Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9x13x2-inch baking pan.
Step 2
Drain strawberries and reserve juice in a bowl. Chop into pieces and add any remaining juice to the bowl.
Step 3
Combine cottage cheese cream cheese 1/2 cup sugar egg yolks whole egg vanilla extract and lemon zest in a bowl. Blend together using an electric mixer on medium speed. Stir in the drained strawberries.
Step 4
Place phyllo dough sheets between dampened towels to keep moist.
Step 5
Place 1 phyllo sheet on the prepared pan. Brush with melted butter. Repeat until 1/2 of the sheets are left.
Step 6
Spoon the strawberry-cheese mixture over the top layer of phyllo; spread evenly. Layer the remaining phyllo sheets on top brushing each with butter.
Step 7
Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown about 1 hour.
Step 8
Combine 1/2 cup reserved strawberry juice remaining 1/2 cup sugar and lemon juice in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook into a thick syrup about 5 minutes.
Step 9
Spoon hot syrup evenly over the baked baklava. Let cool before cutting into pieces.