These courgette and feta böreks combine a delicious filling of sautéed courgettes and tangy feta cheese, all wrapped in flaky layers of filo pastry.
Courgette and Feta Börek – A Savoury, Flaky Pastry Delight
These courgette and feta böreks combine a delicious filling of sautéed courgettes and tangy feta cheese, all wrapped in flaky layers of filo pastry. I like to serve them warm with a side of crunchy green salad tossed in a light vinaigrette.
Courgette and feta are one of my favourite summer combinations, and make the perfect pair for this Greek-inspired vegetarian recipe. I like to serve it with my Fennel & Apple Salad, Radish Salad or my Lentil Tabbouleh.
These courgette and feta böreks can be enjoyed either as an appetiser or main course for either lunch or dinner. You can prepare them in advance and while they are best eaten warm, you can also enjoy them cold.
Despite appearances, these böreks are relatively easy to make, They require a little bit of patience though when you are shaping them, so that the delicate filo pastry does not break. Still, don’t be alarmed if you feel the pastry breaking, simply loosen the swirl slightly and keep rolling the pastry into a wheel shape.
For this recipe, you will need a total of 12 filo sheets to make 6 böreks. As filo sheets are fragile, I always have a few extras at hand in case some tear up.
Tip for success: If you use too much filling the böreks will prove hard to shape. As explained in the recipe below, you should use about 3 tablespoons of courgette mixture for each börek.
Working your way through a glut of courgettes? Here are some other recipes to try:
- Courgette Bake
- Courgette Dip
- Marinated Courgette Salad with Capers & Olives
- Courgette & Tofu Curry
- Chocolate Courgette Cake
Common questions about this courgette and feta börek recipe
Yes, you can prepare them in advance. Once baked, they will keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. They can be shortly be reheated in the microwave, or for 10 minutes in the oven at 180°C (350°F).
These courgette and feta böreks can be served with a variety of sides, such as a fresh salad, tzatziki, or a soup. They are also delicious on their own, or as part of a buffet.
Because the courgettes are cooked in advance, all you have to do is make sure that the filo pastry is brown and crispy.
Yes, you can, but make sure to thaw the filo pastry sheets in the refrigerator overnight before using them.
Watch how to make this courgette and feta börek recipe
In this post
- Courgette and Feta Börek – A Savoury, Flaky Pastry Delight
- Working your way through a glut of courgettes? Here are some other recipes to try :
- Common questions about this courgette and feta börek recipe
- Watch how to make this courgette and feta börek recipe
- A very short history of börek
- How to make these courgette and feta böreks
- Other recipes you might like
A very short history of börek
Originally a staple of Turkish cuisine, börek’s popularity has spread far and wide. Through the rise and fall of the Ottoman empire, Mongol invasions of Anatolia, population migration, and so on . . . börek (or burek, depending on where you are) has been adapted to many different local cuisines of countries and regions such as Greece, the Balkans, North Africa, and even China.
Consequently, the fillings for börek are highly versatile, reflecting diverse local food identities. They include a variety of ingredients such as meat, tuna, cheese, spinach, potatoes, or vegetables. And while börek is often served as a savoury pie, you can also find sweet alternatives such as sütlü börek.
How to make these courgette and feta böreks
Ingredients needed
To make these courgette and feta böreks, you will need:
- onion
- courgettes
- olive oil
- garlic
- dry Italian herbs
- feta cheese
- filo pastry sheets
- sesame seeds
- nigella seeds
- salt and pepper
Step 1: Prepare the vegetables
Prepare the vegetables: Cut the onion into small dice. Grate the courgettes on the coarse side of a cheese grater.
Step 2: Cook the courgettes
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat in a large frying pan. Fry the onion until soft, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the grated garlic and fry for 30 seconds.
Add the grated courgettes and Italian herbs. Cook until the courgettes are soft, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the stove.
Step 3: Add the cheese
Mix in the crumbled feta cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F. Brush an oven dish or tray with oil.
Step 4: Shape the böreks
Place a filo pastry sheet horizontally on your work surface. Brush it with oil. Place another filo pastry sheet on top.
Leaving a 2-cm (¾-inch) border on the sides and bottom, spread 3 tablespoons of courgette mixture in a line at the bottom of the filo sheet. Carefully roll the filo sheet upwards to form a log. Shape the log as a swirl, being careful not to break the pastry. Transfer the börek to the oiled oven dish.
Repeat to make a total of 6 böreks.
Step 5: Bake and serve
Brush the böreks all over with oil. Sprinkle sesame seeds and nigella seeds on top. Bake in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes until golden. Serve hot or warm.
I hope you enjoy this courgette and feta börek recipe as much as I do. If you do make it, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!
Courgette and Feta Börek Recipe
Equipment
Disclaimer: the equipment list above includes affiliate links to products I use and like.
Ingredients
- 125 g finely chopped onion
- 450 g courgettes
- 2 Tbsp olive oil plus extra for brushing
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
- 1 tsp dry Italian herbs
- 200 g feta cheese
- Salt and pepper
- 12-16 filo pastry sheets ( see note 1)
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon nigella seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the vegetables: Cut the onion into small dice. Grate the courgettes on the coarse side of a cheese grater.125 g finely chopped onion, 450 g courgettes
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat in a large frying pan.2 Tbsp olive oil
- Fry the onion until soft, about 5 to 6 minutes.
- Add the grated garlic and fry for 30 seconds.2 garlic cloves, grated
- Add the grated courgettes and Italian herbs. Cook until the courgettes are soft, about 3 to 5 minutes.1 tsp dry Italian herbs
- Remove the pan from the stove.
- Mix in the crumbled feta cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper.200 g feta cheese, Salt and pepper
- Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F.
- Brush an oven dish or tray with oil.
- Place a filo pastry sheet horizontally on your work surface.12-16 filo pastry sheets
- Brush it with oil.
- Place another filo pastry sheet on top.
- Leaving a 2-cm (¾-inch) border on the sides and bottom, spread 3 tablespoons of courgette mixture in a line at the bottom of the filo sheet.
- Carefully roll the filo sheet upwards to form a log.
- Shape the log as a swirl, being careful not to break the pastry.
- Transfer the börek to the oiled oven dish.
- Repeat steps 10 to 16 to make a total of 6 böreks.
- Brush the böreks all over with oil.
- Sprinkle sesame seeds and nigella seeds on top.1 teaspoon sesame seeds, 1 teaspoon nigella seeds
- Bake in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes until golden.
- Serve hot or warm.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Find this recipe online:
Courgette and Feta Börek Recipe
https://theflexitarian.co.uk/recipe-items/courgette-and-feta-borek/
I cannot wait to see your posts!
Other recipes you might like
I cant wait to try this recipe but wonder if I can prepare it all the day before as I am serving a buffet to my musician friends after an afternoon of playing -and I dont want to be in the kitchen all that time but play violin as well with them.
Thankyou .
Hi Gwenda,
It sounds like a wonderful afternoon!
If you cook them a day in advance, the pastry will get soggy and they might not be as crispy. So it is best to minimise the time between baking them and eating them.
The filling can be made up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated. Then you can assemble and cook on the day.
Alternatively, you can also freeze uncooked boreks and bake them straight from frozen on the day.
Hope this helps.
Annabelle