If you are craving a delicious and flavorful meal, burekas stuffed with either spinach or eggplant filling is a perfect choice. Originating in the vibrant culinary traditions of the Middle East, these pastries boast flaky, golden-brown exteriors that yield to tender and savory fillings. Whether you prefer the earthy, vibrant flavors of spinach or the smoky richness of eggplant, these burekas promise to tantalize your taste buds. So, get ready to explore the delightful world of burekas as we guide you through the steps of creating these delectable treats in your own kitchen.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
BUREKAS WITH SPINACH OR EGGPLANT FILLING
These little pocket pastries are adapted from the ones made at Congregation Or VeShalom in Atlanta. The women there make theirs with oil, which is traditional, but this version with butter is more tender. The dough is easy to work with and the fillings are delicious on their own; use any leftovers in eggs for breakfast.
Provided by Joan Nathan
Categories lunch, snack, pastries, appetizer
Time 2h
Yield About 20 burekas
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- If using the eggplant-tomato filling, heat the oven to 425 degrees. Pierce the eggplant several times with a knife and roast on a parchment- or foil-lined baking sheet until the eggplant collapses and is completely soft, 35 to 40 minutes. When cool enough to handle, remove and discard the skin; transfer the flesh to a strainer to drain and set aside.
- Make the dough: In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade attachment, add the flour and salt and pulse briefly to combine. Add the butter and pulse just until the butter pieces are the size of peas. Slowly add the ice water and process just until combined. Form the dough into 2 disks about 1 inch thick, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- If using the spinach-feta filling: In a medium bowl, combine the spinach, feta and Parmesan. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then add egg and flour.
- If using the eggplant-tomato filling: In a medium-sized frying pan over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the onions, season with salt, and cook until beginning to soften but not brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and eggplant, breaking them up with a wooden spoon, and cook until the mixture begins to thicken and loses some of its moisture, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper and remove from the heat. When the mixture has cooled, stir in the Parmesan, egg and flour.
- Working with one disk of dough at a time, on a lightly floured surface and using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a circle about 1/8-inch thick or slightly thinner. Using a 3 1/2-inch/9-centimeter circle cutter, cut as many circles as you can from the dough.
- Hold a circle in your hand and fill with 1 tablespoon of filling. Fold up the sides into a half-moon shape and pinch the edges closed to seal, crimping them if you like. Place the sealed bureka on the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the remaining dough.
- Brush the tops lightly with the egg wash and sprinkle with a large pinch of grated Parmesan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the crusts are golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 262, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 26 grams, Fat 14 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 9 grams, SaturatedFat 7 grams, Sodium 446 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams
CHEESE BOUREKAS
Middle-Eastern style puff pastry pockets filled with cheese. Great served as an appetizer or the traditional Israeli way for breakfast with salad, olives, cheese, and plain yogurt. Could also be filled with leftover mashed potatoes, or a spinach and feta mixture.
Provided by GCBENEZRA
Categories Appetizers and Snacks Pastries
Time 1h
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
- Beat 1 egg in a medium bowl, and mix in the cheese. Season with parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- On a lightly floured surface, cut each sheet of puff pastry into 6 equal squares to give 12 squares in total. Beat the remaining egg with water in small bowl. Brush edges of each square lightly with egg wash. Place a heaping tablespoon of the cheese mixture in the center of each square. Fold pastry over the filling, and seal edges with a fork. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, brush with remaining egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 294.2 calories, Carbohydrate 19.6 g, Cholesterol 43.1 mg, Fat 20.1 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 8.9 g, SaturatedFat 6.2 g, Sodium 230.4 mg, Sugar 0.6 g
SPINACH AND FETA BOUREKAS
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
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.
SPINACH BOUREKAS
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
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
BUREKAS (OTHER SPELLING BOREKAS)
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
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
EGGPLANT BAKE WITH RICOTTA AND SPINACH
Main dish vegetarian eggplant bake, easy because you start with frozen breaded eggplant cutlets and a jar of sauce. Goes great with pasta and a salad.
Provided by Ceil Hook
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h10m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- Place eggplant cutlets on a baking sheet.
- Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Flip, and continue to bake until both sides are golden brown and cutlets are cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes more. Remove from the oven and reduce temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Mix ricotta cheese, spinach, egg, and garlic together in a medium bowl.
- Place 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce in the bottom of an 8-inch square baking dish and layer with 1/2 of the eggplant cutlets, 1/2 of the ricotta mixture, and 1/2 of the remaining sauce. Repeat layers with remaining eggplant, ricotta mixture, and sauce. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over top.
- Bake in the preheated oven until cooked through and bubbling, about 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 406.8 calories, Carbohydrate 36.8 g, Cholesterol 61.3 mg, Fat 21 g, Fiber 6.1 g, Protein 17.9 g, SaturatedFat 7.3 g, Sodium 849.2 mg, Sugar 11.5 g
BUREKAS - MY FAVORITE BREAKFAST PASTRIES
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
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.
Tips:
- To easily work with phyllo dough, keep it covered with a damp cloth or plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.
- If you don't have phyllo dough, you can substitute puff pastry or even spring roll wrappers.
- For a crispier burekas, brush the tops with egg wash before baking.
- Feel free to experiment with different fillings. Some popular options include cheese, potatoes, and ground beef.
- Burekas can be served as an appetizer, main course, or even a snack. They're perfect for parties and potlucks.
Conclusion:
Burekas are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy appetizer or a hearty main course, burekas are sure to please. So next time you're in the mood for something different, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
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