Turkish Börek
Turkish Börek is a typical pie made of phyllo pastry, with different types of fillings. The phyllo pastry is typically rolled into a spiral, and the effect once cooked is pretty amazing.
For this vegan version, I used creamed firm tofu and fresh spinach for the filling. As a result, you will find that it has a delicate taste.
If you want something even more filling and satisfying you can substitute the tofu with mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
- 1 roll of phyllo pastry
- 1 block firm tofu (250 gr circa)
- 1 pack fresh spinach (100 gr)
- Pinch of garlic salt
- Pinch of black pepper
- A little olive oil
- 1 tablespoon non-dairy, grated hard cheese (Parmesan-like)
- 2 tablespoons non-dairy mozzarella shreds
- A little non-dairy butter
- Almond milk, to brush
Preparation
Take the phyllo pastry out of the freezer at least 30 minutes prior to cooking and set aside. Put the spinach in a large skillet with a little water, sprinkle with a little garlic salt and cook until tender. Dice the tofu, transfer to a processor with a little olive oil, sprinkle with garlic salt and mix until you obtain a smooth cream.
Transfer the tofu cream to a mixing bowl. Incorporate the cooked spinach, hard cheese, and mozzarella shreds.
Unfold the phyllo pastry and separate the layers in a half, so to reduce the thickness. Spread a thin layer of filling into a long strip along one of the pastry side and roll it (as you would do with sushi). Once you can join the ends, cut the pastry and seal the roll by brushing a bit of almond milk on the ends. Brush the rest of the roll to make it softer and then position at the center of a buttered baking tin, folding it into a spiral.
Repeat the process for as many rolls you can make with the filling until the baking tin is full. As you lay the rolls next to each other, join the ends by brushing more almond milk on them. When you’re finished, bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
Serve warm or cold, accompanying it with a little salad on the side. Here, I have made a quick lettuce, cherry tomato, green onion and green olive salad mixed with a tablespoon vegan mayonnaise.
Enjoy your börek!
