Feta Herb Spring Onion Borek Food

SPINACH AND FETA CHEESE BöREK - TURKISH BOREK RECIPE

Steps:

• Cook the filling: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan at medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, 4-5 minutes. Add the spinach, salt, and pepper. Cook it, tossing it every few minutes using kitchen tongs, until the spinach loses most of its volume, around 5 minutes. Give it a stir and turn the heat off. Let it cool for 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Make the yogurt milk mixture: Whisk olive oil, milk, egg, yogurt, salt, and black pepper in a bowl until combined.
• To assemble: Line a baking sheet (mine is 12X17) with parchment paper. In a single layer, place sheets of phyllo dough onto the parchment paper. Use as many sheets as you need to make sure that the pan's whole surface is covered. It is okay if some filo is overhanging on the sides.
• Place another layer of phyllo on top of the first, again making sure that the bottom of the pan is covered. Pour 3-4 tablespoons of the milk mixture on the top layer of dough and brush it over the filo sheets, making sure that it is evenly spread.
• Stack another two layers of phyllo dough on top of the first two. Again, brush the milk mixture over the top phyllo sheet. Then, cover the top sheet with one more layer of phyllo dough-not two. Do not brush the top sheet with the milk mixture again.
• Spread the now-cooled spinach and crumbled feta cheese evenly over the top layer of phyllo sheets.
• Place another two layers of phyllo sheets over the filling, covering it completely. Brush another 3-4 teaspoons of the milk mixture over the topmost sheet. Then, place two final layers of phyllo dough on top of the washed layer, and brush the top with the milk mixture. You should have 9 layers of dough in total.
• If there are sheets overhanging on the side, fold them in towards the pastry's center and make sure that they are brushed with the milk mixture. At this point, the borek should look nicely moist and tightly packed.
• Using a sharp knife, pre-slice borek into 12 equal pieces (please refer to the video for a visual).
• Mix egg yolks in a bowl.
• Brush each slice with egg yolk and sprinkle with sesame seeds and nigella seeds if using.
• Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes or until it turns golden brown.
• Let it cool for a few minutes, slice, and serve while it is still warm.

LEMON-HERB MARINATED FETA

Steps:

• In pint-sized glass jar, arrange herbs, lemon, peppercorns and pepper flakes. Top with cheese. Pour olive oil over cheese mixture; cover and refrigerate 3 days. Serve with toasts. Any leftover cheese mixture can be covered and refrigerated up to 4 days longer.
• At least 1 1/2 hours before serving, make the toasts. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray. Bake French bread 24 to 26 minutes or until browned. Cool completely, at least 30 minutes. Cut into 1/2-inch slices. Brush slices on both sides with melted butter. Return to pan; bake 10 to 15 minutes, turning once, until light golden brown.

FETA, HERB & SPRING ONION BOREK

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Prepare the filling first. Mash the feta in a bowl with the back of a fork. Add the chilli, spring onions, herbs and olive oil, then mix everything well using the fork.
• For the sauce, whisk the beaten egg with the olive oil and milk in a small bowl until fully combined.
• Lay the filo sheets on a clean work surface and cover with a clean, damp cloth to ensure they don't dry out as you work. Brush the base of a shallow 20cm round ovenproof dish with some olive oil.
• Layer six sheets of filo in the bottom of the dish, overlapping them by about 45 degrees and fanning them out, also ensuring that half of each sheet covers the base while the other half overhangs the dish. Between each addition, liberally brush the sheets with the sauce. The entire base should be covered with the filo, and the filo generously basted in the sauce.
• Tip in all the filling, then fold the overhanging filo over the filling to enclose it, brushing the sheets with more sauce as you do. Cover the top with a final sheet of filo, but don't brush this with the sauce.
• Whisk the egg yolks with the 1 tbsp olive oil and brush this on top of the borek. Sprinkle with the sesame and nigella seeds and bake for 30 mins until golden brown.

TURKISH SPINACH & FETA BOREK

Steps:

• To make the filling: Fry the onion in the olive oil on a medium heat for a few minutes until a pale golden colour. Add the salt & pepper, followed by the spinache & cook for a further couple of minutes. Remove from the heat & stir in the feta then set aside to cool.
• In a bowl, whisk the eggs, olive oil & milk.
• Grease a 2L casserole dish. Place 2 sheets of the phyllo in the bottom of the casserole - the phyllo should cover the bottom & the sides of the casserole. Brush 2-3 tbsp of the eggy mix over the top of the phyllo.
• Take another 2 sheets of phyllo, this time folding them so that they cover the bottom of the casserole only & brush with the eggy mix.
• Spread the spinach & feta filling over the phyllo & level gently with the back of a spoon.
• Cover the filling with another 2 sheets of phyllo, remebering to brush with the eggy mix. Contine layering the phyllo until it is used up. When you have used the last 2 sheets of phyllo, brush with the eggy mix then gently pull up the bottom sheet of phyllo & place it over the top sheet.
• Use the rest of the eggy mix to cover the top of the borek - this is important to stop it from burning.
• Place in the fridge to set for 3 hours then cook in a preheated oven at 1750c / 350f. Bake in the middle of the oven until it is golden brown.

SPINACH AND FETA BOREK

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Make the filling: In a large bowl, combine spinach, parsley, dill, scallions, oregano and eggs and stir to incorporate. Season with salt and pepper, then add Maras pepper, feta and Manchego, and stir well.
• Brush a 10-inch pie plate or skillet with lightly with olive oil. (You can also use a 9-by-13-inch pan for a rectangular pie.) Line with 1 sheet of phyllo, letting the excess fall over the sides of the pan. Brush phyllo lightly with olive oil, then follow with 2 more sheets, brushing each with oil.
• Pour the filling into the phyllo-lined pan, spreading it to the edges with the back of a spoon. Top with 3 more sheets of phyllo, brushing each sheet with olive oil before adding the next.
• Fold the ends of the phyllo back over the top and toward the center of the borek, and brush with oil. With the palm of your hand, press down on top layer to make the pie compact. (Alternatively, roll the excess toward the center to form a rim.)
• Bake for 30 minutes, until golden. Let rest for a few minutes before cutting into wedges. The borek is also good served at room temperature.