Greek Snail Shaped Cheese Pie Recipe With Feta, Yogurt And Béchamel Cream Filling

If you’re looking for a truly irresistible Greek cheese pie, this Tiropita Strifti (snail-shaped cheese pie) is everything you want. Crispy, golden phyllo wrapped around a rich, creamy cheese filling.

Unlike the classic version, this recipe uses a béchamel-style base enriched with a small amount of Greek yogurt, making the filling extra smooth, slightly tangy, and perfectly luscious. It’s easy to prepare, beautiful to serve, and ideal for breakfast, brunch, or as part of a meze table.

Table Of Contents

• Why You'll Love This Strifti Cheese Pie
• The Creamy Béchamel-Style Cheese Filling
• Alternative Cheeses You Can Use
• How to Shape the Perfect Snail Pie
• Choosing the Right Fat for Brushing
• Serve With
• Recipe

Why You'll Love This Strifti Cheese Pie

• It's extra flaky and crispy
• Beautiful to present
• The filling is deliciously creamy
• It's savory (feta cheese), sweet (Gruyere cheese), and slightly tangy (Greek yogurt)
• Perfect for sharing

Because of its spiral shape, this pie is ideal as a centerpiece at gatherings. Instead of cutting strict portions, everyone can simply pull apart pieces from different sections of the pie.

That means you don’t have to commit to a full slice.
And this creates a more relaxed, communal way of eating, the Greek Meze-style.

The Creamy Béchamel-Style Cheese Filling

What makes this cheese pie stand out is the filling.

Instead of mixing cheese with eggs and milk alone, we start by making a simple roux. Just like the base of a béchamel sauce. You cook flour with oil until smooth, then add milk and whisk until it thickens into a silky cream. Once slightly cooled, an egg and yogurt are added for richness and structure.

You May Also Like: My Crispiest, Creamiest Cheese Pie (Tiropita)

Then come the cheeses. Tangy feta for that classic Greek flavor,
Gruyere or kasseri cheese for meltiness and that irresistible stretchy texture.

Alternative Cheeses You Can Use

Here are some excellent cheese substitutes and combinations for this snail-shaped cheese pie:

• Ricotta + feta: creamy and balanced.
• Mozzarella + feta: extra stretchy
• Mild
Graviera: the Greek version of Gruyere

• Myzithra or Anthotyro: a lighter, less salty alternative to feta cheese
• Kefalotyri: sharper, more intense flavor than Gruyere
• Edam or Gouda: milder, family-friendly option to Gruyere


Tip: Always keep some feta in the mix for that authentic Greek flavor.

How to Shape the Perfect Snail Pie

Making a snail-shaped cheese pie is easier than you think!

First, lay one sheet of phyllo on your work surface and lightly brush it with oil.

Next, add a thin straight line of filling on the widest side of the filo. Leaving about 1 cm on each end so it doesn’t spill out while rolling. 


Then roll into a long log. Roll tightly but not too tightly.
Repeat the process, then arrange them in your pan to create the spiral shape.

Start placing your rolls from the outer edges of the pan. Take the first two rolls and secure their ends together to form a continuous piece. A little oil, or even a small drop of water, will help the phyllo stick so the ends join neatly.

Continue placing each roll inward toward the center, building the spiral as you go. As you add each new piece, you can either stick the ends together or simply tuck the end under the previous log to keep everything in place.

Once assembled, prick the pie in a few spots with a toothpick. This allows steam to escape during baking and prevents the creamy filling from bursting out.

More Tiropitas To Try: 30-Minute Cheese Pie with Feta and Anthotyro, or Crustless Feta Cheese Pie, Egg Cheese Pie with Feta and Phyllo

Choosing the Right Fat for Brushing

The fat you use will slightly change the final result. 
I use vegetable oil (sunflower oil) because it gives the filo a lighter, extra-flaky texture.


Olive oil gives a richer flavor but isn't as light. 
Melted butter gives a deeper flavor and even richer texture.
For the best balance, many Greek kitchens use a mix of vegetable and olive oil. Or a mixture of vegetable oil and melted butter.

Serve With


Serve this Spiral Cheese Pie for breakfast with Greek coffee or tea. 
As a brunch centerpiece with a fresh Tomato Salad or Greek Salad. 
As a side dish alongside roasted or stewed vegetables (such as Briami or Tourlou). 


On a meze table with olives and dips. It’s exactly the kind of dish people gather around. For a twist, try serving it with a light drizzle of honey for a sweet-savory contrast.

Recipe