Gözleme (Turkish Stuffed Flatbread with Spinach and White Cheese)
In short: Thin hand-rolled dough folded around spinach and salty white cheese, cooked on a hot griddle until golden and blistered, then brushed with butter. It takes about 1 h 10 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 40 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 1 h 10 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 410 kcal
Gözleme are thin flatbreads folded around a savory filling and cooked on a hot griddle, and in Türkiye they are made to order at village markets and roadside stalls. Spinach with white cheese is the best-known filling. The dough is simple, but rolling it very thin is what gives you a crisp, flaky result. Eat them hot with a glass of ayran or tea.
Instructions
- Mix the flour and salt, add the water and oil and knead for 5 minutes into a smooth, soft dough. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.
- Toss the spinach with a pinch of salt, wait 10 minutes, then squeeze out as much liquid as you can. Mix with the cheese, spring onions and pepper.
- Divide the dough into 6 balls. Roll each on a floured surface into a very thin round about 30 cm (12 inches) wide.
- Spread a sixth of the filling over one half of each round, leaving a 2 cm (3/4 inch) border. Fold the empty half over the filling and press the edges to seal.
- Heat a heavy skillet or flat griddle over medium heat. Cook one gözleme at a time for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until golden with some darker blisters.
- Brush each gözleme with melted butter as it comes off the pan, cut into pieces and serve hot with lemon wedges or yogurt.
Tips
- Roll the dough as thin as you can without tearing it. Thin dough crisps quickly, while thick dough stays doughy around the filling.
- Other fillings are common: spiced minced meat, mashed potato with spring onion, or just cheese and parsley. Keep fillings dry so the dough does not tear.
Questions and answers
Can I use store-bought dough for gözleme?
Yes. Ready-made yufka sheets are used for gözleme in many homes. Use one sheet per gözleme, add the filling, fold and cook as described.
Can I freeze gözleme?
Yes. Cool the cooked gözleme, wrap them separately and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in a dry skillet for about 3 minutes per side.
What do you eat gözleme with?
Ayran or tea, a tomato and cucumber salad, and sometimes a spoon of yogurt. It is a common weekend breakfast and a street snack.
How long does it take to make Gözleme (Turkish Stuffed Flatbread with Spinach and White Cheese)?
About 1 h 10 min in total: 40 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Gözleme (Turkish Stuffed Flatbread with Spinach and White Cheese)?
About 410 kcal per serving, with 13 g of protein, 53 g of carbohydrates and 16 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 410 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 13 g |
| Carbohydrates | 53 g |
| Fat | 16 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 650 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
