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‘Tis the season for apple pie. There’s no doubt that it’s a favourite dessert. But pie crusts can add a wallop of fat and calories. Instead of a regular pie crust, enjoy your apples with phyllo which can be a convenient lower-fat alternative to regular pastry.
Look for packages of phyllo in the freezer section of your supermarket. But frequently, phyllo sheets are brushed with plenty of butter which boosts the fat content considerably. Instead in this recipe, nonstick vegetable oil spray is used.
Use the leftover phyllo, which can be refrozen for savoury or dessert pastries. The apples, margarine and nuts all combine for a blood cholesterol lowering effect as well – all in a yummy dessert.
Apple Streusel Tart
Serves 6
Ingredients
3 phyllo pastry sheets, thawed
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
1 1/2 teaspoons (7 mL) dry breadcrumbs
2 tbsp (25 mL) brown sugar
1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground cinnamon
2 yellow Delicious apples, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch (0.6-cm) slices
For topping
2 tbsp (25 mL) soft non-hydrogenated margarine
2 tbsp (25 mL) packed brown sugar
2 tbsp (25 mL) all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp (2 mL) cinnamon
3 tbsp (45 mL) chopped pecans or walnuts, toasted
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F/ 190°C.
To make topping, in a small bowl using a fork or your fingertips blend margarine, brown sugar, and flour until smooth and blend in nuts. Set aside.
Prepare a 9-inch ( 22.5-cm) tart pan with removable bottom by spraying with nonstick vegetable oil spray. Place one sheet of phyllo dough in the tart pan and press into sides of the pan. (Keep remainder covered with a damp towel to prevent drying.) Spray sheet with nonstick vegetable oil spray. Sprinkle phyllo with 1/2 teaspoon (2 mL) breadcrumbs. Repeat with the second and third sheet. Using scissors, trim excess phyllo so that the phyllo is even with the top of the tart pan. Tuck edges down towards bottom so that they will not burn during baking.
In a small bowl, mix together sugar and cinnamon.
In a medium bowl, toss apple slices with cinnamon sugar mixture. Arrange apple slices over phyllo by making circles of overlapping slices. Sprinkle topping mixture evenly over apples.
Bake for 45 minutes or until apple slices are tender and topping is golden.
Nutritional information
• Calories: 149
• Protein: 1 gram
• Fat: 7 grams
• Saturated Fat: 1 gram
• Carbohydrate: 22 grams
• Dietary Fibre: 1 gram
• Sodium: 84 milligrams
Do you use phyllo or does it intimidate you? Please share in the comment section below.
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Phyllo, filo or fillo – however you spell it- is an amazing ingredient … read more
Enlightened Eater 
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