Bourekas (Flaky Feta and Cheese Pastry Triangles)
Local name: בורקס
In short: Crisp puff pastry triangles filled with salty feta and ricotta, brushed with egg and sesame seeds and baked until puffed and golden. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 15 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 635 kcal
Bourekas are the Israeli bakery snack: flaky pastry filled with cheese, potato, spinach or mushroom, sold warm from trays at bakeries and kiosks. Making them at home is easy with ready-rolled puff pastry. The filling here is feta mixed with ricotta and egg, which stays creamy and holds together in the oven. Serve them warm for breakfast with a hard-boiled egg, pickles and a tomato salad.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and line two baking trays with baking paper. Mash the feta, ricotta, egg, parsley and pepper together. No salt is needed.
- Unroll the pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut each sheet into 9 squares, about 10 cm (4 inches) wide.
- Put a heaped tablespoon of filling in the center of each square. Brush the edges with water, fold into a triangle and press the edges with a fork to seal.
- Set the bourekas on the trays about 3 cm (1 inch) apart and chill for 15 minutes. Cold pastry puffs better in the oven.
- Brush the tops with the egg yolk mixture and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until puffed and deep golden. Rest for 5 minutes before serving warm.
Tips
- For potato bourekas, mix 400 g (14 oz) mashed potato with 1 small sautéed onion, salt, pepper and a pinch of nutmeg and use it as the filling.
- Keep the pastry cold. If it softens while you work, slide the tray into the fridge for 10 minutes before baking.
Questions and answers
Can I freeze bourekas?
Yes. Freeze the unbaked, glazed pastries on a tray, then bag them for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen at 190°C (375°F) for about 30 minutes.
What do you serve with bourekas?
A hard-boiled egg, pickles, a tomato salad and sometimes grated tomato or tahini. They are a popular breakfast and snack.
Why did my bourekas leak in the oven?
They were probably overfilled or poorly sealed. Use only a heaped tablespoon, press the edges firmly with a fork and keep the filling away from the seams.
How long does it take to make Bourekas (Flaky Feta and Cheese Pastry Triangles)?
About 55 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Bourekas (Flaky Feta and Cheese Pastry Triangles)?
About 635 kcal per serving, with 14 g of protein, 43 g of carbohydrates and 45 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 635 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 14 g |
| Carbohydrates | 43 g |
| Fat | 45 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 900 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
