Burek

 

Total time: ~2 hours

Yield: 2 bureks, 8 pieces each

Dough Ingredients:

3.5 cups all-purpose flour (500g)

1 tsp salt

1 1/4 - 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water (300-350mls)

Vegetable or avocado oil

Cheese Filling:

2/3 cup ricotta cheese (150g)

2/3 cup feta cheese (100g)

Meat and Potato Filling:

1 TB vegetable or avocado oil

1 medium onion, diced

10 oz. ground hamburger (300g)

1 potato, boiled and cut into small cubes

2 grated garlic cloves

1/2 tsp chopped rosemary

1/2 TB smoked paprika

1/2 TB salt

Dough Instructions:

1. Take a large bowl and combine the flour and the salt.

2. Add the water bit by bit, mixing until the mixture forms a dough (you may not need all the water).

3. Adding a little flour if needed, knead the dough for around five minutes, until it becomes quite stretchy. 

4. Split the dough mixture into batches of four and press down with your fingers to flatten to about 6 inch circles. 

5.  Add a little bit of oil to two cookies sheets and place the dough there to rest. Put a little oil on top of the dough. If you need to stack them, add layers of oil and Saran Wrap between them.

6. Preheat oven to 390F (200C). Make the filling (instructions below).

7. Add vegetable oil to your work surface.

8. Remove one piece of dough from the pan. Flatten it out by stretching it until it reaches a thickness of no more than half a centimeter. You don't need a rolling pin. Don't worry if you get some holes. By the end you should be able to see through the dough and it will be about 39 inches /1 meter in diameter. 

9. Take one side of the dough and fold it over towards the center. Fold the other side over as well. Add the filling.

10. Fold over the two other edges of the dough. Set aside. Stretch out another circle of dough to the same size. Flip the folded dough that has filling in it over and place it in the middle.

11. Fold over one edge at a time over the center. Place it on the cookie sheet.

12. Put the pan in the over and bake it for 30 minutes or until it is a golden brown color. Repeat with the other two circles of dough and the other filling.

13. Remove from the oven and cool. Cut on a cutting board into eight pieces. Serve while warm!

Cheese Filling Instructions:

1. Combine the two cheese with a rubber spatula in a medium mixing bowl.

2. Beat an egg in a small bowl. Add to the cheese and mix together.

Meat Filling Instructions:

1. Using a large pan, heat up the oil over medium heat.

2. Add the onion and cook until soft.

3. Add the hamburger and cook for around 2 minutes, stirring regularly.

4. Add the potato, rosemary, garlic and paprika and stir to combine.

5. Add the salt and continue to cook until the beef is cooked through. Drain if necessary.