Börek – Turkish pronunciation [bøˈɾekʲ] also burek and other variants

Börek is a traditional food found in the cuisines of the former Ottoman Empire and it features many familiar components that will endear even the pickiest eaters. It is made by rolling out very thin pastry dough called yufka. This filo-like dough is layered in a large flat pan with fillings like meat, cheese, spinach, or potato. It is topped with a mixture of yogurt and egg which lets the crust become crispy in the baking process.

There are numerous varieties of Börek like Sigara Böreği which is a small deep fried roll with cheese inside (imagine a cheese egg roll). There is also su böreğı which prepared with plain yufka baked with extra yogurt to make it soft and moist.
Borek can be either baked or fried. Generally, the preparation method is adapted to the given shape of the pastry. Over time, different cultures have adapted borek to their own flavors and traditions. Modern bakeries have been known to offer sweet dessert boreks and even a pizza-inspired variety. This speaks to the pastry’s prime versatility and ability to adapt to any person’s tastes.

In all different shapes and size, this versatile food is widely available in Turkey, and throughout Eastern Europe and can serve as a cheap and satisfying breakfast or snack.

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