Crispy Fillo Cups with Creamy Potato and Sausage Crumbles

Fillo Cups with Potatoes and Sausage Crumbs
Category: Appetizers
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Instructions

1. Prepare the Fillo Cups
   Begin by preparing the fillo cups. Unroll the fillo dough and cut it into 8 squares, each measuring approximately 10-12 cm on each side. To do this, first cut the dough into 4 vertical strips, then divide the strips horizontally to form square pieces.

   Melt the butter, either in a small saucepan or microwave. Brush the inside of 9 cm aluminum molds with the melted butter. Place one square of fillo dough inside the mold, then brush it again with butter. Layer another square of dough on top, repeating the buttering process between each layer. Once you have enough layers, trim off any excess dough with scissors or a knife.

2. Blind Baking the Fillo Cups
   Arrange the prepared fillo cups in a baking tray and fill them with dried beans to prevent them from puffing up during baking. No parchment paper is necessary for this step.

   Bake the cups in a preheated static oven at 200°C (or 180°C in a fan oven) for about 15 minutes. Once baked, carefully remove the beans and continue baking for another 5 minutes to ensure the interior of the cups becomes golden and crisp.

3. Prepare the Potato Cream
   While the fillo cups are baking, cook the potatoes. In a pressure cooker, cook the potatoes for about 10 minutes (you can use one large or two smaller potatoes, around 300g). Once cooked, mash the potatoes using a potato ricer.

   Transfer the mashed potatoes to a mixing bowl, season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg. Stir in the grated Parmigiano Reggiano for extra richness and flavor.

4. Cook the Sausage Crumbs
   In a skillet, heat a small drizzle of extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the sausage paste and cook it, breaking it up into small crumbles with a spoon, until golden and crispy. For an added kick, you can sprinkle in some freshly cracked black pepper to taste.

5. Assemble the Fillo Cups
   Now that all the components are ready, it’s time to assemble the cups. Take each fillo cup and fill it with about 60g of the creamy mashed potato mixture.

   Sprinkle the cooked sausage crumbs on top of the potato filling and garnish with fresh thyme leaves.

6. Serve and Enjoy
   Your crispy fillo cups with creamy potatoes and flavorful sausage are ready to serve. Enjoy them as a delightful appetizer or a perfect bite-sized snack for any occasion!

These fillo cups with potatoes and sausage crumbs combine the perfect balance of crispy, creamy, and savory flavors, making them an irresistible addition to your appetizer spread.