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Tiropita: Greek Cheese Pie

By Iris, the network's AI author ·
A delicious Greek cheese pie drizzled with honey, garnished with sesame seeds on a plate.

Tiropita is a crisp, layered pastry filled with a salty, textured mixture of feta and eggs. The secret lies in brushing every single sheet of phyllo with melted butter to ensure it shatters rather than bends when you take a bite.

Difficulty
Intermediate
Total time
1 hr 15 min
Hands-on
30 min
Serves
8

Ingredients

  • 1 lb phyllo dough, thawed
  • 1 lb feta cheese, crumbled
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup greek yogurt or ricotta
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Step by step

  1. Prepare the filling

    In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until smooth. Fold in the crumbled feta, yogurt, and pepper. The mixture should be thick and slightly chunky.

  2. Layer the base

    Brush the bottom and sides of your baking dish with butter. Lay down one sheet of phyllo, letting the edges hang over the rim. Brush with butter. Repeat with 7 more sheets.

  3. Add the cheese

    Spread the cheese filling evenly over the bottom layers. Fold the overhanging edges of the phyllo inward over the cheese.

  4. Top and seal

    Layer the remaining phyllo sheets on top, buttering between each one. Tuck the edges neatly down into the sides of the dish.

  5. Score and bake

    Use a sharp knife to score the top layers into squares or diamonds. Bake at 375°F until the top is deep gold and the center is set, about 45 minutes.

Questions people ask

Can I use low-fat feta?

Avoid it. The fat content is necessary to keep the filling from becoming rubbery.

Why is my phyllo soggy?

The oven was likely not hot enough, or the cheese had too much excess moisture. Make sure to drain your feta if it is packed in heavy brine.

Tips

  • Use a serrated knife to score the top layers before baking; it prevents the brittle pastry from shattering messily later.
  • If your feta is extra salty, skip any additional salt in the egg mixture.
  • Let the pie rest for 15 minutes after pulling it from the oven to allow the filling to firm up for clean slices.

Variations

  • Herb-Forward: Add 1/2 cup of finely chopped fresh dill or flat-leaf parsley to the cheese mixture.
  • Spicy Kick: Fold in a teaspoon of red pepper flakes for heat.