Borekas (Sephardic Cheese Pastries)

Borekas are flaky, hand-folded pastries filled with salty cheese, a Sephardic Jewish tradition brought from Turkey and the Balkans to kitchens across the Mediterranean. A sprinkle of sesame seeds on top is the detail that makes them unmistakably borekas.

Ingredients

For the filling

• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2 cup ricotta or cottage cheese
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

For assembly

• 1 sheet (about 1 pound) puff pastry or phyllo, thawed
• 1 egg, beaten, for egg wash
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Make the filling
   Mix the feta, ricotta, egg yolk, and parsley in a bowl until well combined.
2. Assemble
   Preheat the oven to 375°F. Cut the pastry into 4-inch squares. Place a spoonful of filling in the center of each, fold into a triangle or half-moon, and press the edges firmly to seal.
3. Egg wash and bake
   Arrange the borekas on a lined baking sheet, brush with beaten egg, and sprinkle generously with sesame seeds.
4. Bake
   Bake for 22-25 minutes, until puffed and deep golden. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Borekas freeze beautifully unbaked, just add a few extra minutes in the oven straight from frozen.