Lamb Börek

Crispy spirals of phyllo pastry are filled with spiced ground lamb, tomatoes, onion, currants, and pine nuts.

• Preparation Time: 45 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 50 mins
• Calories: 449 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
• 1 large onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 pounds ground lamb
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon water, or as needed
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice, or to taste
• 2 tablespoons currants
• 3 tablespoons full-fat plain Greek yogurt
• 12 sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed, or as needed
• 2 tablespoons very finely sliced mint leaves
• 0.25 cup water
• 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1.5 cups tomato sauce
• 0.5 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 0.25 teaspoon allspice

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

In the meantime, combine egg, yogurt, water, and butter in a bowl. Whisk together thoroughly.

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Butter a round baking pan or sheet pan.

Step 3

Place 2 sheets of phyllo on your work surface. Keep remaining sheets covered with a damp towel. Sprinkle some egg wash lightly on top and spread using a pastry brush. Layer on 2 more sheets, one at a time, brushing some more egg wash over each.

Step 4

Shape and fill 2 more rolls with remaining phyllo, most of the egg wash, and filling. Wrap rolls along and inside the first one, filling the pan, and brush with egg wash. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven until browned and crisp, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes.

Step 6

Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, salt, and lamb. Break up lamb into small crumbles. Cook, occasionally stirring, until most of the liquid evaporates, about 8 minutes. Toss in garlic, currants, pine nuts, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, paprika, black pepper, cayenne, and allspice. Cook and stir for 1 minute.

Step 7

Pour tomato sauce into lamb mixture. Add water, stir, and reduce heat to medium. Cook until lamb mixture dries up and you can stir it without seeing liquid on the bottom of the pan, 20 to 30 minutes. Turn off the heat and let cool completely before using.

Step 8

Line 1/3 of the lamb filling along one wide edge of the phyllo. Roll pastry up starting from filling side and place it against the edge of the pan. Brush more egg wash on top.

Step 9

Combine yogurt, mint, lemon juice, and garlic for the yogurt sauce. Mix in enough water to achieve the desired consistency for dipping. Season with salt and cayenne. Cut börek into wedges and serve with yogurt sauce.