Martha Bakes Season 4 Episode 7 Phyllo

In season 4 episode 7 of Martha Bakes, titled Phyllo, Martha Stewart takes viewers on a journey through the layers of delicate phyllo dough. With its thin, flaky layers, phyllo is a versatile and impressive ingredient that can be incorporated into a variety of desserts and savory dishes.

Martha starts off by demonstrating how to make homemade phyllo dough from scratch. While store-bought phyllo can be a convenient option, Martha explains how making your own can be a fun and rewarding challenge. She goes through the steps of creating and rolling out the dough, and offers tips for ensuring that it stays thin and even.

Next, Martha shares several enticing desserts that feature phyllo. She starts with a classic baklava, a Middle Eastern pastry that is made up of dozens of layers of phyllo, nuts, and syrup. Martha's version includes walnuts, pistachios, and a spiced syrup made with orange zest and cinnamon. The end result is a beautifully layered pastry that is both sweet and crunchy.

Martha also creates a phyllo-wrapped apple tart, which is essentially a rustic apple pie wrapped in layers of phyllo dough. She demonstrates how to arrange the apple slices in the phyllo and then fold the dough around them to create a neat and tidy package. Finally, she adds a simple glaze made with apricot preserves and rum.

For a more savory application of phyllo, Martha makes individual vegetable strudels. These are made with a mixture of sautéed spinach, mushrooms, and feta cheese, which is then wrapped in several layers of phyllo dough. The resulting strudels are crispy and golden on the outside, and full of flavor on the inside.

Throughout the episode, Martha offers tips for working with phyllo, such as keeping it covered with a damp cloth to prevent it from drying out, and brushing each layer with melted butter to ensure that they stick together properly. She also suggests using a sharp serrated knife to cut the phyllo cleanly without smashing the layers.

Overall, this episode of Martha Bakes is a celebration of the beauty and versatility of phyllo dough. From baklava to strudels to apple tarts, Martha shows viewers how to create impressive and delicious desserts using this delicate pastry. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just learning, there's something in this episode for everyone to enjoy.