Montenegrin Burek

Name: Montenegrin Burek
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 3
Cuisine: Montenegro
Ingredients: Filo pastry sheets — 500 g (1 lb 2 oz); Minced beef or a mix of feta-style cheese and spinach — 300 g (10.5 oz); Onion, finely chopped — 1 (if using meat filling); Oil, plus extra for brushing — 2 tbsp; Salt and pepper — to taste

The Quirky Foodster Team

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30 min

Prep

35 min

Cook

Servings

Ingredients

Filo pastry sheets — 500 g (1 lb 2 oz)
Minced beef or a mix of feta-style cheese and spinach — 300 g (10.5 oz)
Onion, finely chopped — 1 (if using meat filling)
Oil, plus extra for brushing — 2 tbsp
Salt and pepper — to taste

Method

If making a meat filling, sauté the onion in oil until soft, then add the minced meat and cook until browned; season with salt and pepper and cool slightly. For a cheese and spinach filling, simply mix the ingredients together with salt and pepper.
Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F).
Lay out a sheet of filo, brush lightly with oil, and spread a thin line of filling along one edge.
Roll the sheet up loosely around the filling into a long log, then coil into a spiral shape in a round baking dish.
Repeat with the remaining filo sheets and filling, joining the spirals together to fill the dish.
Brush the top generously with oil.
Bake for 30–35 minutes until deeply golden and crisp.
Let cool slightly before slicing into wedges.

Introduction: Flaky, spiral-shaped pastry filled with minced meat, cheese or spinach, one of the most popular grab-and-go foods across Montenegro.

Cultural Background: Burek reflects the Ottoman culinary influence spread widely across the Balkans, its thin, layered pastry adapted with regional fillings, and it remains an essential everyday food sold from bakeries at all hours.

Tips: Work with filo pastry quickly, as it dries out fast; keep unused sheets covered with a damp cloth. Brush generously with oil between layers for the flakiest, crispest result.

Variations: Make individual rolled portions instead of one large spiral for easier serving. Add a beaten egg to the cheese and spinach filling for extra richness.

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Reheating: Reheat in an oven at 180°C (350°F) for 10–12 minutes to restore crispness.

Nutrition: Per serving (approx.): 380 kcal, 14 g protein, 22 g fat, 32 g carbohydrate.

FAQs:

Q: Can I use store-bought filo pastry?

A: Yes, this is common practice and works very well for this

Q: What fillings are most popular?

A: Minced meat and a mix of cheese and spinach are the two most