Bellenjay
Novice Foodie
One of my favorite morning memories is spending time with my family eating the traditional cuisine "Byrek me Spinaq" when I was a child in Albania. This pie, known for its flaky dough and tasty filling, is a classic of Albanian cuisine and tastes savory. This is how to make it:
Ingredients:
- 500g spinach, washed and chopped
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 200g feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 egg, beaten
- 6-8 sheets of phyllo pastry
- Butter or olive oil for brushing
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until softened and translucent.
- Add the chopped spinach to the skillet and cook until wilted, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Once the spinach is cooked down, remove the skillet from the heat and let it cool slightly.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked spinach mixture with the crumbled feta cheese and beaten egg. Mix well to combine.
- Take one sheet of phyllo pastry and brush it lightly with melted butter or olive oil. Place another sheet on top and repeat the process until you have a stack of 3-4 sheets.
- Spoon the spinach and feta mixture onto one end of the phyllo stack, leaving some space around the edges.
- Carefully roll up the phyllo pastry to enclose the filling and form a log shape.
- Transfer the rolled pastry to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, seam side down.
- Brush the top of the pastry with melted butter or olive oil.
- Repeat the process with the remaining phyllo sheets and filling until you have used up all the ingredients.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and crisp.
- Once baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly before slicing and serving.
. The addition of feta cheese adds a nice tanginess to balance out the earthy flavor of the spinach. Excited to give it a go!
