Tomato basil mozzarella filo parcels are a delicious healthier version of Empanadas. All the classic flavours you would expect from a tomato basil mozzarella Empanada but with less calories and fat!
Tomato basil mozzarella filo parcels are my latest tasty filo parcel creation.
The best comparison I could come up with here is that they’re like Empanadas being a folded pastry dough with a stuffing.
But I think they could also be compared to a certain brand of crispy pancakes!
Does anyone remember those crispy pancakes I’m referring to?
A quick google to see if those pancakes are actually still available (it’s been that long since I had them) and they’re not.
I loved those as a kid, but I recall that they weren’t particularly healthy.
So I tell you what, these are my healthier version of those crispy pancakes or a version of Empanadas, you choose!
These filo parcels are beautifully flaky and with an amazing satisfying crunch.
Then there’s the tomato basil mozzarella filling; a classic combination of flavours that go together so well!
I’ve been using filo pastry as a lower calorie / lower fat alternative to traditional pastry ever since I found a Weigh Watchers recipe that used filo pastry five years ago and I love it!
My variation of that Weight Watchers recipe in question is the salmon filo parcels recipe.
It was about five years ago that I started to change my diet and lifestyle for the better.
Small changes in my cooking and eating habits, like using filo pastry instead of normal buttery pastry contributing to a gradual two stone weight loss.
It’s not about changing absolutely everything to keep within a healthy weight, it just requires a few dietary and lifestyle changes.
And keeping the treats like puddings and desserts and home baking in check!
So if you enjoyed this recipe then how about trying my turkey filo pastry samosas recipe?
You can even use filo pastry to make healthier dessert recipes like this spiralized apple filo pastry!
- Low fat cooking spray
- 8 sheets Filo Pastry
- 2 tomatoes
- 15 g Basil , chopped
- 150 g grated mozzarella
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 cloves garlic , crushed
- Freshly grated salt and pepper
- Pre-heat oven to 180C
- Using the low fat cooking spray lightly grease a baking tray
- Using a sharp knife place a cross in the base of the 2 tomatoes, plunge them into boiling water for 20 – 30 seconds, remove them using a slotted spoon, plunge them into cold water briefly and then peal off the skin. Dice the skinned tomatoes.
- Place the tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, olive oil and garlic into a bowl and mix together. Season to taste.
Following the pictures and steps 6 to 11 in the turkey filo pastry samosas recipe, place approximately 2 tbsp. of the tomato mixture onto each pastry sheet and fold into triangles.
- Bake in the centre of the oven for approximately 20 minutes turning halfway through.
- Once golden brown remove from the oven and allow to cool a little.
- Serve with a fresh green salad.
Nutrition label values are per filo parcel.
Well folks, Lady Lynne and I will be heading off for a short break to London this weekend.
A short theatre weekend break to see Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre. Similar to our London break last year where we saw The Railway Children but this time without the bus trip!
So, I’ll catch up with you on Tuesday with more from our trip to Hawaii and San Francisco with a recap on our day trip to Pearl Harbor.
Then on Thursday, a brand new Cheesecake recipe, a no bake mint chocolate chip cheesecake one!
Until then have a great weekend! 🙂
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mmmm these look like the perfect appetizer for Mother’s day! YUM!
rachel @ athletic avocado recently posted…Coconut Cookie Dough Baked Protein Bars {Paleo, Low Carb & Gluten-Free!}
Hi Rachel, yes that’s a great idea! I forgot how you guys have mothers day at a different time of the year over there. But these would go down perfectly!
Thanks! Have a great weekend! 🙂
Neil, these filo parcels with tomato and mozzarella and basil sound simply delicious! They kinda reminded me more of a smaller, more exquisite version of a calzone – but, I see the empanada comparison too – though now you have me intrigued about those crispy pancakes!
Hope you and Lady Lynne have a wonderful weekend in London! My daughter and I will be heading that way, ourselves, this summer 🙂
Thank you Shashi. Yes I would agree with you that these filo parcels are quite likea calzone too. When I was making them I ended up comparing them to so many different things as you read in the recipe. 🙂
That’s fantastic that you and your daughter are heading to London this summer. It’s a shame we missed you this weekend. If you are anywhere near Glasgow or Edinburgh let Lynne and I know and we might be able to try and meet up with you!
Crispy triangles of heaven! That is what I would like to call these. Dip them into a cheese spiked tomato sauce and you’re GOLDEN!
I actually think your name for these sounds much better than the one I dreampt up! 😉
Thanks GiGi. 😀
WOW these look so delicious. Filo is such a lovely light pastry. I love cheese and basil filling, and its really great that these are baked and not fried. Love it!!!!
Hi Ashika, I’m very glad you like these. 🙂
I think that baking these rather than frying them also means that you get much less mess! 😉
What a fun idea to use filo dough instead of puff pastry to cut back on calories. I absolutely love the filling here, Neil! This combo just screams summer and warm days to me…and I can totally see eating these for a light lunch on the back porch. I hope you guys had fun in London this weekend. Les Mis happens to be one of our top 5 musicals, and I’m excited that it’s coming back through our area next Spring. We really do need to get over to London on vacation sometime though. 🙂 I hope you’ll share some more about that trip sometime soon! Happy Monday!
David @ Spiced recently posted…Confetti Pasta Salad
I totally agree with you David that these Tomato Basil Mozzarella Filo Parcels would make a wonderful light lunch. And I’d happily join you there on your back porch to enjoy them!
We had a fantastic time in London thanks. And Les Miserables was even better than I could have imagined.
Hope you guys get a chance to go and see Les Mis when it comes back through to your area next Spring. Its definitely one I wouldn’t want to miss if it came anywhere near Glasgow again! 🙂