There are countless variations of börek. You can add toppings and then simply roll the dough sheets, but you can also layer the börek, fold it together into crescents, or shape it into snails after rolling. The fillings are just as varied. They usually consist of a mixture of cheese and herbs. This time I'm using fresh spinach and want to try a vegan feta cheese. If you'd like to learn more about me, you'll find a profile at the bottom of the page.
Turkish dough Yufka or filo dough?
If you want to recreate this recipe, you should pick up special pastry sheets called yufka at a Turkish grocery store. Alternatively, you can also use filo pastry sheets, but these are usually a bit thinner and break easily. So, if you use filo pastry, you'll need to use at least two sheets, one on top of the other.
Ingredients for 4 people:
Step 1:
For the mise en place, prepare all the ingredients. Wash and finely chop the spinach, parsley, and spring onions. Crush the feta cheese into small pieces with a fork. Brush the baking dish with olive oil and preheat the oven to 200°C.
Step 2:
For the sauce, place the yogurt in a bowl and mix with the milk or cream. Season with salt.
Step 3:
For the spinach filling, add the spring onions and parsley to the spinach. Add the crushed cheese and season with salt and pepper. Mix well with your hands, breaking up any larger pieces of feta with your fingers.
Step 4:
Now place a yufka plate on a large work surface and spread generously with the sauce. Spread the spinach filling on top and then fold it in on four sides.
Step 5:
Carefully roll up the filled pastry sheets and place them in the prepared baking dish. You may need to cut the roll in half if it doesn't fit lengthwise.
Step 6:
Now brush the dough rolls with olive oil and sprinkle with the white and black sesame seeds. Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C for about half an hour. The surface should have a beautiful golden yellow color.
Once the finished börek has cooled slightly, it's ready to serve. Serve with a mixed salad or tomato salad. The vegan version with vegan feta cheese is absolutely delicious and flavorful. The börek can also be eaten cold the next day. Afiyet olsun!
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