Thursday, March 4, 2010

"G" is for GALATOBOUREKO

No, you don't need to say "bless you" because this wasn't a sneeze. It is the name of a fabuloud Greek dessert.

One of my dearest, forever friends in Ohio is an amazing Greek woman named Joanne.

Joanne is not only a lovely soul inside and out she is an amazing, amazing cook.

Although I adore all her food my favorite is Galatoboureko which is almost like a custard pie wrapped in crispy phyllo dough.

It is a very simple dessert...not too sweet...satisfying...comforting...delicious.
Although it has a few steps to it give it a try sometime. Although you won't start dancing around breaking plates and yelling "oppa!" I think you will definitely start running around the house trying to hide a piece for later.

GALATOBOUREKO
Makes 8 to 12 servings

Thaw 1 pound of Phyllo leaves in the refrigerator overnight

In a large sauce bring to a simmer:
5 cups whole milk

Whisk into the milk:
¾ cup of cream of wheat

Stir constantly until thickened. Remove from the heat.

Whisk two eggs in a small bowl. Add in about 1 cup of the hot milk mixture and whisk together thoroughly.

Add egg mixture back into the pan and then quickly whisk in:

1 stick of unsalted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 Additional beaten eggs

Set mixture aside to cool.

Layer ½ of the phyllo leaves into a 9 x 13 by brushing each layer with butter. When pan is filled with ½ of the leaves add the cream mixture. Spread evenly with the back of a spoon.

Layer remaining ½ of phyllo leaves on top of custard mixture. It is tricky for the first one or two leaves but layer each with butter. Continue until all leaves are used.

Chill the completed pan of custard and phyllo in the fridge for about 20 minutes. When top has hardened score with a knife in a diamond pattern (just like Baklava)

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes until deep golden brown.

While custard is baking boil together until a medium syrup consistency:

2 1/2 cups sugar
1 ½ cups water
1 stick of cinnamon
juice from one fresh lemon
1 whole orange rind

Set syrup mixture aside to cool.

When you remove your pastry from oven, let cool for FIVE MINUTES. Set your timer. Then pour the cool syrup over the warm pastry.

Refrigerate any leftovers.

This post is linked to Alphabe-Thursday for the letter "G"!

post signature



45 comments:

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

I'm funny with custard. Sometimes I really like it, and sometimes I really don't like it. Unless you put some fruit on it, then I'll probably eat it, but only grudgingly.

~Kristen~ said...

Oh dear Jenny, sweet friend, did you know I am 100% Greek?!? When I saw the title of your post I squealed!!! I looooove Galtoboureko!!! My Mom makes it sooo yummy, but not often enough!!!

Mama Up! said...

Seems easy enough! I'm not a huge custard fan, but I often like it when it's baked into something like a pie or a tart. I'll give it a try :-)

Deb said...

GEE that sounds Glamorous...looks Good...Gotta try it...

Debbiedoos said...

I love greek food and greek pasty! So GOOD!

Stereos and Souffles said...

You had me at custard.

Unknown said...

G is for YUM

Anita said...

I don't like to cook, bake, etc., but if I keep reading your blog and seeing delicious food, I may be converted!

Kathleen said...

That sounds very good...nice with some fresh strawberries..
Thanks for hosting the letter G...Gracious Gal..

lissa said...

it actually looks good but I don't know about the crust, I'm fickle when it comes to food

GardenOfDaisies said...

This sounds delicious, especially with that cinnamon-citrusy syrup over it!

Sue said...

I love custard and this looks wonderful. The Cream of Wheat is an odd addition, but I trust you! Besides isn't anything good if it is covered with phyllo dough?

Sue

The Muse said...

Το φαγητό φαίνεται θεϊκό.
Δάσκαλος, είστε πειράζοντας τους μαθητές σας.
Είναι ώρα του φαγητού;

:)
Yummy!
Off the charts in the grade department! LOL

Jackie said...

This galtoboureko sounds good . I love phylo pastry .

J said...

That looks amazing. :D

J said...

That looks amazing. :D

Busy Bee Suz said...

OPPA!!!!! This looks and sounds delish!!!

easternsparkle said...

Looks delicious!!

Amy said...

o my! O MY! This looks yummmmmy! Virgil would love it! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

mrs. c said...

Yummy....anything that has phyllo in it is a winner to me, I just love all that kinda sweet greek stuff. We have a friend that is putting together a recipe book for his mom's 80th birthday of al their traditional greek recipes and I get a copy because I love to try new things. This is on my list!

Vicki/Jake said...

I love cream o wheat so I'll bite! And thanks for the Grade! :D

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Well dang Jenny, I'm gonna say bless you. Yep, bless you for bringing this recipe my way! I'm gonna try this one! MMmmmmm~~~yummy!

Have a greatly blessed day!!!

Brenda said...

Sounds wonderful. I'll have to wait until we are having company thought to make it because I think I might eat the whole thing myself. Printed it to make soon I hope.

AmericanTribal said...

Thank you for coming to my blog! :)
As a Middle Eastern belly dancer, I am LOVING that you have Greek dessert on her. It looks delicious and I have printed out the recipe to try.

Its So Very Cheri said...

Hey Jenny-

I wanted to let you know my blog has moved to www.itssoverycheri.blogspot.com

Please come over and RE-Sign up to follow me over there.

I am trying to go through all my old followers so if you have already come over --sorry for the confusion. I am working my way through lots of people.

Cheri

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Looks yummy as long as I don't have to say it!!

Betty said...

That sure looks good. We have a Greek place in town, but I don't believe I've ever seen that on the menu. I thought Cream of Wheat was a really unusual ingrendient.

Sarah Lou said...

That looks heavenly! Must try it! For the non americans, is phyllo leaves - frozen puff pastry????

Anything Fits A Naked Man said...

OK, I don't think I have the patience to make this, because after looking at that picture, I want one RIGHT NOW!! DANG, that looks good!!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I second what The Muse said!

lol

This recipe sounds and looks so delicious Jenny! I copied it down to try someday. Thanks!

♥ Pat

Sarah said...

Jenny, this looks so yummy. I love anything made with phyllo pastry. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I'll bring you gingerbread tomorrow if you'll bring me a slice of this. We can trade at lunch. What do you think?

Justine said...

Ah, Greek food. It truly is a gift from the gods, no? I love those oily potatoes they make and the lemon chicken soup and so many other things. Except the lamb. I don't do lamb.

Justine :o )

Viki said...

This was a great word. I wish I would have seen your post before I came up with mine. I would have a great word for stuffed cabbage but in polish. Darn LOL.

Annesphamily said...

I love Alphabe-Thursday!

I love this recipe!

What a grand post!

Pondside said...

I love just about anything that comes with custard....but I don't think I could say the name of this dessert quickly and three times!

Unknown said...

Can I say fattening? it is right up my alley I need to make this and eat most of it myself!!!!!

Steph said...

That looks really special and tempting... Would love a sweet taste.... Oppa!

VictoriaS said...

ok, that sounds just plain delicious! Now I want to bake something and I need to be cleaning my house!

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Be still my heart!!!

But oh my oh mercy, it has for-me-forbidden-ingredients. You are perfectly free to have an extra piece for me, though!

That is, if your doc would agree.

^_^

Unknown said...

Well, I'd never be able to say the name of this G dessert, but it certainly sounds and looks delicious! Wish I had a piece right now ..... :P

Dontmissyoursunsetlady said...

Hi thank you visting for visting mey blog! I look forward to reading more of your entries. You have a lot of reader traffic. Thank you for your kind words!

Anonymous said...

sounds like a great dessert...not too many ingredients. thanks Jenny!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

Oh! Yumm! Thanks for sharing this G-dessert. Sounds like my next dessert to try the next time we go to a get-together.

Jenny...I really want to try to post for your Alphabet-thursdays? I know that you have it opened on Weds nights, when do they close? It just takes me so crazy long to put a post together! (computer/tech savvy impaired and also free time for bloggy things is limited). I hope to try next week...

Blessings & Aloha!

Bits-n-Pieces said...

That looks very yummy, but you lost me on "Thaw 1 pound of Phyllo"..lol
If it doesn't involve "open box, mix 2 eggs and pour into dish" then I'm gone! lol