Turkish Börek with Cheese and Spinach

About This Recipe

Börek is the cornerstone of Turkish pastry culture, found in every bakery, household and celebration across Turkey and across the former Ottoman world from the Balkans to the Middle East. Made by layering yufka or phyllo pastry sheets with savoury fillings and baking or pan-frying until shatteringly crisp, börek exists in dozens of regional variations. The su böreği (water börek) is boiled before baking; sigara böreği are rolled into cigar shapes and fried; tepsi böreği (tray börek) is the most manageable home version, where phyllo sheets are stacked in a baking tray with filling in between, brushed with a yoghurt-egg mixture that creates a golden, lightly bubbled top. This recipe makes a classic tepsi börek with a filling of fresh spinach and beyaz peynir (white cheese similar to feta).

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 400 gphyllo (filo) pastry sheets(thawed if frozen)
• 400 gfresh spinach(or frozen, thawed and well-drained)
• 250 gbeyaz peynir or feta cheese(crumbled)
• 2eggs(for the filling)
• 1onion(finely diced)
• 2 tbspolive oil
• 0.5 tspblack pepper
• 0.5 tspred chilli flakes(optional)
• 2eggs(for the top glaze)
• 3 tbspplain yoghurt
• 4 tbspolive oil or melted butter(for brushing)
• 1 tbspnigella seeds or sesame seeds(for topping)

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the filling

   Sauté onion in olive oil until soft, about 5 minutes. Add fresh spinach in batches and cook until completely wilted, about 3–4 minutes. Squeeze out all excess moisture using a clean cloth or pressing in a sieve — this step is critical to avoid a soggy börek. Allow to cool completely. Combine cooled spinach with crumbled feta, 2 eggs, black pepper and chilli flakes.

   Removing all moisture from the spinach cannot be overstated in importance. Even slightly wet spinach will make the börek soggy. Squeeze, press and squeeze again.

2. 2

   Make the glaze

   Whisk together 2 eggs, yoghurt and 2 tablespoons of olive oil until smooth. This glaze is what creates the distinctive golden, bubbly top that characterises tepsi börek.

3. 3

   Layer the first half

   Preheat oven to 180°C. Brush a 30x20 cm baking tray generously with olive oil. Layer half of the phyllo sheets into the tray, lightly brushing each layer with olive oil or butter. Let the edges hang over the sides.

   Keep unused phyllo covered with a slightly damp cloth at all times — it dries out and cracks within minutes of air exposure.

4. 4

   Add the filling

   Spread the spinach and cheese filling evenly over the layered phyllo. Fold the overhanging edges over the filling.

5. 5

   Layer the top and glaze

   Layer the remaining phyllo sheets on top, again brushing each with olive oil. Tuck all edges under the börek. Pour the yoghurt-egg glaze evenly over the entire top surface. Scatter nigella or sesame seeds over the top.

6. 6

   Bake

   Bake at 180°C for 35–40 minutes until deeply golden and crisp on top. The glaze should be set and slightly puffed. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before cutting into squares.

   If the top is browning too quickly, tent loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes of baking.

Variations

• •

  Kıymalı börek (meat börek): Replace the spinach-cheese filling with spiced minced lamb or beef cooked with onion, tomato paste and Turkish spices.

• •

  Patatesli börek (potato börek): Fill with mashed potato seasoned with sautéed onion, paprika and dill — a popular street food version.

• •

  Sigara böreği: Roll individual triangles of phyllo into cigar shapes around a strip of filling, seal with egg wash and deep-fry or oven-bake until crisp — ideal as a party canapé.

Storage

Börek keeps at room temperature for up to 1 day or refrigerated for 3 days. Reheat in the oven to restore crispness. Unbaked assembled börek freezes well — freeze tightly wrapped for up to 1 month and bake directly from frozen at 170°C for 50–55 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions