Soft and Delicious Turkish Böğçe (Savory Cheese Pastries)
Soft, fluffy Turkish Böğçe filled with creamy feta or cottage cheese and baked until golden brown. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, tea time, or a savory snack.
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 1 cup warm water 200 ml
- 1 cup warm milk 200 ml
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast 10 g
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 100 g butter softened
- 5 cups all-purpose flour added gradually
For the Filling
- 150 g grated cottage cheese or crumbled feta cheese
- For the Egg Wash
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon milk
Optional Topping
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water, warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until slightly foamy.
- Add softened butter and salt. Gradually add the flour while mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes or until doubled in size.
- Gently deflate the dough and divide it into 12 equal portions.
- Roll each portion into a circle slightly larger than a tea saucer.
- Place some cheese filling in the center of each dough circle.
- Fold and shape the dough into traditional Böğçe parcels. Trim the top edges with kitchen scissors if desired.
- Place the pastries on a parchment-lined baking tray and let them rest for 10–15 minutes.
- Mix the egg yolk with 1 tablespoon milk and brush over the pastries.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (356°F) for 20–30 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and cover with a clean kitchen towel for a few minutes to keep them soft.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Do not overbake to maintain a soft texture.
- Feta cheese provides a richer and saltier flavor.
- These pastries freeze well for up to 2 months.
- Covering them with a towel after baking helps keep the crust tender.
Nutrition (Approximate Per Pastry)
- Calories: 240 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 32 mg
- Sodium: 260 mg
- Fiber: 1 g
- Sugar: 3 g
- Calcium: 70 mg
- Iron: 2 mg