Turkish Börek (Filled Flaky Pastry)

Börek is a general Turkish term for filled pastries.

The filling is often white sheep's milk cheese and a chopped vegetable such as parsley or spinach.

Often the dough is paper-thin yufka (phyllo) layered, rolled or folded around the ingredients, then baked, steamed or fried.

My favorite include böreks include:

Püf böregi: "puff" börek: little triangular pillows of pastry filled with white cheese and chopped parsley, then deep-fried.

Sigara böregi - "cigarette" börek: cigar-sized tubes of pastry rolled around white cheese and chopped parsley, then deep-fried

Su böregi: "water" börek: layers of thin dough sprinkled with white cheese and chopped parsley, then steamed, cut into squares and served hot or cold, often for breakfast or as a snack.

Like gözleme, börek is distinguished by variety, and can often be ordered thus:

ispanakli = with spinach
karisik = with everything
kasar peynirli = with yellow cow's milk cheese
kiymali = with ground lamb
patatesli = with mashed potatoes
peynirli = with white sheep's milk cheese (feta)

Gözleme

Turkish Food Homepage

Travel Details

Fatma Hanim, servet Hanim, and their Borek, Istanbul, Turkey

Fatma Hanim and Servet Hanim of Istanbul proudly show off the delicious peynirli börek (vegetable-and-cheese pastry) they make fresh for each morning's Turkish breakfast.

Below, the finished product, ready to eat.

Turkish Borek, Istanbul, Turkey