Ingredients for Spinach Börek (Açma Börek) with Spinach Filling
- 500 g (about 1 lb) spinach
- 1 onion
- 1 egg
- 1.5 dessert spoons (about 3 tsp) salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 tea glass (about 50 ml / 3 tbsp + 1 tsp) vegetable oil, for sautéing
- 5.5 water glasses (about 1.1 L / 4 2/3 cups) flour
- 2 water glasses (about 400 ml / 1 3/4 cups) water
- 1 water glass (about 200 ml / 3/4 cup + 1 tbsp) vegetable oil
- 1/2 tea glass (about 50 ml / 3 tbsp + 1 tsp) vegetable oil + 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, for topping
- 1 dessert spoon (about 2 tsp) nigella seeds
How to Make Spinach Börek (Açma Börek) with Spinach Filling
In a pan, sauté 1 onion with a half tea glass (about 50 ml / 3 tbsp + 1 tsp) of vegetable oil. Add the cleaned and chopped spinach, then mix in 1/2 dessert spoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, and sauté everything together. Crack 1 egg over the mixture, stir to combine, and remove from heat.
Place 5.5 water glasses of flour in a bowl and make a well in the center with your hand. Add 1 water glass of vegetable oil, 2 water glasses of water, and 1 dessert spoon of salt, then mix and knead all the ingredients together. (If the dough sticks to your hands, add a little more flour.) Divide the prepared dough into 4 equal pieces. Cover with a cloth and let rest for 30 minutes.
Roll out the rested dough pieces on a floured surface to the size of a serving plate. (Dust the dough with a pinch of flour as you roll it out.) Brush the rolled-out dough sheets with vegetable oil. (Distribute the half tea glass of vegetable oil evenly across all 4 sheets.) Stack two sheets of dough on top of each other, then roll out to the size of a glass baking dish and lay into the dish. Spread all of the prepared spinach filling on top. Stack the remaining 2 sheets of dough on top of each other, roll out, and lay over the filling. Press the edges down to seal. Brush 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil over the top, sprinkle with 1 dessert spoon of nigella seeds, and bake in a preheated oven at 190°C (375°F) until golden brown. Enjoy!
Pro Tip
This recipe yields 24–25 slices of börek.
About This Recipe
Spinach is the most important member of the Amaranthaceae family — a taproot, dioecious herbaceous plant that grows as a winter vegetable. The origin of spinach is accepted to be the central and southwestern regions of Asia. In the 11th century, Iranian Arabs brought it to Europe and Spain during their travels, meaning spinach has a very long history with European cuisine.
The benefits of spinach come from the vitamins and minerals it contains. Spinach is rich in vitamins A, B, C, D, and E, and is also highly nutritious in terms of protein and iron.
Spinach holds an important place in world cuisine and is an indispensable ingredient in Turkish cooking. It is especially a kitchen staple during the winter months, and makes for a perfect filling in our böreks. :) Today we're sharing our Spinach Açma Börek recipe with you. It is just as delicious as our Spinach Kol Böreği recipe. Bon appétit in advance…
