Bolo di Preza

About This Recipe

Bolo di Preza is a multi-layered savory pie combining cheese, seasoned meat, and herbs in flaky pastry. It's traditionally made for celebrations and family gatherings across Curacaoan communities. This bolo di preza is shaped by the home cooks who refined it across generations, balancing tradition with everyday practicality. Served at the table it fills the room — steam rising, deep savory notes, the kind of plate people lean over. Home cooks return to it because the technique is forgiving once the order of operations clicks: build aromatics first, season in layers, and let time do the heavy lifting. The result lands somewhere between everyday and special — humble enough for a weeknight, generous enough for company.

Ingredients

Serves 8

• 2 sheetspuff pastry, thawed
• 1 lbground beef
• 1.5 cupsshredded cheese
• 1 mediumonion, finely chopped
• 3 clovesgarlic, minced
• 0.5 cupgreen olives, sliced

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare filling

   Sauté onion and garlic until fragrant. Add ground beef, cook until browned. Stir in olives and remove from heat. Cool slightly.

2. 2

   Layer pastry

   Line a baking dish with one sheet of puff pastry. Spread half the meat mixture over it.

3. 3

   Add cheese and top

   Sprinkle cheese over meat, then add remaining meat mixture. Top with second pastry sheet, sealing edges.

4. 4

   Bake

   Brush with egg wash. Bake at 375°F for 45-50 minutes until golden brown.

5. 5

   Rest and serve

   Cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Variations

• •

  Add vegetables like carrots and peppers to filling

• •

  Use chicken instead of beef

• •

  Layer with different cheeses for complexity

• •

  Vegetarian: swap the protein for roasted king oyster mushrooms, smoked tofu or cooked chickpeas — adjust seasoning slightly upward to compensate.

Storage

Keeps refrigerated 3-4 days; reheat in oven at 325°F

Frequently Asked Questions