Ultimate Crunchy Phyllo Dough Magic! | Minced Meat & Cheese Borek Recipe

phyllo dough

🥗Healthier: whole wheat pastry dough

💰Cheaper: homemade dough

Whole wheat adds fiber, while homemade can reduce cost.

ground meat

🥗Healthier: chopped mushrooms

💰Cheaper: lentils

Mushrooms provide umami flavor, and lentils are budget-friendly.

feta cheese

🥗Healthier: cottage cheese

💰Cheaper: ricotta cheese

Cottage cheese lowers fat content, while ricotta is often less expensive.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil has a high smoke point, while vegetable oil is often cheaper.

Start by preparing the filling with 250 g of ground beef in a wide pan.

Cook the beef until it turns brownish gray, then add 750 g of chopped onion.

Season with salt and cook on low to medium heat for about half an hour until the onions are caramelized and the mixture is juicy.

Add black pepper and nutmeg at the end of cooking for flavor.

Allow the filling to cool completely before using.

For the cheese filling, grate 200 g of cheese (kashar or mozzarella) and set aside.

Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a pan without boiling it, to keep it from becoming mushy.

Prepare the phyllo dough by placing a few drops of melted butter in the bottom of an enamelware pan to prevent sticking.

Layer the phyllo dough, adding the cheese filling in three handfuls.

Use chopsticks or a pencil to roll the dough loosely, allowing air to get in for crunchiness.

Squeeze the ends of the rolled dough to create natural wrinkles and place it in the pan.

Repeat the same process for the minced meat filling, ensuring to add butter for richness and moisture.

Preheat the oven to 190°C and place the pan on the second rack from the bottom to ensure a crunchy base and slow cooking of the top.

Bake until golden brown, checking for doneness based on color.

Once baked, let the borek rest for 10 minutes to allow the crunchiness to settle.

Serve with plain yogurt, optionally drizzled with melted butter mixed with red flake pepper and dried mint, and garnish with parsley.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens