Ispanaklı Selanik Böreği

Ispanaklı Selanik Böreği is a traditional Turkish dish, originating from the city of Thessaloniki, which is known as Selanik in Turkish. It is a type of börek, a family of baked filled pastries made of a thin flaky dough known as phyllo or yufka. Ispanaklı Selanik Böreği is distinguished by its filling of spinach (ispanak in Turkish), often combined with cheese and herbs.

History

The history of Ispanaklı Selanik Böreği is intertwined with the history of Thessaloniki and the exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey in the early 20th century. Many Turkish families from Thessaloniki brought their culinary traditions with them, including the making of börek.

Preparation

The preparation of Ispanaklı Selanik Böreği involves several steps. First, the spinach is cleaned and chopped, then sautéed with onions and mixed with cheese and herbs. This mixture is then spread onto sheets of phyllo dough, which are rolled up and arranged in a circular pattern in a baking dish. The börek is then baked until golden brown.

Variations

While spinach is the traditional filling for Ispanaklı Selanik Böreği, variations may include other ingredients such as leeks, feta cheese, or ground meat. Some versions may also include a topping of sesame seeds.

See also

• Börek
• Turkish cuisine
• Thessaloniki