What’s A Byrek?

A Byrek Is A Pastry That Can Be Savory Or Sweet. It Is Made Of Flour Dough And Can Have Fillings Of Meat, Veggies, Fruit, Or Cheese. Byrek Is Part Of The Cuisine Of Many Mediterranean Countries And Can Be Called “Burek,” “Borek,” Or “Spanakopita.” Our Version Comes From Our Home Country, Albania, And It Has Been Perfected In Our Family For Generations.

Börek or burek is a family of pastries or pies found in the Balkans, Middle East, and Central Asia. The pastry is made of a thin, flaky dough such as filo with various fillings, such as meat, cheese, spinach, or potatoes. Boreks are mainly associated with the Middle East, Armenia, and the former Ottoman Empire, including the Balkans and the South Caucasus, Eastern European and Central European countries, Northern Africa, and Central Asia. A borek may be prepared in a large pan and cut into portions after baking, or as individual pastries. They are usually baked, but some varieties can be fried. Borek is sometimes sprinkled with sesame or nigella seeds and can be served hot or cold.

It is a custom of Sephardic Jews to have bourekas for their Shabbat breakfast meal on Saturday mornings.

It is commonly served with Iran in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and North Macedonia.