Galaktoboureko - Greek Custard Slice

One of my favourit Greek desserts.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• 1  liter milk
• 110  g white sugar
• 185  g semolina
• 4  eggs
• 40  g  vanilla sugar
• 2  teaspoons lemon rind, finely grated
• 12  sheets phyllo pastry, halved crossways
• 75  g butter, melted

• Sugar syrup

• 450  g white sugar
• 500  ml water
• 2  tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1  cinnamon stick
• 6  cloves
• 1  strip  orange peel

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 180°C Bring milk and white sugar just to the boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Gradually add the semolina in a thin steady stream, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.
2. Reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring, for 3-5 minutes or until mixture is smooth and thickens slightly.
3. Remove from heat and set aside for 15-20 minutes to cool slightly. Gradually add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition until well combined. Add the vanilla sugar and lemon rind and stir until well combined.
4. Place the filo on a clean work surface. Cover with a clean tea towel, then a damp tea towel (this will prevent it drying out). Place 1 filo sheet in the base of a 24 x 30cm (base measurement) ovenproof dish and brush with a little melted butter. Top with another filo sheet and lightly brush with melted butter.
5. Repeat with another 10 filo sheets and melted butter to make a 12-sheet stack.
6. Pour semolina mixture over the filo in dish. Continue layering with remaining filo sheets and half the remaining melted butter to make another 12-sheet stack on top of the semolina mixture.
7. Use a small sharp knife to score top of galaktoboureko into 16 squares. Brush with the remaining melted butter. Bake in oven for 45 minutes or until golden.
8. Meanwhile, to make sugar syrup, place the sugar, water, lemon juice, cinnamon, cloves and orange peel in a saucepan and stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
9. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook, without stirring, for 10 minutes or until syrup thickens slightly. Strain syrup and discard cinnamon, cloves and peel.
10. Cut through marked lines on top of galaktoboureko. Pour over the hot syrup and set aside for 30 minutes to stand. Serve warm or at room temperature.