Sweet pastry cigars with almond and cinnamon filling

Chef Yotam Ottolenghi suggests finishing these sweet filo pastries with lemon rind instead of saffron, if you prefer. They're perfect as an after-dinner treat or for afternoon tea with a cup of Moroccan mint tea – search our website for a recipe.

• serves

  4–6

• prep

  30 minutes

• cook

  15 minutes

• difficulty

  Mid

Ingredients

• 70 g finely chopped walnuts
• 70 g finely chopped almonds
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• 80 g caster sugar
• 60 ml (¼ cup) water
• 1 pinch salt
• 3 tsp grated lemon rind
• 1 medium egg, separated
• 16 filo or warka pastry sheets (12 cm x 18 cm)
• 500 ml (2 cups) sunflower oil (approximately), for frying

Icing

• ½ tsp saffron threads
• 1½ tbsp boiling water
• 240 g (1½ cups) icing sugar
• 2¼ tbsp lemon juice

Standing time 45 minutes

Instructions

To make the icing, soak the saffron in the boiling water in a small bowl. Stand for 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, place the walnuts, almonds, cinnamon, sugar, water and salt in a medium pan. Heat on low, stirring, for about 4 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Whisk in the lemon rind and egg yolk and set aside.

Place 1 filo sheet on a clean, dry work surface, with the long edge facing you. Spread 15 g (about 3 tsp) of the nut mixture in a thin strip along the edge closest to you, clearing 1 cm away from the sides on the right and left. Fold the two sides over the paste to hold it in on both sides, and roll away from you to create a compact cigar. Brush the last 1 cm of pastry with the eggwhite and fold to seal. Repeat with remaining pastry and filling.

Pour enough oil into a medium frying pan to reach 2 cm up sides of pan.  Heat on medium–high heat until oil reaches 190°C. If you don’t have a thermometer, add a small piece of filo and see that it sizzles and cooks, but doesn’t brown and burn in seconds.  Cook the cigars, in batches, for 1–2 minutes on each side, or until golden-brown and crispy.  If it takes less time than this, reduce the heat. Remove with a slotted spoon or tongs and place on a wire rack.

To make a thick icing, whisk together the icing sugar and lemon juice until very thick but still pourable. Spoon or brush icing onto cigars, allowing it to coat them naturally. Use a fork to remove some saffron threads from the water and scatter them on top of cigars. Leave for a few minutes to set and then eat immediately.

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.