Balkan treat: How to make the perfect meat burek at home

Burek is a popular snack that can be found in many Balkan countries, including Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia. It is a type of filo pastry filled with various fillings, most commonly meat, cheese, or spinach. You can buy burek on every corner, and its delicious taste and aroma will surely tempt everyone.

If you are looking for a delicious, filling and flavourful snack, meat burek is a bullseye. This classic dish of Balkan cuisine delights with its simplicity and wealth of flavours. Burek, baked on thin filo pastry, is filled with various fillings – from meat to cheese to spinach. Below, we present a recipe for meat burek that will become a hit in your kitchen.

Meat burek is perfect as an everyday snack and a main dish for friends or family gatherings.

Ingredients for filo pastry:

• 500 grams all-purpose flour,
• 240 millilitres warm water,
• 1 teaspoon salt,
• 1 large egg,
• 300 grams of butter (for brushing the pastry).

Ingredients for meat filling:

• 400 grams of ground pork,
• 1 onion,
• 2 garlic cloves,
• Salt, pepper, paprika, basil, oregano (to taste).

Preparation:

1. Prepare the filo pastry: Pour the flour into a bowl and make a well in it. Add the egg, salt, and warm water. Knead the dough into a smooth mass until it stops sticking. Divide the dough into 15-20 equal parts and form them into balls. Wrap the balls in plastic wrap and set aside for 30 minutes.
2. Prepare the meat filling: Finely chop the onion and sauté it in oil. Add the ground meat and cook until browned. Add the chopped garlic, paprika, sweet paprika, hot paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix well and simmer for about 15 minutes until the meat is tender.
3. Assemble the burek: Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Take one ball of filo dough and roll it out into a fragile sheet. Brush the sheet with melted butter. Repeat with the successive 5-6 balls of dough, layering them one on top of the other in the tray. Spread the meat filling on top.
4. Prepare additional layers: Roll out the remaining balls of filo dough and brush with butter. Lay them on top of the meat filling, creating additional layers. Brush the top of the burek with melted butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
5. Bake the burek: Bake the burek for around 40-50 minutes until the dough is golden brown. Remove the burek from the oven and allow it to cool.