Gibanica (Serbian Cheese and Egg Filo Pie)
Local name: гибаница
In short: Layers of crisp filo with a salty cheese, egg and yogurt filling, baked until puffed and golden. Serve warm for breakfast or cold for a picnic. It takes about 1 h 15 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Resting
- 15 min
- Total
- 1 h 15 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 440 kcal
Gibanica is a staple of Serbian breakfast tables, celebrations and bakery counters. Sheets of thin pastry alternate with a lumpy filling of salty white cheese, eggs and yogurt, and the pie puffs and browns in the oven. A splash of sparkling water in the filling keeps it light. Serve it warm with a glass of cold yogurt, or take squares of it on a picnic.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Oil a 30 x 40 cm (12 x 16 in) baking tray. Beat the eggs with the yogurt and sparkling water, then stir in both cheeses. Leave the mixture lumpy.
- Lay 2 filo sheets in the tray and brush lightly with oil. Spread one-fifth of the filling over the top in a thin layer.
- Cover with 2 more sheets, brush with oil and spread another fifth of the filling. Repeat until you have used 8 sheets and 4 portions of filling.
- Cover with 2 more sheets, brush with oil and spread the last portion of filling. Lay the final 2 sheets over it, tuck in the edges and brush the top generously with oil.
- Score the top layers into 8 squares with a sharp knife, cutting through only the top 3 sheets so the pie does not tear.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until puffed and deep golden. Rest the gibanica for 15 minutes before cutting along the scored lines.
Tips
- If your cheese is very salty, rinse the crumbles under cold water and pat dry before mixing. The filling needs no extra salt.
- For a richer pie, replace half the cottage cheese with kajmak or thick sour cream.
Questions and answers
Can I make gibanica ahead of time?
Yes. Bake it up to a day ahead, cool completely, cover and refrigerate. Reheat squares at 180°C (350°F) for 10 minutes.
Is gibanica served hot or cold?
Both are common. It is best warm from the oven, but cold squares are just as popular for picnics and road trips.
Can I freeze gibanica?
Yes, freeze baked and cooled squares in a container for up to 2 months. Reheat from frozen in a 180°C (350°F) oven for 20 minutes.
How long does it take to make Gibanica (Serbian Cheese and Egg Filo Pie)?
About 1 h 15 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 45 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Gibanica (Serbian Cheese and Egg Filo Pie)?
About 440 kcal per serving, with 17 g of protein, 39 g of carbohydrates and 24 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 440 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 17 g |
| Carbohydrates | 39 g |
| Fat | 24 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 780 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
