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A plate of golden brown crispy fried Turkish börek filled with sucuk and melted cheese.

Crispy Turkish Pizza Börek (Sucuk & Cheese Filling)

A crispy, pan-fried pastry filled with savory Turkish sucuk, melting kashar cheese, fresh tomatoes, and peppers.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Pastries, Snack
Cuisine: Turkish
Calories: 603
Ingredients Equipment Method Video Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1-2 sheets Fresh Phyllo dough (Yufka sheets)
  • 1 cup Turkish Garlic Sausage (Sucuk), diced
  • 1 cup Grated Mozzarella or Kashar cheese
  • 2 tbsp Tomatoes (seeded and diced)
  • 2 tbsp Red Bell Pepper (finely chopped)
  • 1 tsp Dried oregano
  • 1 pinch Salt
For Frying
  • 1 cup Vegetable oil

Equipment

  • Large Skillet: For pan-frying the boreks in plenty of oil.
  • Wide Mixing Bowl: To combine your "pizza" filling.
  • Paper Towels: Essential for draining the boreks after frying to keep them light and crisp.
  • Sharp Chef’s Knife: For dicing the sucuk and vegetables into uniform pieces.

Method
 

  1. In a medium bowl, combine the diced sucuk, grated kashar cheese, chopped tomatoes, and capia peppers.
    Chopping fresh Turkish sucuk and red capia peppers for the pastry filling.
  2. Add the dried oregano and a pinch of salt to the mixture. Stir well until the ingredients are evenly distributed.
    Mixing diced sucuk, kashar cheese, tomatoes, and oregano in a glass bowl.
  3. Lay the fresh yufka flat and cut it into 8 equal triangles (like pizza slices). If using two sheets, you will have 16 triangles.
    Slicing a large sheet of fresh Turkish yufka into eight equal triangles.
  4. Place a generous tablespoon of the filling on the wide end of each yufka triangle.
    Placing the colorful sucuk and cheese filling on the wide edge of yufka.
  5. Fold the two side corners of the yufka inward over the filling to prevent the cheese from leaking out while frying.
    Folding the sides of the yufka triangle to seal the cheese inside.
  6. Roll the yufka toward the pointed tip. Important: Roll them firmly but not too tightly; the cheese needs a little room to expand.
    Rolling the yufka into a cigar shape for the pizza-style appetizer.
  7. Heat the vegetable oil in a wide frying pan over medium-high heat.
    Frying the yufka rolls in a pan with hot oil until they turn golden.
  8. Carefully place the rolls into the hot oil. Fry each side until they are a deep golden brown and crispy.
    Draining freshly fried golden pizza böreks on a paper towel.
  9. Remove the böreks and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil. Serve hot while the cheese is still melting!
    Serving hot Turkish pizza böreks with melting cheese and savory sucuk.

Video

Notes

To ensure your börek stays extra crispy and doesn't burst while frying, make sure to thoroughly seed the tomatoes before dicing them. Excess moisture from the tomatoes can cause the oil to splatter or make the pastry soggy. If you want a more "pizza-like" experience, serve these with a side of warm marinara sauce for dipping—a combination North American kids absolutely love!