This step-by-step recipe for layered burek - fillo meat pie is perfect for when you're first starting cooking with fillo dough. It's a fuss-free, easy process that will eliminate your fear of making fillo dishes for good. Check baking with fillo off your bucket list now!
Tackling and succeeding in something new is always so rewarding especially when the outcome is as delicious as the meat filling between the layers of fillo pastry. I promise you'll be making this meat pie aka burek again and again!
Savory fillings baked in thin flaky pastry dough known as fillo, filo, phyllo or yufka are popular throughout southeastern Europe, one of many legacies of Ottoman Empire. Stretching raw dough into paper-thin sheets likely originated in the kitchens of the Topkapı Palace in Turkey, during the time of their 400+ years of ruling.
Do you ever wonder who was the very first person (or a team of people) that came up with dough and then thought of stretching it so thin you can almost see through it? I spend many sleepless nights thinking of origins of food and other amazing things that make our world. Doesn't everyone?
How to make layered burek with fillo pastry?
This process is truly simple:
- First, clean a large working surface.
- Next, prepare your filling (full recipe below), then melt the butter or get oil ready, and grease the baking dish.
- Lastly, open the package with thawed fillo dough. Keep the dough covered with a barely damp towel to prevent from drying out. Handle the thin sheets gently but don't worry if they tear. Once baked, it won't be visible.
- Layer a couple of sheets of fillo into the prepared pan and drizzle with oil. Spread some of the meat filling on top of the pastry sheet and repeat layering until the filling is used up.
- Bake.
- Eat.
- Easy!
Every country of the Balkan region and region within a country is proud of their version of burek. You might remember Albanian burek recipe guest posted by a young cook a while back. Burek, the meat pie, is one of the Bosnian favorite national meals.
Using commercially produced fillo dough is almost an insult to a true Bosnian, but who has time to make it from scratch? Not me, although I do know how to make this paper-thin dough. We think of Greece when we hear fillo, especially baklava and spanakopita, although fillo and those dishes are traditional to all Balkan countries.
Where to buy fillo dough?
Your local grocery stores most likely carry fillo pastry in the refrigerator with pie crusts. They often don't stock enough though, but fear not! You can easily order them online directly from The Fillo Factory. The best part is, there are varieties of fillo dough you can choose from.
I suggest thinner pastry for baklava and all the others are good for various savory recipes unless otherwise specified. I know you will love them so go ahead and order a few. They ship frozen and will keep great in your freezer for months!
Interesting fact: There is an ongoing dispute amongst my fellow countrymen when it comes to the name of various fillo pies. No matter the filling, we call stuffed fillo dough a pie, aka pita.
But now it gets more complicated: if the filling is meat, then the pie is called burek. Cheese, spinach, potato, zucchini, and even apple and sugar cream fillings are merely called "[the name of the filling] pita".
However, burek has become a common noun and some refer to all pitas as "burek with [the name of the filling]", hence the dispute. Basically, it's not burek with cheese, it is cheese pita. First world problems. 🙂
Step by Step Recipe for Layered Burek - Fillo Meat Pie
Ingredients:
- frozen fillo dough
- ground beef
- onions
- garlic clove
- Vegeta (optional)
- Salt and black pepper
- eggs
- sour cream
- vegetable oil
Directions:
- Sauté onions in a large skillet over medium-high heat until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Do not overcook them; they’ll finish cooking in the oven. Add ground beef, garlic, Vegeta if using, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer for 15 minutes and let cool. Beat the eggs with sour cream and mix with the ground beef and onion mixture.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9x13 baking pan generously with oil.
- Lay the thawed phyllo dough sheets between two lightly damp kitchen towels.
- Place two (three if extra thin) sheets of fillo dough into the prepared pan. Fold any excess dough in or cut with scissors. Brush or drizzle the top sheet with oil. Spread some of the meat filling evenly over the fillo, about 3 tablespoons. Repeat the layering process until the filling is used up, finishing with two-three layers of fillo.
- Brush the top of the pastry generously with remaining oil. With a sharp knife, cut the phyllo pie into squares.
- Bake for 45-60 minutes, or until cooked through and golden brown in color. Serve with buttermilk or Balkan style yogurt (like Greek) for authenticity.
Related Recipes:
- Swedish Apple Pie with Fillo
- Slovenian Vegetable and Cheese Pie
- Fillo Pastry Fish and Chips
- Simple Egg Pie
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Layered Burek - Fillo Meat Pie
Ingredients
- 1 package frozen fillo dough thawed
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 large onions chopped
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tablespoon Vegeta optional
- Salt and black pepper to season
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- ⅔ cup vegetable oil
Instructions
- Sauté onions in a large skillet over medium-high heat until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Do not overcook them; they’ll finish cooking in the oven. Add ground beef, garlic, Vegeta if using, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer for 15 minutes and let cool. Beat the eggs with sour cream and mix with the ground beef and onion mixture.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9x13 baking pan generously with oil.
- Lay the thawed phyllo dough sheets between two lightly damp kitchen towels.
- Place two (three if extra thin) sheets of fillo dough into the prepared pan. Fold any excess dough in or cut with scissors. Brush or drizzle the top sheet with oil. Spread some of the meat filling evenly over the fillo, about 3 tablespoons. Repeat the layering process until the filling is used up, finishing with two-three layers of fillo.
- Brush the top of the pastry generously with remaining oil. With a sharp knife, cut the phyllo pie into squares.
- Bake for 45-60 minutes, or until cooked through and golden brown in color. Serve with buttermilk or Balkan style yogurt (like Greek) for authenticity.
Expert Tips
- Use melted butter instead of oil.
- Try replacing onions with leeks for a different hint of flavor.
I watched my mom making burek my whole life, but I don’t remember she’d ever use eggs and sour cream, mixed with ground beef!! I wonder is this “addition” only because we are using fillo and not homemade “jufke”, or you recommend same filling for homemade too?!
I will definitely try it, no matter your answer:)
Many greetings from someone who takes meat out of burek and eats only dough part!!
Hi, Elma! It's just another way to make burek. This recipe was printed on an apron I had for decades and it does go better with store-bought fillo (jufke), but you can definitely use it with the homemade dough too. Although it tastes fantastic, I'm partial to this burek recipe (never mind old photos that need updating.) I promise you will love the dough even if you remove the meat. 🙂
I have made a very similar recipe but I followed yours this time and I’m just curious as I have never done this before when you say cut it into squares before baking. Why is this? Also yours is the first I have seen that lays it out flat in a 9 x 13 baking dish. This is how I have always done it only because I find it easier is there a reason you do it this way?
Hi, Nencica. Cutting it before baking is just a recommendation, nut a rule. Just like you would with baklava, it ensures even cooking. As you can tell from my photos, I didn't do it at that time. There are many ways you can make the pie and this method is easy enough for someone who had never made it before or when you are short on time. The flavor is the same, though! I also have the recipe with homemade dough. Thanks for stopping in! 🙂
Thanks Jas. I went ahead with the one large onion i had previously chopped (I measured it to be a little more than 3 cups), which seemed like so much when I put it in pan, but it turned out to be just right. Recipe came out well. It was easy and tasty. My family liked it. Thanks!
Ah, glad it turned out fine. Thank you so much for trying it and liking it! Hugs!
I bought the Vegeta and two large onions. I just chopped one large onion and it looks about 3-4 cups. I'm a little wary about that being the correct amount. I hope you're online and will respond to this soon. I'm holding off for a little while on proceeding until I hear from you about how many cups of onion I should use. Thanks!
Hi, Diana! I guess there are large onions and then there are LARGE onions, lol. I should be more specific. 3-4 cups are OK since, in this version, they are sauteed first. We do love lots of onions in our dishes. Hope I'm not too late responding. Thanks for giving it a try, and let me know how you liked it!
Jas this sounds like a very interesting recipe. I have never heard of this one before. Anything that involves fillo is always a favorite in my house!
Jas, it’s like you have just read my mind! I was just thinking of making bourek. This is such a good idea. I love bourek, so I am sure I would love this, too. Thanks for sharing! x
Ha, that's awesome! Since you love burek, I know you will love this version too! Hope you'll try it! Hugs!
Beautiful dish and such a fun share, Jas! Thanks for bringing your dish to Fiesta Friday!
Mollie
Many thanks, Mollie! Have a great week. x
This looks delicious, Jas! I love about anything with phyllo. Thank you for sharing! 😀
That makes two of us, Antonia 😀 Thanks for visiting!
This sounds delicious! I can't wait to try to make it myself! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you much! Hope you'll try it and let me know how you liked it 😀