Crisp Cheese Rolls
Crisp golden yufka rolls filled with white cheese, parsley and black pepper.
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Spinach and White Cheese Pastry
Ispanaklı Börek
Crisp yufka layers with spinach, onion and an optional white-cheese filling.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 55 min
- Rest
- 30 min
- Total
- 1 hr 55 min
- Servings
- 8
Ingredients
- 5 Yufka sheets (wheat, large, thin, round)
- 1 ½ lb Spinach (fresh), washed thoroughly and chopped
- 1 Onion, finely chopped
- 6 oz Cheese (white brined or feta), drained and crumbled (optional)
- 2 tbsp Olive oil, for the filling
- Pepper (black, ground), to taste
- ½ tsp Turkish red pepper flakes
- Table salt, to taste after checking the cheese
- 1 cup (250 g) Yogurt (plain, unstrained)
- 2 Eggs
- ½ cup Sunflower oil, for the wash and tray
- 1 tsp Sesame seeds
- 1 tsp Nigella seeds
Method
Soften onion in the filling oil for 4–5 minutes. Add spinach in batches and cook until wilted and the released liquid has evaporated, 5–8 minutes. Season with pepper and pul biber.
Püf noktası · Kitchen tip
Moisture Control
Cooking off excess liquid
Let released water evaporate until the filling reaches the texture your recipe needs.
Spread in a shallow dish to cool for 20 minutes. Fold in the cheese if using and taste before adding salt. Heat the oven to 375°F.
Püf noktası · Kitchen tip
Seasoning & Flavor Balance
Taste and balance seasoning
Taste the mixture before adding more, especially when salty or sour ingredients are already present.
Grease a large 12 × 16-inch baking tray with a little of the measured wash oil. Whisk the remaining oil, yogurt and eggs.
Lay about half the yufka in the tray, tearing pieces to fit and brushing each layer lightly with wash. Spread the filling evenly. Cover with the remaining yufka, brushing between layers and tucking the edges in.
Brush the top with the remaining wash and scatter sesame and nigella. Bake for 35–40 minutes until golden, crisp underneath and cooked through. Rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Refrigerate leftovers promptly in shallow containers, within 2 hours or 1 hour if the surroundings exceed 90°F.
Püf noktası · Kitchen tip
Moisture Control
Cooking off excess liquid
Let released water evaporate until the filling reaches the texture your recipe needs.
Cooking guidance
Dry the spinach filling thoroughly so the pastry stays crisp. If including cheese in a vegetarian version, choose white cheese or feta made without animal rennet.
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