Best 4 Burekas With Spinach Or Eggplant Filling Recipes

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Burekas are delicious pastries with flaky phyllo dough and savory fillings. They are a popular dish in many countries, including Israel, Greece, and Turkey. In this article, we present two delicious variations of burekas: one with a spinach filling and the other with an eggplant filling. Both recipes use simple and easily accessible ingredients, making them perfect for home cooks of all skill levels. The spinach burekas are a vegetarian delight, featuring a combination of fresh spinach, creamy feta cheese, and aromatic herbs. On the other hand, the eggplant burekas offer a more robust flavor with tender eggplant, a blend of spices, and tangy tomato sauce. Whether you prefer the vibrant green of spinach or the deep purple of eggplant, these burekas are sure to tantalize your taste buds.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

BUREKAS - MY FAVORITE BREAKFAST PASTRIES



Burekas - My Favorite Breakfast Pastries image

Provided by Joan Nathan

Categories     Vegetable     Breakfast     Brunch     Bake     Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur     Kosher     Shavuot     Phyllo/Puff Pastry Dough     Sugar Conscious     Kidney Friendly     Vegetarian     Pescatarian     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free

Yield Yield: About 60 bureka triangles

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
16-ounce package phyllo dough, thawed
Filling of your choice (see recipes below)
1 large egg
Black or regular sesame seeds for sprinkling

Steps:

  • 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • 2. Using a pastry brush, coat the bottom of a cookie sheet with some of the melted butter.
  • 3. Take a sheet of phyllo and cut lengthwise in strips, 4 1/2 inches wide. Butter the strips, fold over lengthwise, butter again, and place a tablespoon of filling on the end. Then fold up right to left as you would a flag, so that the end result is a plump triangle, buttering the outside at the end. Repeat with the remaining filling and dough. Beat the egg, brush the burekas with it, and sprinkle sesame seeds over the tops.
  • 4. Place on the cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until golden in color.
  • NOTE You can also mold and freeze the burekas after forming. Defrost for 2 hours and then bake. You can fill any leftover phyllo with chocolate chips or Nutella and make triangular treats.
  • THREE WAYS TO FILL A BUREKA
  • Spinach Filling
  • Yield: About 2 cups, enough filling for about 20 burekas
  • 2 pounds fresh spinach or Swiss chard leaves, washed well, or two 10-ounce packages chopped frozen spinach 2 large eggs, beaten lightly 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill 8 scallions, diced Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 1. Place the fresh spinach or Swiss chard leaves in a frying pan with only the water that clings to the leaves, and cook briefly until they wilt. (If using frozen spinach, simply defrost.) Drain very well, squeezing out as much of the water as possible. Cool and chop.
  • 2. Mix together the eggs, feta and cheddar cheeses, parsley, dill, and scallions. Add the spinach and salt and pepper to taste; mix well.
  • 3. Use about 1 tablespoon of filling for each bureka.
  • Eggplant Filling
  • Yield: About 2 cups, enough filling for about 20 burekas
  • 2 medium eggplants (about 2 pounds) 1/3 cup kasseri or feta cheese, crumbled 1/3 cup grated sheep or mozzarella cheese 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley Salt to taste
  • 1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Prick the skin of the eggplants all over and roast on an oiled cookie sheet for 25 minutes, turning occasionally.
  • 2. Remove the pulp from the skin, discarding the seeds and draining off any extra liquid. Cool slightly, then pat dry and coarsely chop. Combine the eggplant pulp, cheeses, and cilantro or parsley and mash well with a fork; add salt if needed.
  • 3. Use about 1 tablespoon of filling for each bureka.
  • Cheese Filling
  • Yield: About 2 cups, enough filling for about 20 burekas
  • 2 large eggs 1 cup grated cheddar cheese 1 cup crumbled feta cheese Freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 1. Beat the eggs in a small bowl. Add the cheddar and feta cheeses and pepper to taste. Mix well.
  • 2. Use about 1 tablespoon of filling for each bureka.
  • Joan Nathan shares her tips with Epicurious: •These pastries came to Israel with Sephardic Jews from Turkey and Greece. The first filling is more Greek-influenced, while the other two are more Turkish. •Nathan recommends a high-quality Greek feta cheese and a sharp cheddar for the fillings. •After folding up the burekas flag-style, be sure to pinch around the edges of each pastry to avoid filling spilling out during baking.

SPINACH AND FETA BOUREKAS



Spinach and Feta Bourekas image

Light and soft, with a bit of crunch, these bourekas are one of my favorite appetizers for holidays. They can be filled with almost anything, but spinach and feta is one of my favorite fillings topped everything seasoning, and these little triangles are out of this world. - Alex Stepanov, Matawan, New Jersey

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Appetizers

Time 50m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
1 pound fresh spinach, trimmed
1/2 cup chopped shallots
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 package (17.3 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
1 large egg, beaten
1 tablespoon everything seasoning blend

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400°. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add spinach, shallots, and garlic; cook and stir until wilted, 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat; strain off any excess water. Stir in salt and pepper, set aside to cool to room temperature., On a lightly floured surface, unfold puff pastry. Cut each sheet into 4 squares. In a small bowl, combine feta and ricotta; stir in spinach mixture. Spoon cheese mixture diagonally over half of each square to within 1/2 in. of edges. Brush pastry edges with egg. Fold one corner over filling to the opposite corner, forming a triangle; press edges with a fork to seal. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Brush remaining egg over pastries; sprinkle with seasoning blend. Bake until golden brown, 25-30 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 383 calories, Fat 21g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 22mg cholesterol, Sodium 635mg sodium, Carbohydrate 39g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 6g fiber), Protein 9g protein.

BUREKAS (OTHER SPELLING BOREKAS)



Burekas (Other Spelling Borekas) image

Make and share this Burekas (Other Spelling Borekas) recipe from Food.com.

Provided by poshwriter

Categories     European

Time 55m

Yield 20 burekas

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 cup unsalted butter, melted
16 ounces phyllo dough, thawed
1 large egg
2 teaspoons black sesame seeds, for sprinkling
2 large eggs
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 teaspoons fresh ground pepper, to taste

Steps:

  • Cheese Filling.
  • Beat the eggs in a small bowl. Add the cheddar and feta cheeses and pepper to taste. Mix well.
  • Use about 1 tablespoon of filling for each bureka.
  • Dough.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Using a pastry brush, coat the bottom of a cookie sheet with some of the melted butter.
  • Take a sheet of phyllo and cut lengthwise in strips, 4 1/2 inches wide. Butter the strips, fold over lengthwise, butter again, and place a tablespoon of filling on the end. Then fold up right to left as you would a flag, so that the end result is a plump triangle, buttering the outside at the end. Repeat with the remaining filling and dough. Beat the egg, brush the burekas with it, and sprinkle sesame seeds over the tops.
  • Place on the cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until golden in color.
  • NOTE You can also mold and freeze the burekas after forming. Defrost for 2 hours and then bake. You can fill any leftover phyllo with chocolate chips or Nutella and make triangular treats.
  • THREE WAYS TO FILL A BUREKA.
  • Spinach Filling.
  • Yield: About 2 cups, enough filling for about 20 burekas.
  • 2 pounds fresh spinach or Swiss chard leaves, washed well, or two 10-ounce packages chopped frozen spinach.
  • 2 large eggs, beaten lightly.
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese.
  • 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese.
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley.
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill.
  • 8 scallions, diced.
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
  • Place the fresh spinach or Swiss chard leaves in a frying pan with only the water that clings to the leaves, and cook briefly until they wilt. (If using frozen spinach, simply defrost.) Drain very well, squeezing out as much of the water as possible. Cool and chop.
  • Mix together the eggs, feta and cheddar cheeses, parsley, dill, and scallions. Add the spinach and salt and pepper to taste; mix well.
  • Use about 1 tablespoon of filling for each bureka.
  • Eggplant Filling.
  • Yield: About 2 cups, enough filling for about 20 burekas.
  • 2 medium eggplants (about 2 pounds).
  • 1/3 cup kasseri or feta cheese, crumbled.
  • 1/3 cup grated sheep or mozzarella cheese.
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley.
  • Salt to taste.
  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Prick the skin of the eggplants all over and roast on an oiled cookie sheet for 25 minutes, turning occasionally.
  • Remove the pulp from the skin, discarding the seeds and draining off any extra liquid. Cool slightly, then pat dry and coarsely chop. Combine the eggplant pulp, cheeses, and cilantro or parsley and mash well with a fork; add salt if needed.
  • Use about 1 tablespoon of filling for each bureka.
  • Cheese Filling.
  • Yield: About 2 cups, enough filling for about 20 burekas.
  • 2 large eggs.
  • 1 cup grated cheddar cheese.
  • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese.
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste.
  • Beat the eggs in a small bowl. Add the cheddar and feta cheeses and pepper to taste. Mix well.
  • Use about 1 tablespoon of filling for each bureka.
  • Other fillings:.
  • Spinach.
  • Yield:About 2 cups, enough filling for about 20 burekas.
  • 2 pounds fresh spinach or Swiss chard leaves, washed well, or two 10-ounce packages chopped frozen spinach.
  • 2 large eggs, beaten lightly.
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese.
  • 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese.
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley.
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill.
  • 8 scallions, diced.
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
  • Eggplant Filling.
  • Yield: About 2 cups, enough filling for about 20 burekas.
  • 2 medium eggplants (about 2 pounds).
  • 1/3 cup kasseri or feta cheese, crumbled.
  • 1/3 cup grated sheep or mozzarella cheese.
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley.
  • Salt to taste.
  • Joan Nathan shares her tips with Epicurious:.
  • • These pastries came to Israel with Sephardic Jews from Turkey and Greece. The first filling is more Greek-influenced, while the other two are more Turkish.
  • • Nathan recommends a high-quality Greek feta cheese and a sharp cheddar for the fillings.
  • • After folding up the burekas flag-style, be sure to pinch around the edges of each pastry to avoid filling spilling out during baking.
  • Yield: About 60 bureka triangles.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 205.1, Fat 14.9, SaturatedFat 8.7, Cholesterol 68.7, Sodium 240.2, Carbohydrate 12.6, Fiber 0.5, Sugar 0.4, Protein 5.2

SPINACH BOUREKAS



Spinach Bourekas image

This is my husband's absolute favorite thing I make. It's a bit of work, but it's worth it! It's a typical Israeli snack which you can eat any time of the day.

Provided by Devora

Categories     Southwest Asia (middle East)

Time 1h15m

Yield 12-24 bourekas

Number Of Ingredients 19

1/2 cup oil, plus
2 tablespoons oil
1/2 cup water, plus
2 tablespoons water (lukewarm)
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups flour
3 tablespoons oil
1 garlic clove
6 scallions
1 lb spinach, cooked and chopped
2 eggs
1/2 cup mashed potatoes
chopped walnuts
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
sesame seeds
1 egg, beaten with
1 tablespoon water

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Combine dough ingredients, adding the flour gradually until the dough pulls away from the bowl.
  • Form a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and let rest 30 minutes at room temperature.
  • Meanwhile, saute scallions and garlic in oil. Remove from heat and let cool, then add remaining filling ingredients and stir to mix.
  • Form the dough into 1-inch balls and flatten to be 1/8 inch thick. Place a heaping teaspoon of filling in the center of each. Fold in half to make a half-moon shape and press on edges to seal. Place on a greased or nonstick baking tray.
  • Brush with the egg mixture and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.
  • Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 262.8, Fat 16.5, SaturatedFat 2.4, Cholesterol 53, Sodium 367.4, Carbohydrate 23.6, Fiber 1.9, Sugar 0.7, Protein 5.7

Tips:

  • For the burekas dough, use high-quality butter or margarine. This will help to ensure that the dough is flaky and delicious.
  • If you don't have time to make the dough from scratch, you can use store-bought puff pastry. Just be sure to thaw it according to the package directions before using.
  • To make the spinach filling, use fresh spinach. Frozen spinach can be used, but it will need to be thawed and squeezed dry before using.
  • To make the eggplant filling, use a small eggplant. This will help to ensure that the filling is not too watery.
  • Be sure to season the fillings well. This will help to bring out the flavors of the ingredients.
  • When assembling the burekas, be sure to brush the dough with egg wash. This will help to give the burekas a golden brown color.
  • Bake the burekas until they are golden brown and the filling is hot and bubbly.

Conclusion:

Burekas are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They are easy to make and can be filled with a variety of ingredients, making them a great option for any occasion. Whether you are looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a special treat for a party, burekas are sure to please everyone.

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