Honey-Drizzled Phyllo-Wrapped Feta with Sesame, Lemon & Microgreens

There are some dishes that look far more impressive than the effort they require, and this is one of them.

Crisp golden phyllo wraps around warm, salty feta, then gets finished with toasted sesame seeds, a generous drizzle of honey, fresh lemon and a handful of delicate microgreens.

It has everything you want in a good starter — crunch, creaminess, saltiness, sweetness and a little freshness to balance it all out.

I love serving this when entertaining because it feels special without being fussy. It works beautifully as a small starter before dinner, but it’s just as good as a relaxed snack with drinks when guests arrive.

Serve it straight from the oven while the phyllo is crisp and the feta is warm.

Serves

4 as a starter

Phyllo wrapped feta Ingredients

• 200 g feta cheese

• 4 sheets phyllo pastry

• 40 g butter, melted

• 2 tbsp sesame seeds

• 2–3 tbsp honey

• 1 lemon

• 1 small handful microgreens

• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C.

2. Cut the feta into 4 even portions.

3. Lay one sheet of phyllo pastry on a clean work surface and brush lightly with melted butter.

4. Place one piece of feta near the edge of the pastry and fold the sides in before rolling it up into a neat parcel.

5. Repeat with the remaining feta and phyllo.

6. Place the parcels on a lined baking tray, seam-side down.

7. Brush the tops lightly with melted butter and sprinkle generously with sesame seeds.

8. Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the phyllo is crisp and golden.

9. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for a minute or two.

10. Arrange on serving plates and drizzle with honey.

11. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, a little lemon zest, microgreens and freshly ground black pepper.

To Serve

Serve immediately while the pastry is still crisp.

For entertaining, I like placing each parcel on a small plate with a handful of microgreens, a wedge of lemon and an extra drizzle of honey just before serving.

You can also make smaller parcels and serve them as a canapé-style snack with drinks.

Melani’s Tip

The contrast is what makes this dish work, so don’t be shy with the lemon. The acidity cuts through the richness of the feta and honey and keeps the dish beautifully balanced.

If you want a little extra texture, add a few toasted pistachios or walnuts just before serving.