This recipe is a great option of making healthier cottage cheese rolls known not only in Bulgaria but also in a major part of the middle east. This dish is a healthier option for a snack known as banitsa in Bulgaria. Bulgarians have a legend about their mountains, pastures, and sea. The legend says that when God created the words and divided mountains, lands, pastures, and seas, yet nothing was left to create Bulgaria. Hence, God piked the best and magical pieces from the already created monarchies and countries to create with these pieces Bulgaria. When I lived in Bulgaria, I have heard this fib 1 million times and always was amazed by how proudly Bulgarians tell the legend about their land. However, banitsa is a traditional dish in Bulgaria and always a delicious treat in holidays, such as Christmas Eve and New year.
1 package sheets phyllo 4 eggs 1 cup olive oil 1 ½ lb cottage cheese 3 tablespoon yogurt ½ teaspoon salt or to taste ½ teaspoon dry thyme ½ teaspoon baking powder
Mix and whisk in a saucepan the following ingredients:
Cottage cheese
Yogurt
¼ cup olive oil
Salt
Baking powder
Thyme
1- Remove the phyllo from the plastic wrap 2- Divide the wraps into 2 equal parts 3- Cover the phyllo with a dry and clean kitchen towel to prevent them from becoming dry 4- Lay 2 sheets of phyllo on the countertop 5- Brush the phyllo sheets with olive oil / Do not use extra-virgin oil 6- Place 1 tablespoon of the filling in the center of the phyllo sheet 7- Wrap and roll – create a cylinder-shaped roll 8- Put aside on a parchment paper 9- Brush the rolls with olive oil 8- Freeze for 20 minutes 9- Bake at 340 °F or 170 °C until golden and crispy
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs
Always store at 45 °F to 55°F or 7°C to 12.8°C
You can get food poisoning from any product when surfaces are contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, from mixing meat products with vegetables or using contaminates utensils (cross-contamination). Food can be also contaminated if the one who is handling food does not wash their hands properly. Carriers of Hepatitis A, staphylococcus aureus, or other pathogens also can contaminate food.
During growth, harvest, and processing, one of the final products, represented by virgin olive oil, can be contaminated with coliform. Coliform bacteria can be non-pathogenic and opportunistic pathogen. They are isolated from animals, vegetables, and water. Studies show that this type of pathogen can survive in olive oil when it has a low level of phenolic compounds. Olive oil consists of 3 phenolic compounds and their level have to be high to prevent coliform bacteria to form and survive.
Eggs may contain Salmonella and causes a disease called salmonellosis. This illness is gastrointestinal. This form displays gastrointestinal symptoms which last for a couple of days. If healthy people ingest the infectious bacteria, the symptoms go away by themselves, but they may develop arthritis. The food linked to this type of salmonella is eggs, meat, fruits, vegetables, spices, and nuts.
Campylobacter jejuni is a bacterium found naturally in the intestines of poultry, cattle, swine, and wild birds. The bacteria have also been found in untreated surface water and manure. Campylobacter jejuni causes infections called campylobacteriosis. The most common symptoms of campylobacteriosis are self-limiting gastroenteritis and do not need antibiotic treatment.