There’s no time like the present to try something new! I’ve got a lot more free time on my hands now that I’m not traveling. Since we can’t go anywhere, I’ve been experimenting a lot in the kitchen and trying new recipes! First up was adjaruli khachapuri from Georgia, next was pierogi from Poland, goulash from Hungary, and now bureks from the Balkans!
A burek is a flaky pastry, usually in a coil or spiral shape, that comes in a variety of fillings. This recipe uses the cheese variety, but meat bureks are very popular, as are spinach-filled bureks.
Originating in Turkey, they are a popular snack throughout all of the Balkans. Whenever I’m on a trip to this region of Europe, you can guarantee I’ll be eating a burek! I’ve had bureks in Croatia, Montenegro, , Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Albania. They are generally quite cheap—and very tasty! Each country may have a different way of serving burek, and spelling it. Börek, burek, бурек, etc. — but you get the same thing in the end: pastry with a crunch and a delicious filling inside.
I was actually quite surprised at how easy this recipe is. As long as you can find filo pastry sheets, this will be pretty straightforward to follow! In this recipe I tried to list ingredients for both the US cooking system (cups) and for the rest of the world (grams). It’s not approximate, but it’s close enough and hopefully saves you having to google the conversions. I absolutely love bureks and after using this recipe, I hope you will too! Here’s the easiest burek recipe and how to make a burek (or four) at home.
Burek Recipe
Makes: 4 medium bureks
Time Required: 30-35 minutes
Ingredients
4 sheets filo pastry
1.5 cups (400 grams) crumbled feta cheese
¼ cup (55 grams) melted butter
3 tbsp parsley
Dill (optional)
Egg (optional)
Instructions For Cooking
1) Pre-heat the oven to 400˚F (200˚C or 180˚C Fan).
2) Crumble the feta cheese and mix with parsley. I’m not a huge fan of dill, but you can also use a bit of dill in this recipe if you’d like. Mix it with the cheese and parsley.
3) Place a sheet of filo pastry on a flat surface. Melt the butter, and brush each sheet lightly with melted butter.
4) Spread a quarter of the cheese mixture along the long edge of the pastry sheet.
5) Roll the pastry sheet to form a long tube. Then curl the tube into a spiral or coil shape. Repeat for all 4 bureks.
6) Place on a lightly greased baking sheet and brush the tops lightly with butter. If you wanted a slightly different flavor, you can brush it with an egg.
7) Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until golden and crispy. Serve warm—it should be flaky and have a bit of a crunch. The inside should be moist, but not gooey. Enjoy!
Alternative Options For Bureks
As I said above, meat bureks are very popular. Instead of the cheese mixture above, you can use beef mincemeat and fried diced onions (add in seasoning like paprika and a bit of cinnamon to taste). You can also make bureks with sautéed spinach with diced onion, and mix in dill.
If you’re interested in more Balkan food, you might be interested in these cookbooks! You can buy the Ultimate Balkan Cookbook on Amazon (UK) and Amazon (US). You can also buy Balkan Comfort Food: Home Cooking From The Heart on Amazon (UK) and Amazon (US).
The Balkans is one of my favorite regions in the world and definitely one of the most underrated destinations in Europe. I’ve traveled extensively around the region and have visited nearly every country. I’ve had amazing bureks in pretty much all the Balkan countries I’ve been to, and it’s a staple of my traveler’s diet when I’m on the road! Bureks usually tend to be quite cheap. In Kosovo, I had a large portion of burek that filled me up for about €1. They’re available in pretty much every bakery you’ll find, and will usually be wrapped up in paper so you can have a snack on the go. They’re impossible to miss on a trip to the Balkans!
I hope this recipe inspires you to bring a little bit of the Balkans into your life! If you find yourself in this wonderful region, make sure to have at least a burek or two on your trip!
Have you ever had a burek before? Are you going to try out the recipe? Share in the comments below!
You might like my other posts:
How Much Does It Cost To Travel The Balkans For 2.5 Weeks?
15 Signs You’ve Traveled The Balkans
Planes, Trains (Coach Buses, Minibuses, Ferries) And Automobiles: Transportation In The Western Balkans
Why I Love Traveling Eastern Europe – And Why You Should Too
Burek-popular countries: All posts for Croatia, Montenegro, , Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Albania
Recipe: Adajaruli Khachapuri
Recipe: Polish Pierogi
Recipe: Hungarian Goulash
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- How Much Does it Cost to Travel the Balkans For 2.5 Weeks?
