Well, my friends Zehra and Ismail are visiting their son here in Alabama. They invited me over the other day and Zehra hanim made a delicious börek with potatoes. I took some home and my sister tried it and she really liked it so I decided to make us some with Spinach and Cheese. It was really delicious! The thing I love about börek is that it is delicious anytime of day. You can have it for breakfast, a light lunch or even a midnight snack. Next time I will make Kıymalı Börek which is börek with ground beef. Don’t be scared to try and make your own börek. While it may take a little while to prepare, it will be well worth every effort.
Ispanaklı Peynirli Börek or Spinach and Cheese Börek
Ispanaklı Peynirli Börek
Author: April Ozbilgin
Recipe type: Pastry
Cuisine: Turkish
Ingredients
- 2 Cups All Purpose Flour (+ about ½ cup for rolling dough)
- 2 Teaspoons Salt
- ½ - ¾ Cups Cold Water
- 1 small Onion, finely chopped
- 12 ounces Frozen Spinach or 1 pound fresh
- 4 ounces Feta Cheese, crumbled
- ½ Cup Butter
- 2 Teaspoons Dried Dill Weed or half bunch fresh Dill, finely chopped
- 1 Teaspoons Dried Parsley or a small hand full of fresh, finely chopped
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Place the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the center and slowly work the water in a little at a time until a soft ball is formed.
- Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge while you prepare the filling.
- Saute the finely chopped onion in the olive oil.
- Add the spinach and 1 teaspoon salt and saute for 1 - 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let cool. When cool add the crumbled Feta cheese.
- Melt the butter and allow to cool.
- Remove the dough from the fridge.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Dust your work surface lightly with flour.
- Place one dough ball on the work surface and flip to get flour on each side.
- Roll into a thin circle.
- Place ⅙ of the spinach and cheese mixture on the top edge of the dough.
- Roll into a long tube and then roll the tube into a rose shape. Place on a baking sheet that is lined with parchment paper or that you have greased.
- Continue until all six of the börek are complete.
- Brush each börek with the melted butter and place in oven.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden.
- Serve hot with a nice glass of Turkish hot tea.
