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Delicious Greek-Style Banitsa with Feta and Filo Pastry Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 132 reviews

Banitsa is a traditional Bulgarian savory pastry featuring layers of flaky filo dough filled with a creamy mixture of feta cheese, Greek yogurt, eggs, and baking soda. Baked until golden and puffed, this delightful pastry is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a savory snack.

Ingredients

Scale

Filling

  • 1 cup natural Greek yogurt (8 ounces / 250 grams)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 7 ounces feta cheese (200 grams), drained and crumbled
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda

Dough

  • 6–8 filo pastry sheets

Butter

  • ½ stick unsalted butter (55 grams), melted

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit (175° Celsius) to prepare for baking the banitsa.
  2. Prepare Baking Dish: Grease a round oven-proof dish with oil or butter to prevent sticking and set it aside.
  3. Mix Filling: In a mixing bowl, crumble the drained feta cheese using a fork or fingers. Add Greek yogurt, eggs, and baking soda, then mix thoroughly until well combined. Set the filling aside.
  4. Prepare Filo Sheet: Lay one sheet of filo pastry on a clean work surface with the wider side facing you. Brush it evenly with melted butter to ensure flakiness.
  5. Add Filling and Roll: Spoon some of the feta mixture onto the buttered filo sheet and spread slightly. Lift the edge closest to you and roll or fold it into a tight “sausage.”
  6. Form Snail Shape: Roll this sausage-like shape into a spiral, similar to a cinnamon roll, creating a “snail.” Place this snail in the center of your prepared oven-proof dish or cake pan.
  7. Repeat for Remaining Sheets: Repeat the buttering, filling, rolling, and spiraling process with the remaining filo sheets, placing each new snail around the previous one to fill the dish.
  8. Apply Remaining Butter and Bake: Pour any leftover melted butter evenly over the assembled banitsa. Transfer the dish to the oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed up and golden brown on top.
  9. Cool and Serve: Remove the banitsa from the oven and allow it to cool slightly to set before slicing and serving.
  10. Enjoy: Serve warm and enjoy this delicious traditional Bulgarian savory pastry.

Notes

  • Ensure the feta cheese is well drained to prevent a soggy pastry.
  • Handle filo sheets gently as they are delicate and can tear easily.
  • Use melted butter generously between layers for a crispy and rich texture.
  • Banitsa is best enjoyed warm but can also be reheated gently.
  • Can be served with yogurt or a fresh salad for a complete meal.

Keywords: Banitsa, Bulgarian pastry, Feta cheese pastry, Filo dough recipe, Savory pastry, Greek yogurt filling

Find it online: https://reemcook.com/delicious-greek-style-banitsa-with-feta-and-filo-pastry-recipe/