Delicious Turkish Börek Recipe with Spinach and Feta

If you share my passion for pies, you’re bound to be enchanted by Turkish börek! This delightful dish is the epitome of comfort, irresistible in every way. Imagine delicate, thin layers of pastry lovingly wrapped around a savory blend of salty cheese and fresh spinach, coiled up in a perfect shape and baked to a glorious golden crisp. It’s that simple rustic charm that captivates the senses, and its delectable flavor is nothing short of extraordinary. Not only is it a beloved staple across Turkey, but its allure has also woven throughout the Balkans and the Middle East, leaving a trail of devoted fans in its wake!

Ingredients:

• 750kg of fresh spinach or frozen spinach
• 1 small red onion
• 300g of Feta cheese
• 3 stalks of green onions
• Small bouquet of mint leaves
• Black pepper
• Melted butter
• Olive oil

Method:

1. In a pan, heat a bit of olive oil and gently cook the onion until soft and translucent.
2. Add the spinach and let it wilt
3. -Once it’s done, set it aside to cool a little.
4. Then transfer it to a clean towel and squeeze out as much water as you can. Let it cool completely.
5. In a bowl, mix the cooled spinach with the Feta cheese, chopped mint leaves, chopped green onions stalk and a little black pepper.
6. Set this filling aside.
7. Stack 3 sheets of phyllo pastry and generously brush melted butter across the width.
8. Take some of the cheese and spinach filling and shape it into a long, thin line along the bottom edge of the dough.
9. Roll it up from the bottom to form a long sausage shape.
10. Start coiling this sausage from the centre of a round baking tray.
11. Secure it with a toothpick so it doesn’t unravel.
12. Brush the top with melted butter.
13. Bake to 180C degrees for 45 minutes, or until golden and crisp.
14. Remove from the oven and enjoy with a Turkish cup of tea on the side.

Bonne dégustation!