Yugoslavian Pita Recipes

YUGOSLAVIAN PITA

Steps:

• Thaw phyllo dough according to package directions. Prepare filling ingredients before removing from package.
• To prepare filling, mix eggs and all three cheeses.
• Melt butter.
• Remove dough from package, placing it on a clean cloth. Cover with a lightly moistened cloth. Everytime you remove sheets of dough, replace the top covering cloth so that your dough does not dry out.
• Spread some butter on pan. Place two sheets of dough on yet another cloth. Sprinkle butter on the sheets. Put two more sheets on top of it; sprinkle with butter again. Add fifth sheet of dough.
• At one end of sheets (length wise), about 3 inches from the long edge, place several scoops of the mixture in a log shape. Do not place cheese all the way to the sides; leave a couple inches bare. Roll up. Tucking side edges under the roll, place roll in pan, seam side down. Put more butter on top.
• Repeat process for more rolls. It works best if pan is filled with rolls. I use a pan typically used for single layer cakes.
• Bake at 375 degrees for anywhere from 30 - 60 min, until golden brown.
• Let them rest for a little before cutting.

LEPINJA (BALKAN FLATBREAD)

Steps:

• Sprinkle the yeast over the warm milk in a small bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes until the yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam. Stir the warm water and sugar into the yeast mixture.
• Stir the flour and salt together in a separate bowl; add all but about 1/2 cup of the flour mixture to the yeast mixture; mix with your hands until a soft dough forms, adding the last of the flour mixture a little at a time until it clears the sides of the bowl. Cover the bowl with a light cloth and let the dough rise in a warm place (80 to 95 degrees F (27 to 35 degrees C)) until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Deflate, or 'punch down,' the dough and turn out onto a work surface lightly dusted with flour; knead for about 5 minutes. Return the dough to the bowl, cover again with a light cloth, and allow the dough to again rise until doubled in volume, about 30 minutes more.
• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
• Deflate the dough and turn turn out onto a work surface lightly dusted with flour; knead lightly. Place the dough onto the prepared baking sheet; shape into an oval about 1/2-inch thick. Set aside to rise a third time for about 30 minutes.
• Bake in the preheated oven until nicely browned and hollow sounding when thumped, 20 to 25 minutes.

YUGOSLAVIAN BUREK

Steps:

• Heat a large frying pan and add the oil.
• Saute the onion until soft, and then add the beef, spices, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook until the meat is crumbly but not dry.
• Cool completely before you continue.
• Lay 1 sheet of phyllo dough on the counter.
• Brush with some of the butter.
• Place a heaping 1/3 cup of meat mixture acrosss the sheet along the long side, 2 inches from edge.
• Fold the bottom over the meat mixture and roll into a snake shape.
• Cut the roll in half and coil each roll into a snail shape.
• Place on a nonstick baking sheet and butt the end up against the edge of the pan to prevent uncoiling.
• Brush with additional butter.
• Bake in a prheated oven at 375 degrees for 15-20 min or until just golden.
• Keep the remaining sheets of phyllo dough covered with plastic, and work quickly to prevent in from drying out.