**Bourek: A Journey Through Flavors and Cultures**
Discover the delectable world of bourek, a culinary treasure that tantalizes taste buds with its flaky pastry and savory fillings. Originating in the vibrant lands of Turkey, bourek has embarked on a culinary journey, captivating palates across the globe. From the bustling streets of Istanbul to the cozy homes of Greece, Bulgaria, and beyond, bourek has woven its way into the fabric of diverse cuisines. With its versatility as its hallmark, bourek offers a symphony of flavors and textures, each recipe a testament to the creativity and culinary heritage of its region. In this article, we present a curated collection of bourek recipes, each a unique expression of this beloved dish. From the classic Turkish börek with its layers of crispy yufka pastry and succulent meat filling, to the phyllo-wrapped Greek bougatsa brimming with sweet custard or savory cheese, our selection promises to transport you to a world of culinary delight. Let your taste buds embark on an unforgettable adventure as you explore the diverse flavors and techniques that make bourek a truly remarkable culinary experience.
EASY CROATIAN BUREK RECIPE
You can't miss trying burek when in the Balkans - and you'll fall in love. So, here is an easy to make Croatian burek recipe.
Provided by Chasing the Donkey
Categories Balkan Recipes In English
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Take a large bowl and combine the flour and the salt
- Add the water bit by bit, mixing until the mixture forms a dough
- Knead the dough for around five minutes, until it turns quite stretchy
- Split the dough mixture into batches of four and press down to flatten
- You need to find a bowl or a pan which is large enough to hold the dough when it is piled up on top of each other
- Add a little bit of vegetable oil to the pan or bowl and put the first flattened piece of dough inside
- Add a bit more oil (not too much), and add another piece of dough - repeat until you've done the same with all four pieces
- Add more vegetable oil on top of the last piece and place to one side to rest
- Preheat your oven to around 200°C (390°F)
- Add a little vegetable oil over your work surface (a table is best) - just a little!
- Remove one piece of dough from the bowl and remove the excess oil
- Flatten the piece of dough until it reaches a thickness of no more than around half a centimeter
- Handle the dough and stretch it outwards, over and over, so that you pull it to around 1 meter in diameter - you might end up with a few holes but don't worry about it too much. By the end, you should be able to see through the dough
- Take one side of the dough disc and fold it over, towards the center
- Repeat this process until you have a shape that resembles a pentagon
- Repeat with the second piece of dough
- Add your filling (see below for the filling instructions) to the dough piece
- Add the first piece of stretched dough into the middle of the second one, and cut away the thick edge of the second piece - you can throw this away, you won't need it
- Fold over the edges of the dough, so that you get a pentagon shape once more, and put it into a baking pan or tray
- Put the pan in the oven and bake for around half an hour, until it is a golden color
- Remove from the oven and let it cool down
- Cut into 12 pieces
- Repeat the process with the rest of the dough
- Bake until the pastry turns golden, and serve while warm!
- Take a mixing bowl and add in both kinds of cheese, combining together
- Add the egg and combine once more
- Take a large pan and heat up the oil over a medium heat
- Add the onion and cook until soft
- Now, add the mince and cook for around 2 minutes, stirring regularly
- Now, add the potato, the rosemary, the garlic, and the paprika, and stir to combine
- Add the salt and continue to cook, ensuring the beef mince is cooked through
- Once cooked, drain the beef with a sieve to get rid of any excess oil and press down to dry it out
BOUREK (MEAT FILLED PASTRY)
This is an Algerian appetizer. Traditionally ground lamb is used for the filling but you can also try ground beef or turkey or even one time I did spinach and feta. You can also adjust the seasonings. I think phyllo dough is a pain to work with and was told to try it with an asian type wrapper. I tried but it didn't come out as well. You can fold the dough around it pretty much any way you want. Just do them all the same so they cook in the same amount of time.
Provided by Cookie16
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 40m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add the lamb and stir-fry a minute.
- Add the onion, parsley, salt, pepper and cinnamon and cook over medium low heat til lamb is cooked through.
- Take one sheet of phyllo and fold both side to the center length-wise.
- Sprinkle lightly with melted butter.
- Place 2 heaping tablespoons of meat stuffing at one end of the phyllo.
- Press it out til it is about 4 inches wide and 1 inch deep.
- Roll the dough over and roll about 3 times.
- Sprinkle a bit more butter on the end and dab with egg to seal.
- Do this with the remaining meat mix and phyllo.
- Bake in a buttered baking dish in 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
SERBIAN BEEF BUREK (BUREK SA MESOM)
Steps:
- Gather the ingredients.
- In a large skillet, sauté the onion and ground chuck over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink and the onions are translucent.
- Drain in a colander .
- Return the meat-onion mixture to skillet and add the parsley, salt, and pepper and cook for 1 minute, mixing thoroughly. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
- Lightly coat a 9 x 13-inch pan with cooking spray . Separate the phyllo dough into 2 piles (approximately 10 to 14 sheets each) and keep 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, folding in any overhanging edges. Add 2 more sheets and brush with oil. Continue until you've used one pile of phyllo.
- Spread the cooled ground chuck mixture evenly over the phyllo, pushing up to the edges. Begin covering the meat with the remaining phyllo, again using 2 sheets at a time and brushing with oil. Continue until all of the phyllo is used.
- Brush the entire top lightly with oil. Using a serrated knife and a sawing motion, cut burek all the way to the bottom into 12 squares.
- In a medium bowl, mix the eggs with the yogurt and soda water . Pour over the burek. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Remove the plastic wrap and bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool slightly before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 355 kcal, Carbohydrate 23 g, Cholesterol 98 mg, Fiber 1 g, Protein 21 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Sodium 650 mg, Sugar 2 g, Fat 19 g, ServingSize 1 pie (8 to 10 servings), UnsaturatedFat 0 g
REZIKA'S CHEESE & POTATO BOUREK (ALGERIAN SPRING ROLLS)
Here is the second of my Algerian bourek recipes. I have also posted a Chicken & Preserved Lemon Bourek recipe. This cheese & potato bourek is another of my family favourites & there never seem to be enough! You can use phyllo dough instead of the spring roll sheets. You can also add a few finely chopped olives in place of the gherkins. If you're not familiar with making bourek, have a look at the NA*ME Fourms Bourek Demo: http://www.recipezaar.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=310912
Provided by Um Safia
Categories Potato
Time 50m
Yield 20-24 bourek
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl, check for seasoning - adjust if required. Allow the mixed filling to cool if the mash is hot.
- Fill & roll your bourek as follows:.
- Lay 1 spring roll sheet on your work surface & place 2 generous teaspoonfulls of the filling onto the sheet. You need to place it in a line approx 1" up from the bottom of the sheet & the line of filling should have a fraction over 1" of spring roll sheet visable on both the left & right side.
- Next bring the left side of the sheet over the filling - it will overlap the filling by about an inch. Do the same with the right side.
- Take the bottom of the sheet in both hands & pull it up so that it covers the line of filling.
- With a pastry brush or the back of a teaspoon, brush a small amount of the flour paste along the edges of the sheet.
- Now start to roll the bourek, be careful to keep it tight & even. When you have rolled it up securely, you can brush a tiny amount of the paste along the seam so that the bourek stays closed whilst it is being fried.
- Repeat these steps with the remaining spring roll sheets.
- Now you can either freeze the bourek or fry them in a little oil. Cook over a medium heat in batches, in a large frying pan / skiller & fry until a deep golden colour on all sides - turning as required!
TURKISH-STYLE LAMB BOREKS
These irresistible savory pastries go by many names throughout the Middle East. In Turkey, they are called boreks and the best ones have a beguiling, complex filling that features salty, sweet and sour elements. If you can't find pomegranate molasses, substitute lemon juice and honey, and maybe a splash of sweet vinegar. It's easy to cut these large boreks into two, three or four pieces, for feeding a crowd.
Provided by David Tanis
Categories finger foods, pastries, appetizer, main course
Time 1h
Yield 8 large servings, or up to 32 small bites
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Prepare the meat filling: Place a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and the butter. When oil and butter are hot, add onions and cook briskly, stirring, until onions are lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add lamb to onions and break into rough pieces with a wooden spoon, mashing occasionally, until lamb is crumbly and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Season mixture generously with salt and pepper, then add cinnamon, cumin, cayenne and sumac. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes more, stirring. Raise heat as necessary to let mixture brown well. Stir in pomegranate molasses, raisins and pine nuts. Taste and adjust seasoning, then set aside to cool.
- Prepare the cheese filling: Put feta and yogurt in a bowl and whisk together. Season with salt and pepper, whisk in beaten egg, then stir in parsley, fresh mint and dried mint.
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Assemble boreks one at a time: Lay one sheet of phyllo on a clean work surface. Brush very lightly with olive oil. Carefully place another phyllo sheet directly on top and brush with oil. Fold this doubled sheet in half, to form a rectangle 9 by 14 inches. Position it so the 9-inch end is facing you.
- Spoon 3 tablespoons cheese filling over surface of rectangle, smearing with the back of a spoon to cover, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Sprinkle 1/4 cup lamb mixture in a 2-inch ribbon along the edge closest to you.
- Fold over long sides of pastry an inch or so to help contain filling. Lift edge and loosely roll up pastry away from you, as if rolling up a carpet. Brush pastry lightly with oil as you proceed. The result should look like a flat cigar, about 3 inches wide and about 8 inches long. Continue to assemble remaining boreks.
- Transfer pastries to a parchment-lined baking sheet, placing them 1 inch apart. Brush tops with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame, nigella or poppy seeds. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until nicely browned. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 506, UnsaturatedFat 16 grams, Carbohydrate 38 grams, Fat 31 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 20 grams, SaturatedFat 12 grams, Sodium 544 milligrams, Sugar 11 grams, TransFat 0 grams
BUREK
This recipe is Eastern European in origin; being from Bosnia, my mom made this for me growing up and my whole family always looked forward to it! Serve with Balkan style yogurt for authenticity.
Provided by mms09
Categories Main Dish Recipes Savory Pie Recipes Beef Pie Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Brown ground beef in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain fat; stir in allspice, paprika, salt, and pepper. Transfer beef to a large bowl and stir in potato and onion.
- Unroll phyllo pastry and transfer 2 sheets to a work surface; stack sheets. Spoon 1/8th of the ground beef mixture down one long edge of the phyllo pastry. Roll phyllo into a tube, encasing beef. Shape the tube into a coil (snail shape). Place the roll on an ungreased baking sheet; brush with melted butter. Repeat, placing finished rolls up against one another to keep them from unrolling.
- Bake burek in the preheated oven until golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 797.1 calories, Carbohydrate 72.8 g, Cholesterol 115.6 mg, Fat 42.1 g, Fiber 4.7 g, Protein 29.9 g, SaturatedFat 18.5 g, Sodium 707 mg, Sugar 2 g
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the bourek will taste. Look for fresh, flavorful meat, vegetables, and herbs.
- Season the meat well: The meat is the star of the show in bourek, so make sure it's well-seasoned. Use a variety of spices, such as paprika, cumin, coriander, and garlic.
- Don't overfill the pastries: Bourek should be filled with a generous amount of meat, but don't overfill them, or they will be difficult to fold and seal.
- Fry the bourek until golden brown: Bourek should be fried until they are golden brown and crispy. This will help to seal in the juices and prevent the pastries from becoming soggy.
- Serve bourek with a dipping sauce: Bourek is traditionally served with a dipping sauce, such as tzatziki or yogurt sauce.
Conclusion:
Bourek is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer, main course, or snack. It's a great way to use up leftover meat and vegetables, and it's also a fun and easy dish to make. So next time you're looking for a new recipe to try, give bourek a try. You won't be disappointed!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love