Bosnian Burek Pastry (Printable Version)

Flaky phyllo layered with savory beef and fresh spinach, baked to golden crispness.

# What You'll Need:

→ Filling

01 - 14 oz ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio recommended)
02 - 7 oz fresh spinach, washed and chopped
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tsp salt
06 - ½ tsp black pepper
07 - ½ tsp paprika (optional)

→ Pastry & Assembly

08 - 18 oz phyllo pastry sheets (about 12–14 sheets)
09 - 8.5 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
10 - 3 tbsp vegetable oil

→ For Brushing & Serving

11 - 3 tbsp plain yogurt (optional)
12 - 1 tbsp water (for brushing)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, mix ground beef, spinach, onion, garlic, salt, black pepper, and paprika until fully blended.
03 - Melt butter and combine with vegetable oil in a small bowl.
04 - Place one phyllo sheet on a clean surface. Brush with the butter-oil mixture. Stack another sheet atop and brush again. Repeat to create a 2–3 sheet stack.
05 - Spread a thin layer of filling along one long edge of the phyllo stack, leaving a border. Roll tightly to form a long log.
06 - Gently coil the log into a spiral and place on the prepared tray. Repeat with remaining filling and phyllo sheets.
07 - Generously brush the tops with the remaining butter-oil mixture.
08 - Mix plain yogurt with water and brush over the pastry for added crispness (optional).
09 - Bake for 35–40 minutes until golden brown and crisp.
10 - Allow to rest for 10 minutes. Slice and serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The phyllo turns impossibly crisp while the filling stays tender and savory, creating a contrast that feels luxurious with every bite.
  • Its forgiving enough for a weeknight but impressive enough to serve when you want to show off a little.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully in a hot oven, so you can stretch one batch across several meals without losing that golden crunch.
02 -
  • Phyllo dries out faster than you expect, so always keep unused sheets covered with a damp towel, not a wet one, or theyll turn gummy.
  • If your spiral starts falling apart during assembly, brush a little extra butter between the coils to glue them together as they bake.
  • Dont overbake hoping for more color, the phyllo goes from perfect to burnt in less than five minutes once it hits deep gold.
03 -
  • Work quickly but calmly when handling phyllo, confidence matters more than speed, and hesitation is what causes most tears.
  • Brush the butter oil in long smooth strokes rather than dabbing, it spreads more evenly and you use less overall.
  • If your oven runs hot, rotate the tray halfway through baking so the spiral browns evenly on all sides.
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