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Golden brown Turkish Rose Borek (Gül Böreği) filled with spinach and feta cheese.

Authentic Turkish Rose Borek

A traditional, crispy rose-shaped pastry filled with fresh spinach and feta cheese.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: Turkish
Calories: 492

Ingredients
  

For the Filling
  • 6-7 cups Fresh spinach, washed and chopped
  • 1 medium Onion, finely diced
  • 1 cup Feta cheese or any salty white cheese, crumbled
  • 1 tsp Tomato Paste
  • 1 tsp Paprika (sweet red pepper powder)
  • 1 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1 pinch Salt (adjust depending on cheese saltiness)
For the Liquid Sauce
  • 1 cup Milk
  • ½ cup Vegetable Oil
  • 1 large Egg
The Pastry
  • 4 sheets Phyllo dough (yufka)

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl (for the filling)
  • Small whisk and bowl (for the sauce)
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Pastry brush

Method
 

  1. First, soak your spinach in water with a little baking soda to ensure it’s perfectly clean. Rinse well and chop. In a large bowl, combine the spinach, diced onions, crumbled cheese, tomato paste, and spices.The Secret Step: "Knead" the filling with your hands for a minute. This wilts the spinach slightly so it fits perfectly inside the pastry without being too bulky.
    Crispy rose-shaped borek showing the savory spinach and melted cheese interior.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, and egg until smooth. This is the "magic potion" that makes the borek crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
  3. Cut each yufka sheet into 4 equal triangles. Lay one triangle on your counter and brush it generously with the sauce.Shaping: Place your fingers in the center of the triangle and gently twist/rotate it until it gathers into a ruffled circle.
  4. Place a spoonful of the spinach filling in the center of your ruffled yufka. Fold the edges inward to cover the filling, then carefully flip it over and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
    Spiral shaped savory Turkish pastry made with thin phyllo dough and spinach filling.
  5. Brush the remaining sauce over the top of all your boreks. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F)—using the top-bottom setting without a fan—until they are golden brown and irresistibly crispy.
    A plate of authentic Turkish spinach and cheese borek rolls, perfect for breakfast or tea time.

Video

Notes

If using packaged phyllo dough instead of fresh yufka, brush each layer lightly with the milk-oil mixture to prevent it from drying out and to achieve a crispy golden texture when baked.