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Golden, crispy phyllo feta rolls served on an oval plate, garnished with honey, nuts, and sesame seeds.

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Crispy Phyllo Feta Rolls with Hot Honey & Pistachios

Recipe by Chloe Davis

These shatteringly crisp, golden pastries are the ultimate sweet-and-salty appetizer. Thick sticks of tangy feta are wrapped in flaky phyllo dough, brushed generously with a lemon-garlic infused butter, and baked until the cheese is molten and the pastry is beautifully browned. A heavy drizzle of warm hot honey and a shower of crushed pistachios over the top takes the texture and flavor completely over the edge.

  • Total Time40 minutes
  • Yield10 rolls (serves 5) 1x

Ingredients

Scale

Garlic-Lemon Butter

  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted (1 stick)
  • 2 medium garlic cloves, finely grated
  • 1 Tbsp. freshly grated lemon zest (from about 1 medium lemon)
  • 1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh dill

Feta & Pastry

  • 1 (8-ounce / 225g) block whole-milk feta cheese (sheep’s milk preferred), patted dry
  • 10 sheets (9-by-14-inch) frozen phyllo pastry, thawed

Topping

  • 1 Tbsp. mixed black and white sesame seeds
  • ¼ cup (85g) hot honey, slightly warmed for serving
  • 2 Tbsp. finely chopped roasted, salted pistachios

Instructions

  1. Preheat and prep: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Infuse the butter: In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, grated garlic, lemon zest, and fresh dill. Set aside so the flavors can meld while you prep the cheese.
  3. Portion the feta: Using a sharp knife, cut the block of feta into 10 equal sticks (about ¾-inch thick).
  4. Wrap the rolls: Unroll the thawed phyllo dough and cover the stack completely with a slightly damp kitchen towel to prevent it from drying out. Place one sheet of phyllo flat on your work surface. Dip a pastry brush into the garlic-lemon butter (making sure to pick up some of the garlic and zest) and lightly brush the entire sheet. Fold the sheet in half crosswise so the short ends meet. Lightly brush the folded top.
  5. Roll and seal: Place one feta stick horizontally about 2 inches up from the bottom edge of the folded phyllo. Fold the bottom edge up over the cheese, then fold both the left and right sides tightly inward (like rolling a burrito). Roll the feta upward snugly all the way to the top. Brush the outside of the finished cylinder with a little more butter and place it seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining feta sticks and phyllo sheets.
  6. Bake: Sprinkle the top of each roll with the mixed sesame seeds. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the pastry is deeply golden brown and shatteringly crisp.
  7. Garnish and serve: Transfer the hot feta rolls to a serving platter. Immediately drizzle the warm hot honey generously over the tops, then scatter the crushed pistachios over the honey so they stick. Serve warm.

Notes

  • Why it works: Mixing the raw garlic and lemon zest directly into the melted butter (rather than pressing it onto the cheese) is the secret here. It flavors every single layer of the pastry from the outside in, and allows the harsh bite of the garlic to gently cook out in the oven.
  • Working with phyllo: Phyllo dough dries out and cracks in a matter of minutes when exposed to air. Have your damp towel ready before you even open the plastic packaging, and only pull out one sheet at a time.
  • Make-ahead tip: You can assemble the rolls up to 24 hours in advance. Place the unbaked rolls on your baking sheet, wrap tightly with plastic wrap, and store in the refrigerator. Bake straight from the fridge, adding 1 to 2 extra minutes to the cooking time.

Nutrition (per serving — estimates)

Calories: 435 | Total Carbs: 32g (Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 14g) | Fat: 30g (Saturated: 18g) | Protein: 9g | Sodium: 520mg

Nutritional values are approximate, based on standard reference data (USDA FoodData Central). Actual values vary by brand and exact measurements. For precision, use a tracker like MyFitnessPal or Cronometer.

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean-Inspired

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 rolls
  • Calories: 435
  • Sugar: 14g
  • Sodium: 520mg
  • Fat: 30g
  • Saturated Fat: 18g
  • Carbohydrates: 32g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 9g

Find it online: https://delicious.alfityan.org/2026/09/28/crispy-phyllo-feta-rolls-with-hot-honey-pistachios/