How to Make Burek - A Step-by-Step Guide

Burek is a traditional Balkan dish that has been enjoyed for centuries. This savory pastry is made with layers of phyllo dough and a flavorful filling, typically a mixture of meat, cheese, or vegetables. Burek is popular in many Balkan countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro, where it is often enjoyed as a staple dish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

The origins of burek can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire, where it was introduced to the Balka...

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon ground allspice
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 1 medium potato, finely chopped
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 16 sheets phyllo dough, thawed
  • ¼ cup melted butter

Information

  • Prep Time: 35 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr
  • Servings: 4
  • Yield: 8 burek

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  • Cook and stir ground beef in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; drain fat. Stir in allspice, paprika, salt, and pepper. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and stir in potato and onion.
  • Stack two sheets phyllo dough on a work surface. Spoon 1/8 of the beef mixture down one long edge of the stack, then roll phyllo around filling into a tube. Coil the tube into a snail shape and place onto an ungreased baking sheet. Repeat to make seven more burek, placing finished coils up against one another to keep them from unrolling. Brush melted butter over the tops.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes.
  • Nutrition

    797 cal.

    • Total Fat: 42g
    • Saturated Fat: 19g
    • Cholesterol: 116mg
    • Sodium: 707mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 73g
    • Dietary Fiber: 5g
    • Total Sugars: 2g
    • Protein: 30g
    • Vitamin C: 14mg
    • Calcium: 51mg
    • Iron: 7mg
    • Potassium: 703mg