I hosted a gathering and a friend brought these delectable little appetizers that flew off platter. I had to know what they were and how to make them. She told me what they were called and gave me the recipe, which she knew off the top of her head. With only 6 ingredients it is easy to remember and once you’ve made them you will see that they are equally as easy to make.

For years we massacred the name of this tasty, savory treat. We came as close to a phonetic spelling as possible. We called them “suh-garrah bo-reh-gah”. I did a little research and discovered that this is a widely enjoyed meal in countries such as Turkey, Greece, Armenia, Bosnia, Serbia, and Albania just to name a few.

The actual spelling is Börek (Turkey) as well as Burek(Bosnia and Serbia) and Boereg (Armenia). No matter how it is pronounced it is basically the same thing: a filled pastry made with phyllo dough. They are often filled with feta, minced meat, potatoes or other vegetables. The common denominator for these Borek, Boereg, etc. is the phyllo dough.

Sigara böreği or”cigar börek,” named so because of its shape (cigar-like) is filled, in the Turkish version, with feta cheese, potato, parsley and sometimes with minced meat or sausage. And, what I have been making is a variation of this version with one major difference. My friend’s recipe called for use of egg roll wrappers or won ton wrappers instead of phyllo. The version we make is vegetarian as well.
I asked my friend why she didn’t use the phyllo and as with many recipes it was a matter of using what was in her refrigerator. She had the wrappers and not the phyllo. Necessity, as the saying goes, is the mother of invention.

When using won ton these make great little appetizers by themselves. When made in the egg roll wrappers and served with black olives, hot peppers and cold, plain yogurt they make a delicious meal. Serving them as a meal in my home doesn’t quite work out. We never do get to sit down and eat them with the olives accoutrements.

When I make these my family doesn’t wait for me to finish cooking. They are so delicious that they are often eaten as soon as they have cooled from melt-the roof- of-your-mouth hot to only singe-the-roof-of- your-mouth hot. My family generally ignores the warning that they just came out of the frying pan.

Sigara böreği

Ingredients

1 ½ cup plain feta cheese, crumbled
2 ½ cup shredded mozzarella
1 medium sweet onion, diced
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 ½ tbs paprika
2 egg yolk
Vegetable oil for frying
1 package egg roll wrappers

Directions

1. Place the feta, mozzarella, onion, parsley and paprika in a large bowl and mix well.

2. Place the egg yolk in a small bowl and break mix with a fork.

3. Place your wraps on a clean surface so that the points are up and down and left and right (should appear as a diamond, not a square). Brush egg yolk over the two top edges (The triangular edges that form the top of the diamond shape.)

4. Place the filling, about 2 tablespoons, onto the rolls, towards the center, but closer to the bottom point.

5. Take the bottom point of your wrap and fold it over top of the filling. Fold the sides in towards the middle and roll the filling towards the top point of the wrapper. The egg will act as glue, sealing the wrapper when frying.

6. Heat about 1-2 inches of oil in a medium deep fry pan. Place rolls in the hot oil. Rotate the rolls so that they are evenly browned. Do not overcook.

I hosted a gathering and a friend brought these delectable little appetizers that flew off platter. I had to know what they were and how to make them. She told me what they were called and gave me the recipe, which she knew off the top of her head. With only 6 ingredients it is easy to remember and once you’ve made them you will see that they are equally as easy to make.

For years we massacred the name of this tasty, savory treat. We came as close to a phonetic spelling as possible. We called them “suh-garrah bo-reh-gah”. I did a little research and discovered that this is a widely enjoyed meal in countries such as Turkey, Greece, Armenia, Bosnia, Serbia, and Albania just to name a few.

The actual spelling is Börek (Turkey) as well as Burek(Bosnia and Serbia) and Boereg (Armenia). No matter how it is pronounced it is basically the same thing: a filled pastry made with phyllo dough. They are often filled with feta, minced meat, potatoes or other vegetables. The common denominator for these Borek, Boereg, etc. is the phyllo dough.

Sigara böreği or”cigar börek,” named so because of its shape (cigar-like) is filled, in the Turkish version, with feta cheese, potato, parsley and sometimes with minced meat or sausage. And, what I have been making is a variation of this version with one major difference. My friend’s recipe called for use of egg roll wrappers or won ton wrappers instead of phyllo. The version we make is vegetarian as well.
I asked my friend why she didn’t use the phyllo and as with many recipes it was a matter of using what was in her refrigerator. She had the wrappers and not the phyllo. Necessity, as the saying goes, is the mother of invention.

When using won ton these make great little appetizers by themselves. When made in the egg roll wrappers and served with black olives, hot peppers and cold, plain yogurt they make a delicious meal. Serving them as a meal in my home doesn’t quite work out. We never do get to sit down and eat them with the olives accoutrements.

When I make these my family doesn’t wait for me to finish cooking. They are so delicious that they are often eaten as soon as they have cooled from melt-the roof- of-your-mouth hot to only singe-the-roof-of- your-mouth hot. My family generally ignores the warning that they just came out of the frying pan.

Sigara böreği

Ingredients

1 ½ cup plain feta cheese, crumbled
2 ½ cup shredded mozzarella
1 medium sweet onion, diced
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 ½ tbs paprika
2 egg yolk
Vegetable oil for frying
1 package egg roll wrappers

Directions

1. Place the feta, mozzarella, onion, parsley and paprika in a large bowl and mix well.

2. Place the egg yolk in a small bowl and break mix with a fork.

3. Place your wraps on a clean surface so that the points are up and down and left and right (should appear as a diamond, not a square). Brush egg yolk over the two top edges (The triangular edges that form the top of the diamond shape.)

4. Place the filling, about 2 tablespoons, onto the rolls, towards the center, but closer to the bottom point.

5. Take the bottom point of your wrap and fold it over top of the filling. Fold the sides in towards the middle and roll the filling towards the top point of the wrapper. The egg will act as glue, sealing the wrapper when frying.

6. Heat about 1-2 inches of oil in a medium deep fry pan. Place rolls in the hot oil. Rotate the rolls so that they are evenly browned. Do not overcook.

We will be giving away the “Gingerbread Food Picks”. GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

When and Where Invitations offers a unique way to capture your guests’ attention with stylish and innovative custom-made three-dimensional invitations. These can give your guests a sneak preview about how fun and exciting your party will be.

When and Where Invitations is the brainchild of Amanda Richardson from Cincinnati, Ohio. Amanda explains, “we are a small company that focuses on unique touches to make a wedding spectacular.  Invitations that come in a box with a touch of handmade, makes our company stand out from all the others. We focus on quality, not quantity so the bride that is only inviting 25 people to her wedding, can still get the look and feel she desires without having to pay for 50+ invitations.” Aside from invitations for weddings, other occasions include bridal showers and birthday parties.

The company also has a new line that is sure to be a hit, called “Party Collections.” They are essentially a Party in a Box type with that extra creative touch that Amanda is known for. They include carefully thought out favors, table decor and food decor such as party picks. Holiday Party Sets are currently in great demand, such as the irresistible Reindeer Party Set and the quaint Holiday Open House Party Set.

In celebration of the holidays, Where and When Invitations is offering an exclusive giveaway for one lucky reader! How cool is that? One adorable Gingerbread House Kit is up for grabs and you can read the mechanics here.

All these invitations and Party Collections come in a variety of price ranges and you can choose from many to fit your budget. Whatever item and design you choose, it is sure to have been made with impeccable quality.

You can check out all the gorgeous three-dimensional invitations and eye-catching party sets by visiting their website at www.wandwinvites.com. They also have and Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/whenandwhereinvites.

To enter, please

1. Comment and tell us your most memorable holiday, and why.
2. We’d love it if you could like us on Facebook.
3. We would be delighted if you added us to your blogroll = )