Borekalgerian Recipes

BOREK ALGERIAN

Steps:

• Gently saute the onion for around 5 minutes until soft.
• Add the beef mince and brown.
• Add a pinch of cinnamon, salt and pepper, and the chopped parsley and stir well.
• On a gentle heat add the beaten egg taking care not to let it scramble.
• Let this mixture cool or the pastry will disintegrate.
• Place 2 or 3 tablespoons of beef mixture about 1.5 inches from the bottom of the phyllo pastry sheets (feuille de brik) leaving approximately one inch either side.
• Cut the cheese in half and lay across the mixture.
• Pull the phyllo (brik) up from the bottom; fold the sides to the centre of section and continue to roll.
• Place the Boreks (fold side down) in a frying pan with vegetable oil.
• Fry on both sides until golden.

BOUREK (MEAT FILLED PASTRY)

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat.
• Add the lamb and stir-fry a minute.
• Add the onion, parsley, salt, pepper and cinnamon and cook over medium low heat til lamb is cooked through.
• Take one sheet of phyllo and fold both side to the center length-wise.
• Sprinkle lightly with melted butter.
• Place 2 heaping tablespoons of meat stuffing at one end of the phyllo.
• Press it out til it is about 4 inches wide and 1 inch deep.
• Roll the dough over and roll about 3 times.
• Sprinkle a bit more butter on the end and dab with egg to seal.
• Do this with the remaining meat mix and phyllo.
• Bake in a buttered baking dish in 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

BOEREGS (FLAKY ARMENIAN PUFF PASTRY) AS MADE BY BLAKE BESHARIAN RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Make the herbed feta filling: Heat the olive oil in a medium pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the nutmeg and cumin and stir to combine, then remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool completely.
• In a food processor, combine the spinach, parsley, rodopa cheese, egg, and the cooled onion mixture and pulse until broken down into a chunky paste. Transfer the filling to a bowl and set aside. Wipe out the food processor.
• Make the melted Kashkaval filling: Add the parsley, chives, egg, and Kashkaval cheese to the clean food processor and pulse until the mixture breaks down into a chunky paste. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line 2 baking sheets, or as many as you have, with parchment paper.
• Assemble the boeregs: Unroll the filo dough and cut crosswise into 3½-inch (9 cm) wide strips. Cover the filo dough with a damp towel while you fill the boeregs.
• Lay a strip of dough lengthwise on a cutting board. Holding the top of the dough with your left index finger, brush a thin layer of melted butter over the length of the dough. Scoop ½ tablespoon of filling at the top center of the strip, about ½ inch (1 ¼ cm) from the top. Fold the top left corner of the dough over the filling to make a triangle. Brush more melted butter on the top of the triangle, then continue folding and brushing until you reach the end of the dough strip, trimming any excess dough that doesn't fold all the way over. Transfer to a prepared baking sheet and cover with a kitchen towel. Repeat with the remaining dough strips and filling to make about 24 boereg with each filling. Reserve any leftover dough for another use.
• In a small bowl, beat the egg yolks with the water.
• Brush the egg wash over the boeregs, then sprinkle with the sesame seeds.
• Bake the boeregs for 10-12 minutes, until golden, flaky, and crisp. Serve warm.
• Enjoy!