Sigara Boregi, Turkish cheese rolls, are crunchy appetizers that satisfy everyone. They are one of the easiest Turkish börek recipes. Prepare them in advance and fry right before serving for the crispiest result.
There are several savory pastries in Turkey and they are served either as breakfast food or afternoon snacks. And sigara boregi is among the most popular ones.
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What Is Sigara Boregi?
Borek is one of the most loved Turkish dishes. It is the general name in Turkish cuisine we use for savory pastries made with phyllo sheets (yufka) and various fillings.
And this sigara börek or cigarette borek has this name because of its cylindiric shape, which is similar to the shape of cigarette or cigar.
So what exactly is sigara boregi?
Filo sheets are cut into pieces, filled with feta cheese, rolled up and then fried in a pan. It is best when they are served warm as they are crispy and the cheese inside is melting. That being said, they are tasty when served cold too.
These crispy phyllo rolls are one of the most common mezes or appetizers served at restaurants before a main dish arrives. They are also quite popular at Turkish households as a snack to go with delicious Turkish tea.
About The Ingredients
You can find the full list of ingredients with their measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Phyllo Dough (Filo): This is a super thin pastry dough that we use very often to make borek recipes.
Cheese: We use a mixture of feta cheese (Turkish beyaz peynir) and grated mozzarella. They go really well together in these crispy pastries. You can get creative and make a cheese mixture with Turkish cottage cheese called lor peyniri, halloumi cheese (hellim peyniri) and Turkish kasar cheese.
Parsley: It gives a nice herby touch to the sigara börek cheese filling. We do love the combination of cheese and parsley but you can substitute spinach for it if you want.
Oil: This is to fry these filo cheese rolls. We use either sunflower oil or vegetable oil. Light olive oil is fine too.
How To Make Sigara Boregi
You’ll find the full instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, but here’s the simple idea:
Cut your phyllo into four strips. Take one, keep the others under a tea towel. Add a bit of the cheese filling, fold in the sides, roll it up, seal the tip with a little water, and set aside. Do the same with the rest, always keeping the unused ones covered so they don’t dry out. Once you’ve rolled them all, fry in hot oil until golden and crisp. That’s it!
Tips
- Remember to cover the phyllo dough sheets with a kitchen towel after removing them from the package so that they won't dry out.
- Make sure to secure the filling well to prevent the cheese from oozing when frying.
- Don't overfill the rolls, otherwise the cheese filling will easily ooze.
- If the cheese starts to ooze when frying your sigara börek, it will splatter hot oil. So be careful not to burn your hands.
- Don't overcrowd the pan, otherwise the temperature of the oil will reduce and your rolls won't be fried well.
Serving Suggestions
We make this sigara börek recipe quite often since it caters us in many occasions. They make an easy and tasty meze, especially when served with a simple yogurt sauce on the side, which is actually yogurt seasoned with salt, red pepper flakes and mint.
We sometimes serve them with a thick cacik too.
As for the drinks, we recommend pairing it with Turkish çay or mint lemonade.
Storage
The best part of these delicious Turkish cheese rolls is that you can roll up a good batch and store them for later.
You can keep them in the fridge for a week. It’s really time saving when you have a party at home. Fry them when your guests are about to arrive and serve them warm. Make sure you keep the uncooked phyllo rolls in an airtight container in the fridge though.
These sigara börek rolls are perfect to freeze uncooked. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. They shouldn't be touching one another. Let them sit in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Then put them in freezer bags and store for up to 6 months.
You don't need to thaw them when you are ready to fry the frozen sigara boregi. Make sure they are stored properly in the freezer and are not icy. Otherwise, the oil will splatter.
FAQs
Sure, you can. Sigara boregi is traditionally made with a cheese filling but you can make it with boiled and mashed potatoes too.
If you are one of those folks who likes meat in almost any food, try putting chopped salami, sausage or sujuk and cheese on the phyllo triangles and roll them up!
You can use whatever cheese you like. Some of our favorites are Turkish cheeses such as beyaz peynir (feta), tulum cheese, kasar cheese.
Turkish people traditionally use fresh yufka sheets, which are similar to phyllo pastry sheets. Although it won't be sigara borek, you can use puff pastry and bake them in oven instead if that's what you want. You will have to brush their top with beaten yolk and bake them at 350F/180C for 20 minutes.
Yes. You can! Bake them in the oven if you want them lighter. This works very well too. Just make sure you brush their top with beaten egg yolk. Bake them at 350F/180C for 20-25 minutes.
More Turkish Pastries
- Pide Bread
- Bazlama Bread
- Manti (Turkish Dumplings)
Other Recipes with Feta Cheese
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📖 Recipe
Sigara Boregi (Turkish Cheese Rolls)
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup feta cheese crumbled
- 1 cup mozzarella grated
- ¼ cup parsley chopped
- 8 pieces phyllo sheets (filo pastry)
- 1 tablespoon water to brush the phyllo sheets
- ½ cup oil to fry the boreks
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a bowl, combine crumbled feta cheese, mozzarella and chopped parsley. Set aside.
- Cut each phyllo sheet lengthwise into 4 equal strips.
- Place one strip in front of you and keep the remaining strips covered with a tea towel so they don’t dry out.
- Put about 1 tablespoon of the filling on one end of the strip.
- Fold the two long edges slightly inward to cover the filling.
- Roll the strip tightly toward the other end.
- Brush a little water on the tip of the strip to seal, then place it on a plate. Cover them with a towel.
- Repeat the same process with the remaining strips, always keeping the unused ones under the towel.
- Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat until hot.
- Fry the rolls in batches, turning occasionally, until golden and crispy.
- Transfer them onto a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil. Serve warm or at room temperature.
NOTES
- Remember to cover the phyllo dough sheets with a kitchen towel after removing them from the package so that they won't dry out. This is very important.
- Make sure to secure the filling well to prevent the cheese from oozing when frying.
- Don't overfill the rolls, otherwise the cheese filling will easily ooze.
- If the cheese starts to ooze when frying your sigara börek, it will splatter hot oil. So be careful not to burn your hands.
- Don't overcrowd the pan, otherwise the temperature of the oil will reduce and your rolls won't be fried well.
- To prepare a simple yogurt sauce: Mix Greek yogurt, a little salt, red pepper flakes and dried mint well. And serve this in a bowl on the side of your sigara borek.
NUTRITION
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Zerrin says
Daily Spud - It was absolutely wonderful with beer.
Stru - Thanks for this information.
Sophie- Glad you like it. You can try it with the beer you mentioned in your blog.
lisaiscooking - It is also perfect for watching movies.
Reeni - So crispy...This is the keyword for these rolls.
Mely - You're right, I understand that I should write a post on Turkish cheese. I'm planning to add it soon.
Sophia- Cinnamon and brown sugar is a wonderful idea! Never thought it, bur I should try. I sometimes eat it dipping into yogurt.
Sophia says
yummy! I'd bet this will also be good as a sweet snack sprinkled with cinnamon and brown sugar.
melycastaneda says
Hi, Zerrin,
I would love to see a post on greek or turkish cheese.
Is this goat cheese?
Thanks!
Mely
Reeni says
They look so crispy, flaky and delicious! The perfect snack to munch on!
lisaiscooking says
These look delicious! Perfect snacks for watching sports. The filling sounds great.
Sophie says
MMMMM...Zerrin!! these rolls look so lovely & yummie: I love it!! Thanks!!
stru says
White cheese is just a milk or butter cheese.
Daily Spud says
Those sound like an excellent beer snack - I must remember to keep some phyllo pastry on hand!
Zerrin says
Thank you all for your comments. These cigarette boreks were definitely tasty, they didn't last long that night.
Lauren- I'm not sure how I can describe white cheese except its color. It's a very common cow cheese here, I really don't know how it's made. But you can use any kind of cheese in these cigarette boreks.
vrinda says
Looks delicious and crispy with few ingredients...
Sara says
These look delicious, I love phyllo - so crispy and tasty!
OysterCulture says
oh, these little beauties would get me in trouble. They look so delicious. I'm bookmarking so may of these for when my hubby comes back.
Lauren says
what is white cheese?
I like this. reminds me of taquitos but way nicer.
Diana says
These would not last long in my home. A nice treat.
Natasha - 5 Star Foodie says
ooo, perfect snack - crunchy and cheesy! Yum!