllo and filling. Coat triangles with cooking spray; sprinkle with reserved nuts. Bake until golden, about 40 minutes, rotating halfway through cooking. Serve.

Steps:

• Toss zucchini with 1/2 teaspoon salt in medium bowl. Let stand 30 minutes. Drain zucchini well; roll in kitchen towel and squeeze dry.
• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté until beginning to brown, about 6 minutes. Add zucchini; sauté until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Mix in basil, parsley and garlic; add wine. Cover skillet; simmer 3 minutes. Uncover; stir until any liquid evaporates, about 2 minutes. Transfer zucchini mixture to large bowl and cool. Mix in both cheeses, then pine nuts. Season filling with salt and pepper. Mix in egg.
• Lightly oil 2 large baking sheets. Place 1 phyllo sheet on work surface with 1 short end parallel to edge of work surface (keep remaining phyllo covered with plastic wrap and damp kitchen towel.) Brush phyllo sheet lightly with butter; cut lengthwise into 3 equal strips, each about 4 inches wide. Place 1 generous tablespoon filling at bottom end of 1 strip. Fold 1 corner of phyllo over filling. Repeat folding down length of strip as for flag, brushing twice with butter and forming triangle. Place pastry on prepared baking sheet; brush with butter. Repeat with remaining phyllo sheets and filling. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover tightly with plastic and chill.)
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush pastries with egg white. Sprinkle pastries generously with sesame seeds. Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes.