Spinach Borek (Ispanakli Borek)

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5.0

54 reviews
Excellent

Spinach Borek (Ispanakli Borek)

Spinach Borek (Ispanakli Borek) is a delicious Turkish pastry made of thin flaky dough called "yufka" filled with spinach and onions. 

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Ingredients

Servings

For the Spinach Filling

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 medium onion (finely diced)
  • 1 clove garlic (finely chopped)
  • ½ finely chopped red chilli (optional) or ¼ teaspoon chili flakes
  • ½ tablespoon tomato paste (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 750 g spinach (washed, dried and chopped)

For the Sauce

  • 1 whole egg
  • 2 egg whites (the yolks to use for egg wash)
  • cup full fat milk
  • cup vegetable oil

For Rose Shaped Borek

  • 3 sheets fresh yufka
  • ¼ cup melted butter
  • 2 egg yolks
  • sesame seeds or nigella seeds (to sprinkle on top)
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Instructions

Cooking the Spinach Filling

  1. Heat a large pan or wok on medium heat.
  2. Add olive oil and gently saute the onions and garlic until translucent.
  3. Stir in the tomato paste, chili, salt, pepper, and paprika, and saute for another minute.
  4. Add the spinach and cook for a few minutes on high heat until the water from the spinach totally evaporates.
  5. Remove from the heat and let it cool down before using for borek.

Preparing the Sauce

  1. Put 2 egg whites+ and 1 whole egg in a bowl and whisk lightly.
  2. Pour in the milk and vegetable oil and whisk to combine. Set aside to use when required.

Shaping the Rose Shaped Borek

  1. Preheat the oven to 180° C - 360° F (fan oven).
  2. Line a rectangular baking tray size of 35cm x 25 cm or a round tray size of 28cm dia with a baking sheet.
  3. Lay a piece of yufka on a work surface and scatter 2-3 tablespoon of the sauce on it, spread the sauce evenly using a pastry brush.
  4. Divide the filling into 3 and scatter ⅓ of it on yufka evenly. Then cut the yufka in quarters. You will have 4 large triangles.
  5. Take one of the triangles and roll it starting from the large side into a long sausage shape.
  6. Swirl the long sausage into a rose shape, and tuck the loose end piece underneath the rose.
  7. Repeat the same for the rest of the yufka pieces, you should have 12 roses out of 3 yufka sheets.
  8. Place them on a baking tray and brush with melted butter and then egg yolk.
  9. Sprinkle on sesame seeds or nigella seeds.
  10. Place the tray in the oven and cook the boreks for 40 minutes or until golden brown.

Notes

  • Make sure the oven is heated to 180° C - 360° F (fan oven) before you put the borek in. A cold oven would cause a longer cooking time and less crispy pastries.
  • You can make the spinach filling a day before and keep it refrigerated until you need it.
  • Wash your spinach leaves thoroughly and dry them using a salad spinner or leave them on a colander until the leaves are dry.
  • Turn your fresh garlic into a paste with a Mortar and Pestle or grate it using a Microplane Zester Grater.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 284kcal (14%) Carbohydrates 30g (10%) Protein 7g (14%) Fat 16g (25%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g Monounsaturated Fat 5g Trans Fat 0.2g Cholesterol 57mg (19%) Sodium 430mg (18%) Potassium 448mg (13%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 2g (4%) Vitamin A 6077IU (122%) Vitamin C 20mg (22%) Calcium 88mg (9%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12portions

Amount Per Serving

Calories 284 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 284kcal 14%
Carbohydrates 30g 10%
Protein 7g 14%
Fat 16g 25%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g 24%
Monounsaturated Fat 5g 25%
Trans Fat 0.2g 10%
Cholesterol 57mg 19%
Sodium 430mg 18%
Potassium 448mg 10%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 2g 4%
Vitamin A 6077IU 122%
Vitamin C 20mg 22%
Calcium 88mg 9%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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