Sigara Böreği (Crispy Cheese-Filled Phyllo Rolls)
In short: Thin phyllo rolled into slim cigars around white cheese and parsley, then fried until crisp and golden. A staple meze and party snack. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 40 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 275 kcal
Sigara böreği takes its name from its shape: a thin cigarette of phyllo wrapped around a salty cheese and parsley filling and fried until it shatters at the first bite. It appears on meze tables, at Ramadan iftar spreads and in every börek shop in Türkiye. The work is in the rolling, which goes quickly once you find a rhythm, and the rolls freeze well, so you can make a big batch.
Instructions
- Mash the cheese with the egg, parsley and pepper in a bowl until it forms a rough paste. The cheese is salty enough, so add no salt.
- Stack the phyllo sheets and cut the stack in half, then cut each half diagonally to make 24 long triangles. Keep them under a damp towel.
- Place one triangle with its wide end facing you. Spoon 1 level tablespoon of filling along the wide edge, leaving 1 cm (1/2 inch) free at each side.
- Fold both sides in over the filling, brush the tip of the triangle with the flour paste and roll up tightly toward the tip into a thin cigar. Press to seal.
- Heat about 4 cm (1 1/2 inches) of oil in a wide pan to 170°C (340°F), or until a scrap of dough sizzles and floats at once.
- Fry 5 or 6 rolls at a time for 2 to 3 minutes, turning, until golden. Lift out with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve warm.
Tips
- To bake instead, brush the rolls with oil, set them seam side down on a lined tray and bake at 200°C (400°F) for 18 to 20 minutes, until golden.
- Freeze uncooked rolls on a tray, then bag them for up to 2 months. Fry from frozen for about 4 minutes in slightly cooler oil.
Questions and answers
Why do my sigara böreği burst while frying?
The seam may be open, the roll overfilled or the oil too hot. Seal the tip with flour paste, tuck the sides in tightly and keep the oil at 170°C (340°F).
Can I make sigara böreği ahead?
Yes. Roll and freeze them raw for up to 2 months, or fry them up to 2 hours ahead and reheat in a 180°C (350°F) oven for 8 minutes.
What other fillings are traditional?
Spiced minced meat, spinach with cheese, and potato with herbs are common. Keep the filling dry so the phyllo stays crisp.
How long does it take to make Sigara Böreği (Crispy Cheese-Filled Phyllo Rolls)?
About 55 min in total: 40 min of preparation and 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Sigara Böreği (Crispy Cheese-Filled Phyllo Rolls)?
About 275 kcal per serving, with 9 g of protein, 17 g of carbohydrates and 19 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 275 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 9 g |
| Carbohydrates | 17 g |
| Fat | 19 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 600 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
