Israeli Everything Bagel Cheese Borekas

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Who says everything bagel seasoning is just for bagels? Sprinkle it on these Israeli cheese borekas, and watch the pastries disappear! Bring them to parties, picnics, weekly practices and games, or serve them for breakfast or brunch on Mother’s Day.  Father’s Day too!

What are Borekas?

Borekas, boreki, börek, Burke, or bourekas are savory and delicious hand pies that are popular across the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

Fillings can vary but borekas stuffed with cheese and topped with homemade everything bagel seasoning is Israeli’s favorite pastime food.

The boreka dough is traditionally made from scratch, but puff pastry is a convenient substitute that simplifies the process. And who doesn’t like simple recipes? For lower carb version use fillo pastry.

Like with many foods of Mediterranean, we can thank Turkey and their Ottoman Empire for these pastries.

The Ottomans, among other things, served to bring variety, freshness, color, and refinement to Mediterraneanean cuisine, which has been exported throughout the world.

It is truly a celebration of the blending of peoples, ideas, and flavors, all subtly woven together in a savory tapestry, a delight for the eyes and a feast for the mouth.

Ingredients:

For borekas, you will need these simple ingredients (everything bagel seasoning is optional):

• Puff pastry
• Feta and Mozarella cheese
• Egg
• Milk

What is in everything bagel seasoning?

• Sesame seeds
• Poppy seeds
• Dry onion flakes
• Dry garlic flakes

How to make Israeli Everything Bagel Cheese Borekas:

*Keep scrolling to get the full (printable) recipe and ingredient amounts, or click on the “Skip to Recipe” button at the top of the page.

1. Make the filling: In a mixing bowl, combine feta, mozzarella, egg, and salt until well blended. Make sure to break up any large crumbles of feta with the fork.
2. Prep the pastry: On a lightly floured surface, unfold puff pastry sheets. With a rolling pin, roll out each sheet to a 12×12-inch square. Cut it into thirds lengthwise and crosswise to get 9  4-inch squares, for a total of 18 squares. Brush edges of each square lightly with water.
3. Fill the pastry: Place one heaping tablespoon of cheese filling into the center of each square and fold the dough over the filling in half diagonally to form triangular pastries. Firmly pinch the edges together to seal. Brush the tops of the borekas with egg wash and sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning.
4. Bake:  Bake for 30 minutes, or until the pastries are puffed and deeply golden, and the filling is cooked through. 

Recipe notes:

• Substitute mozzarella with kashkaval or provolone cheese.
• You can use fillo dough instead of puff pastry for fewer carbs.
• Substitute homemade everything bagel seasoning with store-bought. 

This recipe is adapted from the An Oddysey of Food, My Journey Back to Israel book.  Shaya makes the dough from scratch and talks with the great sentiment about baking these with his grandma.

I made a few changes to simplify it but the taste is still deliciously the same.

Food is the ingredient that bonds us together. Borekas are easy to make with your kids or grandkids. Try new foods and build delicious memories. For inspiration, check out this Taste the Globe interactive map.

Other delicious pastry recipes to try:

• DANISH YEAST BUNS
• PARMESAN AND SESAME BUTTERMILK BISCUITS
• EASY BAVARIAN PRETZEL ROLLS
• SOFT PRETZEL CORNERS
• PB&J FILLO DOUGHNUTS

Israeli Everything Bagel Cheese Borekas

These Israeli cheese borekas topped with everything bagel seasoning are perfect for parties, picnics, weekly practices and games, breakfast or brunch, and supper.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer, Breakfast

Cuisine: Israeli

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Servings: 18 borekas

Calories: 209kcal

Author: Jas

Equipment

• Rolling pin
• baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Pastry brush

Ingredients

Cheese Borekas

• 2 sheets puff pastry
• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1 ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg beaten

Egg Wash

• 1 egg yolk
• 2 teaspoons milk

Everything Bagel Seasoning

• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
• 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
• ½ teaspoon dried onion flakes
• ½ teaspoons dried garlic flakes

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a mixing bowl, combine feta, mozzarella, egg, and salt until well blended. Make sure to break up any large crumbles of feta with the fork.
• On a lightly floured surface, unfold puff pastry sheets. With a rolling pin, roll out each sheet to a 12x12-inch square. Cut it into thirds lengthwise and crosswise to get 9 4-inch squares, for a total of 18 squares. Brush edges of each square lightly with water.
• Place one heaping tablespoon of cheese filling into the center of each square and fold the dough over the filling in half diagonally to form triangular pastries. Firmly pinch the edges together to seal. With the tines of a fork, crimp the edges well.
• Make the everything-bagel seasoning by combining sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion and garlic flakes.
• In a small bowl, beat together the egg yolk and milk. Brush the tops of the borekas with egg wash and sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning.
• Bake for 30 minutes, or until the pastries are puffed and deeply golden, and the filling is cooked through. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

• Substitute mozzarella with kashkaval or provolone cheese.
• You can use fillo dough instead of puff pastry for fewer carbs.
• Substitute homemade everything bagel seasoning with store-bought. 
• Nutrition information is approximate and meant as a guideline only.

Nutrition

Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 256mg | Potassium: 34mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 126IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 1mg

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