A classic Mediterranean mezze, feta and herb cigars, with a twist. Instead of wrapping my cigars in finicky filo pastry, I opt for easy-to-use egg roll wrappers. A perfect finger food for Game Day or any day!
The eastern Mediterranean may be home to the best finger foods in the world. Within this region’s tradition of mezze – which is the name for a spread of small plates to be enjoyed before, or in between, meals – there is a subset of delectable appetizers and hors d’oeuvres that are best eaten with one hand – preferably while holding a glass of the local spirit in the other.
Some of the most famous of these Mediterranean finger foods are things like meatballs and stuffed grape leaves. But often these finger foods take the form of savory pastries or turnovers, usually wrapped in filo (or phyllo) dough – or yufka, which is the Turkish version of Greek filo – and fried. These pastries can come in the shape of triangles, squares, half-moons or, perhaps most likely, long and thin, like cigars.
One of the most traditional of these savory pastries is a filo cigar stuffed with a mixture of cheese, like feta, and chopped fresh green herbs. Doesn’t that sound so simple yet so delicious? According to Ghillie Basan, author of the book Mezze: Small Plates to Share, almost “every restaurant and household prepares these classic cigar-shaped pastries on a regular basis and they are devoured in quantity.” (86) I can certainly understand why. I too wanted to try to make this classic mezze at my home.
There is just one problem. I hate working with filo dough. There, I said it. I. Hate. Filo. I simply lack the manual dexterity or patience to deal with those paper-thin sheets of dough, which seem to tear at the drop of a hat and dry out as soon as you unwrap them.
But, as I thought about it more, I came up with a fun idea for making the feta and herb cigars of my dreams without messing around with fussy, aggravating filo dough: egg roll wrappers! Twin Dragon Egg Roll Wrappers are so convenient and easy to use. They are already the perfect size; they don’t stick together or tear; and they roll up like a dream. With Twin Dragon Egg Roll Wrappers, these feta and herb cigars come together in a matter of minutes, which is really what you are looking for in a finger food.
And if you are petrified of deep-frying, like I am, not to worry. You can pan-fry these cigars in just 1/2 inch of oil. Way easier to deal with the the several inches of oil needed for deep-frying. I used my cast iron skillet and heated the oil to 350ºF. Working with a few cigars at a time, it only took a couple minutes of frying on each side to produce these golden, cripsy rolls oozing with soft, melty feta cheese. Now that is my idea of perfect fusion finger food.
Twin Dragon Egg Roll Wrappers are available just about everywhere, including Walmart, Albertsons, Shaw’s, Von’s, Stater Bros, Fred Meyer, QFC, Safeway, Associated Stores, Giant Stores, Shop N Shop, Winco, and Price Chopper. So, you should have no trouble finding them. They are a fresh product, so be sure to look in the refrigerator case. (At home, store them in the refrigerator if using right now, or the freezer for longer term storage.) And did you know that these egg roll wrappers are vegan? That means that these feta and herb cigars are a great vegetarian finger food – even better!
In America, the biggest holiday for snacking and finger foods has to be Super Bowl Sunday which is this Sunday. Even if the midst of a pandemic with no big parties planned, I still want to put out a fun spread of appetizers and snacks that are easy to eat in front of the TV – even if it is just for my family. These feta and herb egg rolls are going to be just the thing for our at-home Super Bowl party.
Tell me, what are you planning to serve for the Super Bowl this year?
Ingredients
- 8 oz. feta (not crumbles)
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 5 TB chopped fresh herbs, such as dill, mint and flat-leaf parsley
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Pinch kosher salt
- 1 package Twin Dragon Egg Roll Wrappers
- Neutral oil for frying, such as vegetable or canola
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix together the feta, egg, Parmesan, herbs, pepper and salt and mash with a fork to combine.
- Open the package of egg roll wrappers and keep the unused wrappers covered with a damp towel while working.
- Place one wrapper on a clean surface with one corner pointing toward you. Place two tablespoons of the feta and herb mixture just below the middle of the wrapper and spread it into a long, thin line that almost reaches the edges of the wrapper.
- Moisten the edges of the wrapper with water. Cover the filling with the bottom of the wrapper, then tightly fold in the sides. Roll the wrapper up tightly and ensure that it is sealed shut.
- Place the filled wrapper on a plate and cover with a damp towel. Repeat with the remaiing filling. You should be able to make 8 to 9 cigars.
- Heat 1/2 inch of oil in a heavy, deep skillet until it reaches 350ºF. Working in batches so as not to crowd the skillet, carefully place three to four cigars in the hot oil and fry until the underside is golden brown. (This will take just a few minutes.) Carefully flip the cigars and cook until the second side is golden brown.
- Remove the cigars to a wire rack to drain and repeat with the remaining cigars. Serve immediately.
Full disclosure time: This post counts as an entry in the Twin Dragon Wrapper Blogger Recipe Contest. To participate in the recipe contest, I received Twin Dragon products free of charge. I have not been compensated for my work, although I am eligible for a cash prize if my recipe is selected. All opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.
