Turkish Borek Recipe (Vegan Spinach Rolls) (2024)

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Crispy baked Turkish Borek (Vegan Spinach Rolls) are quick & easy to prepare and make a great finger food! You can fill them with different fillings, such as spinach and feta or cashew and tomato. They’re perfect to serve at a party or just as a simple and delicious snack or side dish for dinner or lunch.

Turkish Borek Recipe (Vegan Spinach Rolls) (2)

Are you familiar with Turkish Borek? They’re crispy stuffed pastries that are often served in Turkish cuisine and called “Sigara Böreği”. This oriental finger food is perfect for grabbing and dipping, and you can stuff them with different kinds of vegetable fillings. Anyways, one of the most popular fillings is spinach and feta (next to the classic onion and potato filling). Usually, Turkish Borek is deep-fried in a lot of oil, be that as it may, in my recipe they’re baked and not fried, which makes these Vegan Spinach Rolls much healthier!

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The perfect Party Snack!

To be honest, Turkish Borek Cigars have always been one of our family’s all-time favorite snacks. My mom used to make them very often for the guests during our New Years celebrations. Of course, she always prepared a lot of these Spinach Rolls, because they are eaten much faster than you would expect! We prefer to serve different fillings because not everyone is a fan of Spinach and Feta.

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Spinach & Feta or Cashew & Tomato Filling?

Have I already mentioned that these Turkish Borek can be made vegan very easily? Instead of regular Feta, you can either use store-bought non-dairy Feta (“Feto“) or prepare your own cashew ricotta with the following recipe -> Homemade Cashew Ricotta. Anyways, in my opinion, the Spinach and Feta Filling is the best for Vegan Borek, but I also like the cashew tomato filling, which is made of tomato puree, sunflower seeds, and cashews. Both fillings are creamy, savory and spicy and taste absolutely delicious. However, you can stuff these Rolls with basically anything you like. Furthermore, a Mexican Filling with beans or my Pierogi Filling with mushrooms, a simple Pesto or Cashew Cheese are also great options.

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How to make Turkish Borek

Turkish Borek (Vegan Spinach Rolls) are made with Yufka pastry sheets that are very thin pastries made of only water and flour. You can buy it in almost every supermarket (especially Turkish supermarkets) or order it online. There are also triangular dough sheets available, which are perfect for making Borek Cigars. Of course, you can also cut regular Yufka dough into a triangle shape yourself. However, I think it’s easier to buy the ready-cut Pastry sheets so you’re done faster!

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To make these Vegan Spinach Rolls, prepare the filling first (you can also make it ahead). Once the stuffing is ready, place approx. 1-2 tablespoons of the filling at the widest part of each pastry sheet. Then roll it tight to the top, also fold in the corners on the right and left to seal as you go, so the filling stays inside the wrap. You can either shape these Vegan Spinach Rolls into Cigars as I did or fold them into triangles like Samosas.

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Turkish Borek Recipe (Vegan Spinach Rolls) (10)

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I hope you’ll love these Vegan Spinach Rolls as much as I do. They’re:

  • Vegan (dairy-free, egg-free)
  • Quick & easy to make
  • Healthy
  • Hearty
  • Delicious
  • Crispy & Crunchy
  • Can be made with different fillings
  • Can be served warm & cold
  • A great finger food!
  • The perfect snack for a party!

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A healthy Snack for any situations!

These Turkish Borek Cigars don’t have to only be served as a snack during the day for lunch or dinner, but also for breakfast. When I was a child I loved taking the leftovers to school the next day, so believe me, they’re also perfect as a snack to-go. You don’t need anything special to serve them with, but, we usually serve them with Cashew Dip or Vegan Aioli and Ketchup.
Have fun trying this easy recipe and please let me know if you liked it!

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Turkish Borek Recipe (Vegan Spinach Rolls) (17)

Turkish Borek (Vegan Spinach Rolls)

Author: Bianca Zapatka

Crispy baked Turkish Borek (Vegan Spinach Rolls) is quick & easy to prepare and make great finger food! Serve to a party or just as a simple snack or side dish for dinner or lunch.

4.64 von 11 Bewertungen

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Main Course, Side Dish, Snack, Snacks

Servings 24 Rolls

Ingredients

Turkish Borek:

  • 1 package of Yufka pastry sheets (360g) *see recipe notes
  • ¾ cup non-dairy milk + 2 tbsp oil to brush
  • sesame seeds to garnish

Spinach Filling (for about 17 rolls):

  • 1 onion diced
  • 2 garlic cloves chopped
  • 10.5 oz baby spinach (300g) fresh or frozen
  • 8.8 oz non-dairy feta cheese (250g) *see recipe notes
  • salt and pepper to taste

Tomato Filling (for about 7 rolls):

  • ½ cup cashews (75 g) or non-dairy feta cheese
  • 2 tbsp sunflower seeds optional
  • ½ cup tomato puree (120 ml)
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste or paprika paste
  • 1-2 garlic cloves pressed
  • 1-2 tbsp nutritional yeast optional
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • Italian herbs optional

Instructions

  • *Note: I recommend watching the recipe video for visual instruction!

Spinach Filling:

  • Heat the oil in a pan and sauté the onion 1-2 minutes. Add the garlic and spinach and sauté 1-2 minutes longer until wilted. Let cool slightly and squeeze to remove excess liquid. (Optionally, use frozen spinach. Just thaw, squeeze and combine with roasted onions & garlic).

  • Chop the spinach mixture coarsely, mix with crumbled feta (or blend all of the ingredients in a food processor).Season with salt and pepper to taste

Tomato Filling:

  • Soak cashews and sunflower seeds in hot water for about 15 minutes, then rinse and drain.

  • Put the soaked cashews and sunflower seeds along with the remaining ingredients for the tomato filling to a food processor and process into a coarse mixture. Season with salt, pepper, (nutritional yeast and Italian herbs) to taste.

Roll Borek Cigars:

  • Place one triangle of yufka dough on a work surface with the longer edge facing you, and brush with the milk-oil mixture generously.

  • Place 1-2 tablespoons of the filling near the wide end of the triangle, leaving about 1-inch (2cm) border on each side. Fold the long sides of the dough slightly over the filling. Fold in the sides to seal and roll up tight. Then place on a baking tray and repeat with the rest of the dough and filling.

  • Brush the spinach rolls with the milk-oil mixture and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake in a preheated oven at 360°F (180°C) for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. (Optionally, you can also go the traditional way and fry them crispy in a deep-fryer or in a pan with much oil).

  • Enjoy!

Notes

  • I prefer using triangular Yufka pastry sheets but you can also use regular Yufka dough (Filo dough) and cut into triangles using a pizza cutter.
  • Make sure to cover the Yufka pastry with a damp dish towel during the preparation, so they won't dry out.
  • I used this vegan feta, but you can also make Homemade Cashew Ricotta or Cashew Cheese, or use firm Tofu + 2 tbsp cashew butter or puréed pine nuts.
  • You can freeze the filled rolls in a single layer on a platter, so they don’t stick together and won’t break when you want to remove them individually. What’s great is you can fry them straight from the freezer.

Nutrition is calculated automatically and should be used as estimate.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @biancazapatka or tag #biancazapatka!

IF YOU HAVE PINTEREST, YOU CAN FIND ME HERE AND PIN THE FOLLOWING PICTURE, IF YOU LIKE!

Turkish Borek Recipe (Vegan Spinach Rolls) (18)

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Turkish Borek Recipe (Vegan Spinach Rolls) (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between borek and spanakopita? ›

Turkish borek and Greek spanakopita come from the same family of pastry. However, the two often differ in preparation and texture, with Greek spanakopita often having a flakier, puffier crust. Is it burek or borek? Both spellings of this pastry are technically correct, depending on the country.

Is borek Turkish or Greek? ›

Origin and names

The English name borek comes from Turkish börek (Turkish pronunciation: [bœˈɾec]), while burek is the form used in the countries of the former Yugoslavia.

Do you eat borek hot or cold? ›

These easy Turkish vegetarian borek are great as part of a mezze spread or tucked in a picnic or packed lunch. They'd also make perfect snacks for a party. Serve them hot or cold.

What is the Greek version of borek? ›

But the equivalent for whole Greece would be tiropita (cheese pie, or peynir böreği). Greeks make it either with feta cheese (close to beyaz peynir) or kaşar (kaseri). Its not “wet” as the Turkish börek. And its a bit more salty and with heavier and crunchier crust.

Why is my spanakopita soggy? ›

Let's face it, nobody wants to eat a soggy spanakopita. But this doesn't have to be your fate if you follow a few simple tips. Firstly, making sure you squeeze all the excess moisture out of your spinach. This is the case with fresh and frozen spinach.

Is borek good for you? ›

Borek also known as Burek can be described as a meal that should be consumed in moderation because it is a hefty source of calories from fats as well as carbs.

Is spanakopita good for diet? ›

Spanakopita is a Greek spinach pie typically containing cheese such as feta and/or ricotta. Our version is low in calories while high in fibre, iron and calcium. It's also diabetes-friendly and suitable for vegetarians.

How many carbs are in Borek spinach? ›

Ah Spinazie Feta Borek (1 serving) contains 27g total carbs, 25.5g net carbs, 14g fat, 8.5g protein, and 270 calories.

What does borek mean in Turkish? ›

According to the Austrian Turcologist, Andrea Tietze, 'börek' comes from the Persian 'bûrak', which referred to any dish made with yufka. This, in turn, probably came from the Turkic root, bur-, meaning 'to twist' – an allusion to the way thin sheets of dough had to be manipulated to produce a layered effect.

What is the difference between baklava and borek? ›

The big difference is the thickness of the dough. If you look carefully at a box of filo dough and a box of borek dough, you will notice a number in one of the corners. For baklava dough, the thinness of the dough is a #4. Borek dough is just about twice as thick with a #9 thickness.

What is the difference between a borek and a Boreka? ›

Two main things differentiate a borek from a boureka: Size: Borek are significantly larger, often 9-12 inches in size. Sometimes they will be cut into pieces, sliced lengthwise for sauces to be added. Dough: Borek typically use yufka; bourekas an oily short dough, similar to empanadas.

What is a Turkish breakfast? ›

The Turkish culture would agree, especially when it comes to a Turkish Breakfast. Traditionally, Turkish breakfast consists of cheese, olives, eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, jam, honey, fruit, sausage, and Turkish tea. The first meal of the day is a breakfast fit for a king.

What nationality is burek? ›

The burek – and its alternative spelling borek – is a Turkish, Middle Eastern and East European pastry often eaten as a snack from a small food stall or street vendor. In one of its forms, phyllo-like dough is rolled into a long tube which is then overlapped and coiled beside or around itself.

What food is similar to spanakopita? ›

Tiropsomo is similar to spanakopita and tiropita as they use cheese as their main ingredient.

What is the difference between spanakopita and Tiropita? ›

Like spanakopia, tiropita is also a savory Greek pie that's wrapped in a phyllo crust, but its filling is different than spanakopita. Instead of spinach, herbs, and feta, tiropita is filled with a mixture of cheese and eggs.

What is the difference between puff pastry and phyllo spanakopita? ›

The main differences between puff pastry and phyllo dough are their fat content and preparation. Puff pastry is a laminated dough that gets its signature airy puff from layers of butter, while phyllo dough is comparatively low-fat. Phyllo dough is mostly flour and water and can dry out easily.

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