Traditional Börek/Burek Recipe
Börek refers to a broad category of pastries, all characterized by the use of phyllo dough. Variations like sigara böreği and su böreği share similar ingredients but differ in preparation and shape. For instance, sigara böreği is rolled into a cigar-like form, making it an ideal finger food. While the shapes and cooking methods vary, the signature element uniting all types of börek is the delicate, flaky phyllo dough.
Ingredients
- Eggs – 3
- Plain yogurt – 2 cups
- Olive oil – ¼ cup
- Ground chuck (pork, beef, lamb) – 1 ½ lb
- Garlic – 2 cloves
- Spinach, chopped – 2 cups
- Fresh dill, chopped – ¼ cup
- Parsley, chopped – ½ cup
- Onion, finely chopped – 1
- Grated mozzarella – ½ cup
- Feta cheese, crumbled – ½ cup
- Olive oil – 2 tbsp
- Salt – 1 tsp
- Black pepper – ½ tsp
- Phyllo sheets – 1 1lb. package
- Nigella seeds/sesame seeds) – 2 tsp
Instructions
- Nigella seeds/sesame seeds) – 2 tsp
- In a large skillet on medium-high heat, sauté the onion, garlic, and ground meat until the meat is cooked and the onions are translucent.
- In a separate bowl, combine spinach, dill, parsley, cheese, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Mix in meat and onion mixture with spinach and dill mixture. This is your filling.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F or 180 C. Brush the bottom and edges of a 9×13-inch pan with oil.
- Separate the phyllo dough into 2 sets (12-14 pieces each) and keep them covered so they don't dry out. Half will go on the bottom of the pie and half will go on the top.
- Place 2 sheets in the prepared pan and brush lightly with oil. Fold any hanging edges into the center.
- Set a third phyllo sheet into the greased pan. Using a brush, spread 2-3 tablespoons of the yogurt mix. Fold any hanging edges into the center.
- Repeat this pattern of 2 phyllo sheets, light oil, 1 phyllo sheet, and yogurt mix until one set of phyllo sheets is used.
- Once one set is used, spread the filling evenly across the topmost layer.
- Repeat the earlier pattern until all phyllo sheets are used up. In the top half, you can use less yogurt mix between layers, as you want to save about ½ cup.
- Using a serrated knife, cut the Börek into 12 even squares.
- After using all of your phyllo sheets, take the remaining ½ cup of yogurt mixture and pour evenly across the top of the burek.
- Sprinkle 2 tbsp of sesame or nigella seeds on top.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, until golden brown.
- Let the borek cool for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 412kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 25gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 108mgSodium: 583mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4g
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