Description
Turkish Börek (Ispanaklı Peynirli Börek) is a savory pie made with layers of flaky phyllo dough, a spinach and cheese filling, and a crisp sesame topping. It’s a comforting and versatile dish that’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a light dinner.
Ingredients
- Phyllo dough (enough for 8 x 12-inch baking dish)
- Extra virgin olive oil (for brushing and sautéing)
- 1 egg (for topping)
- White sesame seeds (for topping)
- Black sesame seeds (for topping)
- Spinach leaves, chopped
- Sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 egg (for filling)
- 1 cup grated medium cheddar or Turkish kaşar cheese
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese or beyaz peynir
- 1 egg (for egg-milk mixture)
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (for mixture)
- 1/3 cup sparkling water
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and grease an 8 x 12-inch baking dish with olive oil.
- In a large bowl, knead chopped spinach with olive oil, salt, and pepper to wilt it. Mix in egg, feta, and cheddar cheese.
- In a separate bowl, whisk egg, milk, olive oil, sparkling water, salt, and pepper to make the brushing mixture.
- Cut phyllo sheets to fit the baking dish and keep covered with a damp towel.
- Layer half of the phyllo sheets into the dish, brushing with the egg mixture every two layers.
- Spread spinach and cheese filling evenly over the layered dough.
- Continue layering remaining phyllo sheets, brushing every two layers.
- Pour remaining egg mixture over the top layer and brush evenly. Tuck in the edges.
- Slice the börek into 12 rectangles. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Let it sit for 10 minutes, then bake for 35 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool slightly before serving warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Mashed potatoes with caramelized onions can replace spinach for a hearty variation.
- Add fresh herbs like parsley or mint for extra flavor.
- Ground beef or lamb with onions makes a delicious meat version.
- Use frozen spinach if needed—just thaw and squeeze out excess water.
- Phyllo tears are okay—layering hides imperfections.
- Freeze slices and reheat at 400°F for 8–10 minutes until crisp.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Brunch, or Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Turkish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 310mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
