Cheese Rolls (Sigara Böreği)

Time
Total Time 25 min
Health Score
Health Score 6.5/10
Difficulty
Difficulty Medium
Servings
Servings 6

Sigara böreği, or 'cigarette pastry,' is a beloved Turkish appetizer that's crispy on the outside and filled with cheese on the inside. These rolled pastries are perfect for parties, tea time, or as an after-school snack. Children particularly enjoy their crispy texture and fun shape. The key to perfect sigara böreği is rolling them tightly to prevent oil absorption during frying. You can adjust the size of the triangles based on your preference - smaller ones are perfect for little hands and party appetizers. The cheese filling can be adjusted to be less salty for children's palates.

Nutrition Information

Calcium Source High Fat
260kcal
Calories
8g
Protein
24g
Carbohydrates
15g
Fat
180mg
Calcium
1.5mg
Iron
120IU
Vitamin A
5mg
Vitamin C

Ingredients

  • 3 sheets phyllo dough
  • For the filling:
  • 200g white cheese (feta)
  • 1 bunch parsley
  • For frying:
  • Vegetable oil
  • Water for sealing
  • Optional: salt (depending on cheese saltiness)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the filling:
  2. Crumble the white cheese in a bowl
  3. Finely chop the parsley
  4. Mix cheese and parsley together
  5. Check saltiness and adjust if needed
  6. Prepare the phyllo sheets:
  7. Take one phyllo sheet and cut in half to form two D shapes
  8. Cut each half into 4 equal triangular pieces
  9. You should get 8 triangles from each full sheet
  10. Note: If using larger phyllo sheets, can cut into 12 pieces
  11. Form the rolls:
  12. Place one triangle on work surface with wide end toward you
  13. Put some cheese mixture along the wide end
  14. Fold in the sides toward the middle
  15. Roll tightly from wide end to pointed end
  16. Leave tip slightly open
  17. Brush tip with water to seal
  18. Repeat with remaining triangles
  19. Frying process:
  20. Heat plenty of oil in a pan over medium heat
  21. Fry börek rolls until golden brown
  22. Turn occasionally during frying for even cooking
  23. Remove and drain:
  24. Remove when bright red-golden color is achieved
  25. Place on paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil
  26. Let cool slightly before serving

Serving Tips

  • Serve hot while crispy
  • Perfect with tea or as an appetizer
  • Can be prepared ahead and frozen before frying
  • Store uncooked rolls with parchment paper between layers
  • Best consumed immediately after frying
  • Can be reheated in oven to restore crispiness
  • Serve with additional fresh parsley for garnish
  • Great for school lunch boxes when cooled