All recipes
Bulgarian
Banitsa with Cheese

Banitsa with Cheese

A crispy, golden banitsa made from thin pastry, salty white cheese, eggs and yogurt — a classic Bulgarian pastry for a warm breakfast.

Time65 min
Servings6
Calories259 kcal
LevelMedium

Ingredients

  • Bulgarian white brine cheese300 g
  • egg4 pcs
  • plain yogurt120 ml
  • phyllo dough400 g
  • butter100 g
  • sunflower oil30 ml
  • sparkling water50 ml

Instructions

1

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Melt the butter and mix it with sunflower oil; use part of the mixture to grease a round baking dish.

2

Crumble the Bulgarian white cheese (sirene). In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs with plain yogurt, then stir in the crumbled cheese.

3

Layer two sheets of phyllo pastry on top of each other, brush them with the butter-oil mixture, spread on a portion of the filling and roll up into a log.

4

Place the log in the center of the dish, coiling it into a spiral. Repeat with the remaining phyllo sheets and filling, extending the spiral out to the edges of the dish.

5

Drizzle the banitsa with the remaining butter-oil mixture and sprinkle evenly with sparkling water.

6

Bake for 40–45 minutes at 180°C, until the top is puffed and golden.

7

Remove the banitsa from the oven, cover with a clean towel and let it rest for 10 minutes so the filling settles and the crust softens slightly. Serve warm.