Cheese Bourekas are a great appetizer or snack to have around. Very easy to make, these pastries will win your heart in no time! They are made with puff pastry, Feta cheese and black caraway. The mild saltiness of the cheese and the aromatic peppery bite of black caraway seeds make these pastries delicious.
I love pastries and make them quite often. This recipe is part of some popular ones here on the blog, like this pastries filled with Farmer's cheese, or this puff pastry pie filled with caramelized onion and ham that is perfect for a brunch.
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💝 Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Homemade Goodness: There’s something special about homemade pastries. Enjoy these as a delectable appetizer or a satisfying part of any meal.
- Surprisingly Simple: If working with puff pastry seems daunting, fear not! This recipe demystifies it and shows just how easy and fun it can be.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: These pastries are not just for snacking; they're versatile enough for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even a classy party appetizer.
🌟What Makes These Pastries Special?
These savory treats are a delightful twist on traditional pastries. They're typically crafted from puff pastry, cut into squares, and generously filled with a rich blend of cheese and eggs. Once sealed, they're baked until they reach golden perfection.
You might come across these pastries under various names - from cheese triangles and foldovers to puff pastries, or Feta triangles. The beauty of puff pastry lies in its versatility; it's perfect for both savory and sweet creations. Whether it's a filling of spinach and Feta, sausages, ground meat, or even sweet jams and fruits, puff pastry adapts beautifully.
Digging deeper into their origins, you'll find a close cousin in the Greek culinary world - the Tiropita. This Greek cheese pie features buttery layers of phyllo dough, filled with a mix of savory or sweet cheese and eggs. Baked as a slab pie, it's bathed in milk and egg mixture, resulting in a luscious cheese pie.
Related: Check out my version of Tiropita, made with Farmer's Cheese, Sweet Cheese Slab Pie.
📝 Ingredients needed
- Puff Pastry sheets or squares: For this recipe, in particular, I used puff pastry squares that were approximately 5x5 inches each. Puff pastry sheets are easy to find in grocery stores so you can cut them the same size.
- Feta cheese: My favorite Feta cheese is made with sheep or goat milk, but cow milk Feta is fine too.
- Eggs: I used large eggs.
- Black caraway seeds- In the absence of them, you can use regular caraway seeds, poppy seeds, or sesame seeds.
Optional: Use fresh or dried dill to flavor the cheese filling.
👩🍳 How to make Cheese Bourekas
Step 1. Thaw the puff pastry first and prepare the rest of the ingredients.
Step 2. Preheat the oven to 400F/200C.
Step 3. Make the filling. The filling is made with only two ingredients, Feta cheese and egg. Beat the egg with a fork in a bowl. Crumble the Feta and add it to the egg to make the filling.
Step 4. Fill out the pastries. Place a dollop of the cheese mixture in the middle of each pastry, then fold the dough like a triangle or just in two, as you prefer.
With a fork, seal the pastry together so the cheese doesn't come out while baking.
Step 5. Place the pastries on a baking tray.
Step 6. Beat an egg and brush the top of each pastry with it.
Sprinkle black caraway seeds on each pastry.
Step 7. Bake at 400F for about 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
Serve warm or cold.
They are great even the next day, but I assure you, you will not have any leftovers. They are delicious!
❄️ How To store
For optimal freshness, cool your feta and black caraway pastries completely, then wrap each individually in plastic, place them in a paper bag, and store in a resealable freezer bag or airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, in the fridge for three days, or freeze for up to three months.
🙋♀️ Recipe faqs
Regular caraway seeds or sesame seeds are good substitutes.
Yes, you can prepare them ahead and store them as instructed. Just bake when ready to serve.
Absolutely, freeze them on a baking sheet, then transfer to a bag. Bake directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
🥐More Puff Pastry Recipes To Love
📖 Recipe
Cheese Bourekas With Black Caraway
Ingredients
- 17.3 ounces Package of Puff Pastry Sheets thawed
- 8 ounces Feta Cheese
- 2 large eggs (one for the cheese mixture and one for brushing the pastries)
- 2 tablespoons black caraway seeds
- Optional: 2-4 tablespoons fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dried dill
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Defrost the puff pastry for about 40-45 minutes and use it while still cold.
- If you use regular puff pastry sheets, cut the pastry in aprox. 5x5 inches squares.
- In a medium bowl, place the feta cheese and mash it with a fork.
- Add the egg and mix well.
- Place a dollop of the cheese mixture in the middle of the puff pastry squares and fold the pastry in half or as a triangle.
- Use a fork to seal the pastry around.
- Place each pastry on a parchment paper covered baking sheet.
- Brush each pastry with the other egg and sprinkle them with black caraway seeds.
- Bake at 400F/200C for about 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve warm or cold.
Notes
- Puff Pastry Tips: Work with the puff pastry while it's still cold for easier handling. If it becomes too warm and sticky, put it back in the fridge for a few minutes.
- Cheese Consistency: Feta cheese can be crumbly. If you prefer a creamier texture in the filling or the cheese is too salty, consider blending the feta with a bit of cream cheese or ricotta.
- Sealing Pastries: To ensure the pastries don't open while baking, press the edges firmly to seal. You can also use a fork to crimp the edges for extra security.
- Caraway Seed Substitute: If black caraway seeds are not available, regular caraway seeds, sesame seeds, or even poppy seeds can be used as alternatives.
- Baking Time: Oven temperatures can vary. Start checking the pastries a few minutes before the end of the suggested baking time. They should be golden brown and puffed up when done.
- Serving Suggestions: These pastries are great served warm, but they also taste good at room temperature. They can be a perfect addition to a brunch spread or as appetizers for a gathering.
- Storing Leftovers: If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat in the oven or toaster oven to retain the pastry's crispness.
- Freezing Instructions: Unbaked pastries can be frozen. Place them on a baking sheet until frozen solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake straight from the freezer, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
- Egg Wash Alternative: If you're out of eggs for the egg wash, a little milk or cream brushed on the pastries before baking can give them a nice color.
- Experiment with Fillings: Feel free to experiment with different fillings. Adding herbs like dill or parsley can add a fresh flavor to the cheese filling.
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