Feta Walnut Date Cigars
Elegant appetizer rolls made with phyllo dough filled with a rich mixture of cream cheese, feta, walnuts, and dates. These crispy cigars are perfect for entertaining and offer a delightful blend of sweet and savory flavors.
Ingredients
- •6 ounces cream cheese, cut into pieces
- •6 ounces crumbled feta
- •⅔ cup walnut pieces
- •½ cup chopped pitted dates
- •1 package phyllo dough
- •10 tablespoons unsalted butter
- •melted and cooled slightly
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Pulse cream cheese, feta, walnuts, and dates together in a food processor, stopping occasionally to scrape down side of bowl, until nuts are finely chopped and mixture is combined well. Quick-chill filling by freezing until cold (to make it easier to handle), 15 to 20 minutes in freezer.
20 min
- 2.
Stack 8 sheets of phyllo and cut stack crosswise into 4 strips (each about 12-by 4-inches), reserving remaining phyllo for another use.
5 min
- 3.
Stack phyllo strips, then place stack between sheets of wax paper or plastic wrap (to keep phyllo from drying out) and cover with a kitchen towel (to help keep the paper or plastic wrap in place).
3 min
- 4.
Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in the middle.
10 min
- 5.
Place 1 sheet of phyllo with a short end nearest you on a work surface (keep remaining sheets covered) and brush with butter.
2 min
- 6.
Roll a scant tablespoon of filling between your hands into a 3-inch-long log and place log in center of phyllo sheet, parallel to short end. Fold phyllo in half, enclosing log, and brush with butter.
3 min
- 7.
Roll a scant tablespoon of filling between your hands into a 3-inch-long log and place log in center of phyllo sheet, parallel to short end. Fold phyllo in half, enclosing log, and brush with butter.
3 min
- 8.
Starting at log end, roll up pastry to resemble a cigar. Transfer, seam side down, to a lightly buttered baking sheet.
2 min
- 9.
Make more rolls, leaving 1/2-inch of space between cigars on baking sheet. Bake until phyllo is golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
20 min
