Tiropita, Greek Cheese Pie

The mint makes this dish - freshens and lightens it, and who doesn't love someone making the effort to layer up a filo pie! Moorish and perfect for a snack, picnic or entrée.

My favourite and easiest Greek recipe is Tiropita (cheese pie). I tend to make up the quantities each time – Maya Catsanis.

Pictured: Tiropita Slice

Filo pastry
Filling-
400g ricotta
300g strong feta - Bulgarian or Greek
6-8 eggs
A bit of chopped fresh or dried mint

Preheat Oven 180°C.
Mix up all filling ingredients.
Brush melted butter in between two filo pastry sheets at a time and layer in a rectangular baking dish, aim for 12 sheets on the bottom.
Put the mixture in, fold over the hanging pastry into the centre.
Continue with another 10 or so sheets on top, each sheet doubled over so it doesn't hang over the sides.
Brush the top generously with butter and put in a medium oven for 45 minutes - 1 hour.
Let sit for 15 minutes.

Serve with a nice Greek salad (minus the feta) of tomatoes, Spanish onion and kalamata olives.

Serves 8 – 10 as entrée or 4-6 as main

TasteTip - Picnics to begin with were all about sharing food, only later did they also involve excursions. The English arranged picnics as medieval hunting feasts whereas the Japanese enjoy them to admire nature and the changing seasons, while the Chinese honour the dead by hosting picnics at the graves of their ancestors.