Potato Borek is not only easy and simple but it is also tasty and filling. Phyllo pastry sheets are stacked in a baking pan, stuffed with a potato filling and then baked. It makes a perfect potluck food, savory snack or breakfast food.
Potato Phyllo borek is just another type of Turkish borek. It is one of my favorite Turkish recipes and one of the most common pastries served to guests here. I generally make borek at the weekend as a preparation for week days.
As I leave for work early in the morning, borek becomes my best breakfast. You know how much I love breakfast. During weekdays, I don’t have enough time for a big breakfast though. If we have prepared borek in the refrigerator, I just heat them in oven or in a pan on the stove. The best quick breakfast for me!
Moreover, I sometimes put a few potato borek squares in my lunch bag and take it to work. It becomes a perfect lunch accompanied by a glass of ayran as borek is also eaten cold.
How To Make
- Boil the potatoes in a pot full of water until they get very soft. You can check them with a fork, insert it in one of the potatoes, if it’s soft enough, that’s ok. Then peel the potatoes and chop them in small pieces. Put it aside.
- Chop the onion and sauté it until golden. Add tomato/pepper paste into it and stir. Put the boiled and chopped potatoes into it, sprinkle salt and other spices and sauté all of them for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally. Take it from heat and let it cool.
- Preheat the oven to 180C (356F).
- Now we’ll prepare the mixture to stick the phyllo sheets. Mix yogurt, oil and egg until well combined. This mixture prevents the borek from splitting off.
- Lay one of the phyllo sheets on an oven tray. Then spread the yogurt mixture on it with a brush. If the sheet is too big for the tray, you can tear it into two pieces and then lay it on the tray. It doesn’t need to be perfect in shape. Then lay another sheet on this one. Spread some yogurt mixture again. Now put some filling mixture (not much as you’ll put the rest soon).
- Lay another sheet on potatoes and spread yogurt mixture again. Now put the rest of the potatoes and sprinkle grated yellow cheese on it. Lay the last two sheets on them spreading yogurt mixture between them. Finally spread all the mixture on top of it to have a well cooked borek. Cut it into squares. And sprinkle some nigella sativa on it. Cook it for about 40 minutes.
More Turkish Pastries
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PrintPotato Borek
Potato Phyllo Pie is easy to make yet it is one of the yummiest savory pies.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: 20 squares 1x
- Category: pastry
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Turkish
Ingredients
- 5 phyllo sheets
To stick these phyllo sheets
- • 1 cup yogurt
- • ¼ cup olive oil
- • 1 egg
For its filling
- • 5 middle potatoes
- • 1 big onion
- • 1tbsp pepper or tomato paste
- • 1tsp cumin
- • 1tbsp black pepper
- • 1tbsp salt
- • ½ grated yellow cheese
For garnish
- • nigella sativa
Instructions
- Boil the potatoes in a pot full of water until they get very soft. You can check them with a fork, insert it in one of the potatoes, if it’s soft enough, that’s ok. Then peel the potatoes and chop them in small pieces. Put it aside.
- Chop the onion and sauté it until golden. Add tomato/pepper paste into it and stir. Put the boiled and chopped potatoes into it, sprinkle salt and other spices and sauté all of them for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally. Take it from heat and let it cool.
- Preheat the oven to 180C (356F).
- Now we’ll prepare the mixture to stick the phyllo sheets. Mix yogurt, oil and egg until well combined. This mixture prevents the borek from splitting off.
- Lay one of the phyllo sheets on an oven tray. Then spread the yogurt mixture on it with a brush. If the sheet is too big for the tray, you can tear it into two pieces and then lay it on the tray. It doesn’t need to be perfect in shape. Then lay another sheet on this one. Spread some yogurt mixture again. Now put some filling mixture (not much as you’ll put the rest soon).
- Lay another sheet on potatoes and spread yogurt mixture again. Now put the rest of the potatoes and sprinkle grated yellow cheese on it. Lay the last two sheets on them spreading yogurt mixture between them. Finally spread all the mixture on top of it to have a well cooked borek. Cut it into squares. And sprinkle some nigella sativa on it. Cook it for about 40 minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 149
- Sugar: 1.7 g
- Sodium: 398.3 mg
- Fat: 8.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 15.4 g
- Protein: 3.6 g
- Cholesterol: 11.2 mg
Keywords: potato borek, potato pie, Turkish potato borek, phyllo borek
Angela says
Absolutely wonderful, and I enjoyed the story about sharing with colleagues. When things open up again I can’t wait to share.
Emma says
Please check your instructions to make! It says lay another sheet but I cant see anywhere that it says lay the first sheet? Have you missed something out? Thankyou
Yusuf says
Hi Emma! The number of instructions are somehow messed up. I've corrected them now. Thanks for the heads up!
Hulya says
Hi
This looks good, I wish I was like my mum and be able to make my own pastry but I know I am not.....Anyway, I like the simple way you have made the dish and I love Filo pastry extra but I have a question what is Yellow Cheese? You can say it in Turkish and I am sure I can translate it then myself.
Maggie says
This looks so good! I have to try making one for my parents. They found a place that sells borek and fell in love with them but I don't think they've had a vegetarian one yet. I really love the nigella seeds on top. They have a great flavor that goes so well with potato.