Bea's Serbian Pita (Burek)
Anna Francese Gass
Test Kitchen-Approved
Photo by James Ransom
- Serves
- 6 to 8
Burek is a popular dish served all over Eastern Europe. By using phyllo dough instead of the traditional dough used in Serbian bakeries, Nanni Bea made it into what is called a "pita". The filling is meat, but you can also make it with cheese, known as sirnica burek. This Serbian pita is delicious and great for serving a crowd!
Ingredients
For the filling:
- 1 cup light olive oil, divided
- 1 small white onion, minced
- 1 pound ground chuck
- 1/2 pound ground veal
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1 egg beaten with 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 packet phyllo dough, about 15 sheets
- kosher salt
- freshly ground pepper
For the topping:
- 6 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup milk
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Directions
- Step 1
Preheat oven to 375° F. In a small sauté pan, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil and cook onion until it is translucent. Set aside to cool.
- Step 2
In a large bowl, add the three meats, cooled onion, 1 tablespoon kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon ground pepper. Add the egg beaten with the sour cream into the mix and fully combine.
- Step 3
Lightly brush olive oil on the bottom of a 9- by 13-inch pan. Begin layering the phyllo sheets, lightly brushing each layer with oil. After 10 sheets are layered, spread the meat mixture in a layer to fully cover the phyllo layer.
- Step 4
Continue laying the phyllo on top, lightly brushing with oil. Five or 6 layers of phyllo should cover the meat layer.
- Step 5
Cut out the squares all the way to the bottom.
- Step 6
Mix up the ingredients for the topping and pour it over the pita. Spread it over the top.
- Step 7
Bake for 45 minutes, until topping is golden brown. NOTE: Burek can be frozen either before or after cooking—which means a quick lunch or dinner is at your fingertips. To warm it up, Bea simply heats a pan and places a slice of burek on top. The oily phyllo crisps right up as the filling heats.