Turkish tray pie · Filo shortcut
Su Boregi Recipe (Turkish Cheese Borek)
Milk egg wash. Scrunch the layers. Rest before cutting.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenTepsi borek is a layered tray pie of thin pastry, white cheese and parsley, soft inside and crisp on top. With shop filo it often turns dry and flaky like baklava. The fix is brushing each layer with a mixture of milk, egg, yoghurt and butter, which steams the inside soft, and resting before cutting.
The 3 laws of su boregi
Why this recipe works
Butter only
Soft, layered inside.
Flat sheets
Fluffy layers.
Cut hot
Clean slices.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Borek
The NineFoods borek gauge
Is it baked?
Look at the top and press the centre.
Method · 3 stages
Step by step
Layer
- Brush a tray, lay 3 sheets brushing each with the milk mixture.
- Scrunch more sheets in, add cheese and parsley, repeat, finish flat.
Bake
- Brush with yolk, sprinkle seeds, cut and bake. Use the gauge above.
Rest
- Cover with a towel and rest before serving.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Too little milk mixture.
Fix next time
Brush every layer.
Why
Wet filling.
Fix next time
Squeeze spinach and drain cheese.
Why
Low oven.
Fix next time
Bake at 190 C until deep golden.
Why
Cut hot.
Fix next time
Rest 15 minutes.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Filo | Pastry | Yufka sheets |
| White cheese | Filling | Feta |
| Parsley | Freshness | Spinach or dill |
| Yoghurt | Softness | More milk |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Turkish tea and a tomato salad.
Store
Fridge 3 days; freeze 1 month.
Reheat
Oven 180 C, 10 minutes.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 8 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 3 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is it baked) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Su Boregi FAQ
What is borek?
Turkish layered pastry with cheese, spinach or meat.
Can I use filo for borek?
Yes, brushed with a milk and egg mixture.
What cheese is used?
Turkish white cheese or feta.
Can I freeze borek?
Yes, baked or unbaked.