Strifti Tyropita Greek Cheese Pie

I love this recipe because it’s so classic in Greece. I honestly can’t believe I haven’t filmed an episode on it yet! The Tyropita Spiral is a classic Greek cheese pie. It’s made of phyllo dough stuffed with a cheesy herbaceous filling and twirled into a spiral. It really is pretty easy to prep and bake and everyone loves it! 

Sometimes you’ll see these in ready-to-bake sections in the grocery store, but I prefer to make it from scratch at home. It is fairly easy to bake and reheat, or prepare and bake fresh later if you’d prefer. The filling comes together in one bowl and tastes delicious right from the start.

The purpose of baking it is to get all the cheeses and herbs to blend together for one complete flavor. I’ve worked with phyllo do a lot in prior episodes so you know how important it is to have lots of butter ready to make it nice and crispy when it bakes. I also make sure to work quickly with it because you don’t want it to dry out. 

Have fun making this delicious spiral, it always looks so cool on a baking sheet. It never fails to get rave reviews when I slide it onto a platter to be cut and enjoyed. This savory pie can be enjoyed almost any time of day. I like to serve it at lunch, as a mid-day snack, or an appetizer for dinner. Some people serve it with dip on the side to make it a little heartier. Other people drizzle it with honey for a slighter sweeter angle. You really can’t go wrong! I find for parties I make a couple of these and pre-cut them into smaller pieces so they can be easily eaten as an appetizer. 

Tyropita Spirals 

This recipe is an easy way to make classic cheese pie. It comes together so easily and is always a hit with company! 

Ingredients: 

• 3/4 lb feta cheese, crumbled 

• 1/4 lb ricotta cheese 

• 2 large eggs, beaten 

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill 

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint 

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 

• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 

• 1/4 tsp black pepper 

• 2 sticks of unsalted butter  

• 7 – 9 sheets of #4 Phyllo Dough  

• Pinch of salt 

Instructions: 

1. Prepare the filling: In a large bowl, combine feta cheese, ricotta cheese, eggs, herbs, Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and salt. Mix well until everything is evenly incorporated. 

1. Assemble the spirals: Take a piece of phyllo, Brush the entire phyllo dough surface with melted butter. 

1. Spread the cheese mixture along the one side of the phyllo and begin rolling the phyllo until you reach the end, add some more butter to seal the entire roll.  

1. Using a sprayed round baking sheet, start placing the phyllo in a circle shape. Continue until all the mixture is used and the pan is full of the rounded phyllo.  

1. Baking time: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Bake the spiral for 35 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. 

1. Slice and serve: Let the spiral cool slightly before slicing it into individual pieces. Serve warm and enjoy! 

Nikki Glekas is the owner of Nikki Glekas Events, a full-service catering and events company located in Stamford, CT.. To discuss further please contact team@nikkiglekascollective.com or call 203.658.8659.