Why buy ready made when you can make this so quickly and reduce the sugar content at the same time. These are so easy to make, try to use refrigerated filo and if you are using the frozen variety, make sure you thaw it well and cover with a cloth while you are working.
Recipe: Filo cigars with ricotta
You will need:
- 250g ricotta
- 2 spoons powdered sugar or 1 spoon honey
- 150g pistachios, ground, I have a grinder but you can also put them in the food processor
- 1 packet filo pastry
- 100g melted butter mixed with one spoon vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- Flaked almonds, i brown them slightly in a dry non stick pan , no need to add oil
- powdered sugar for dusting
- You will also need a pastry brush
To make cigars, preheat oven to 200C.Line an oven tray with baking paper.
Process pistachios in food processor until crushed, they will not be as fine as mine are but i actually love the texture in the crunch.
Add the ricotta into the blender and then the powdered sugar or honey. Finally add the egg and you should end up with a smooth paste.
Combine melted butter and oil in a bowl and whisk it until it is smooth.
Cut filo sheet into quarters. if you are using won ton wrappers you will need to do any cutting.
Put a teaspoon of the ricotta mix near the tip of the square as you are going to roll it diagonally. The edges of the pastry this way are exposed and it gives a more appealling finish.
Roll at a diagonal angle into a cigar shape.
Brush the top with the butter and oil mixture, always lightly.
Bake in a hot oven for 10 minutes
Take out of the oven and leave to cool
Dust with some powdered sugar through a fine sieve. Do not overdo it.
Sprinkle some lightly roasted flaked almonds on top.
