Galaktompoureko - Creamy Crustard Pie

The summer is almost at the end and so I decided to make something fresh but also autumnal. A greek recipe with many syrup and a delicious cream. The "Galaktompoureko". This sweet can be eaten also with ice cream and it makes it more tasteful then it is himself.



What you need is:

- 1 package of pastry sheets (phyllo)

For the cream:

- 1 cup fine semolina
- 5 cups whole milk
- 4 egg yolks
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup sugar
- vanilla extract
- 1/2 orange rind
- 1 cup unsalted butter

For the syrup

- 4 cups water
- 1 cup orange juice
- 2 cups sugar

In a heavy pot, on a medium heat, add the milk and orange peel. In a bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar 

together. Slowly add the fine semolina to the milk continually stirring with a wooden spoon until it thickens. Turn off the heat.  Stirring, slowly add the egg mixture into the cream.  Be careful that the eggs don’t cook. Add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon butter and stir.  Cover and set aside. In a buttered glass baking dish, add 10 phyllo sheets, making sure to butter each one with a pastry brush. When 

laying each phyllo sheet, change the direction every time (crosswise).  Carefully press in the phyllo with your hands to fit all around the dish leaving the edges of the phyllo to hang over the sides of the 

dish. Pour in the cream and spread evenly with a spatula.

Carefully fold over the hanging phyllo sheets, buttering each time. Lay 3 phyllo sheets on the top, folding them in half and tucking in the sides.  Make sure to butter all the sheets. With a sharp knife, 

carefully cut on the top the phyllo sheets vertically and horizontally making 3 columns by 5 rows.  

Make sure to not cut all the way through to the cream, just the phyllo. With a spoon, drizzle the remaining butter in the edges and within the cuts of the rows and columns. With your hands, lightly sprinkle water all over the top of the phyllo, Bake, on the bottoms rack, for 1 hour or until golden brown.

For the syrup add all ingredients in a bowl and let them stir until it comes to boil. Let it simmer for 5 minutes. Both has to be warm so pour all the syrup over the Galaktompoureko. It needs to cool for 4 hours before serving.

Have fun my friends! <3