"Burek" is a Croatian / Serbian meat, cheese or vegetable pie made with flaky filo (also spelled "phyllo") dough.
There are myriad versions among Bulgarians, Bosnians, Yugoslavians and Greeks.
This one is made in a 9-inch-by-13-inch pan in the Armenian style ("boreg") like baklava. The Jack and cottage cheese in this one definitely make it an Americanized version, but delicious nonetheless!
A slice of "burek" goes great with a glass of cold "keffir."
This recipe is courtesy of Betty Ragenovich Kurkjian.
Makes 24 small slices
View this Step By Step
.Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 pound (4 cups) Jack cheese, grated
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 8 ounces cottage cheese (not farmer's cheese)
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 pound filo dough, thawed
- 6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks) butter
Preparation:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 9-inch-by-13-inch pan with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, sprinkle Jack cheese with flour. Add cottage cheese and beaten egg and mix thoroughly. Set aside.
- Separate filo dough into two piles (about 14 sheets each) and keep covered. Half will go on the bottom of the pie and half will go on the top.
- Place 2 sheets in prepared pan and brush lightly with melted butter. Add 2 more and brush with butter. Continue until you've used one pile of filo.
- Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the filo and to the ends. Begin covering the cheese with the remaining filo, again using 2 sheets at a time and brushing with butter.
- Tuck any overhanging filo dough down the sides of the pan and brush entire top with butter. Cut burek into 24 squares and generously brush with remaining butter.
- Bake in middle of oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown. If the top starts to brown early, cover loosely with aluminum foil and continue to bake. Remove foil and bake an additional 5 minutes.
- This makes a great luncheon course, entree or appetizer and freezes well cooked or uncooked.
Source: Betty Ragenovich Kurkjian
