Shrimp and Sesame Sticks with Apricot Dipping Sauce

Preparation

1. Make shrimp filling:

   Step 1

   Pulse together all filling ingredients in a food processor until they form a coarse paste.

2. Make sticks:

   Step 2

   Preheat oven to 450°F.

   Step 3

   Cover phyllo with 2 overlapping sheets of plastic wrap and then a dampened kitchen towel. Put 1 phyllo sheet on a work surface, keeping remainder covered, and brush generously with butter. Stack 2 more phyllo sheets on top, generously buttering each.

   Step 4

   Cut phyllo stack in half lengthwise, then arrange 1 half with a long side nearest you. With dampened fingers shape 3 tablespoons shrimp filling into a narrow rope along edge nearest you, then roll up paste tightly in phyllo to form a long thin roll. Make another roll with other half of stack. Make 6 more rolls with remaining phyllo sheets, butter, and shrimp filling.

   Step 5

   Lightly brush top of rolls with egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds and kosher salt. Cut each roll crosswise into 4 sticks and arrange, seam sides down, 1 inch apart on 2 large baking sheets. Bake sticks in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until phyllo is golden brown, about 15 minutes total.

   Step 6

   Transfer sticks to a rack to cool slightly and serve warm with dipping sauce.