Balkan Leek and Cheese Phyllo Rolls 🥬✨

Description

Balkan Leek and Cheese Phyllo Rolls are crisp golden pastries filled with sweet softened leeks, creamy white brined cheese, yogurt, eggs, and fresh herbs. Each roll has delicate flaky layers, a rich savory center, and the comforting homemade flavor of a traditional Balkan pie.
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Hook ✨
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Crisp phyllo, buttery leeks, salty cheese, creamy yogurt, and toasted sesame make these golden Balkan rolls impossible to resist while still warm. 🥧

Ingredients

• Leek and cheese filling 🥬
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• 🥬 450 g leeks, trimmed and thinly sliced (6 cups / 15.9 oz)
• 🫒 30 ml olive oil (2 tbsp / 1 fl oz)
• 🧀 300 g white brined cheese, crumbled (2 cups / 10.6 oz)
• 🥛 180 g thick plain yogurt (¾ cup / 6.3 oz)
• 🥚 2 large eggs, 100 g total (2 eggs / 3.5 oz)
• 🌿 15 g fresh parsley, finely chopped (¼ cup / 0.5 oz)
• 🧂 3 g fine sea salt (½ tsp / 0.1 oz)
• ⚫ 1 g black pepper (½ tsp / 0.04 oz)
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• Phyllo rolls 📜
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• 📜 450 g phyllo pastry, about 12 large sheets (1 lb)
• 🫒 75 ml olive oil, for brushing (5 tbsp / 2.5 fl oz)
• 💧 60 ml sparkling water (¼ cup / 2 fl oz)
• 🌾 15 g sesame seeds (1½ tbsp / 0.5 oz)
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• Garlic yogurt 🥛
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• 🥛 180 g thick plain yogurt (¾ cup / 6.3 oz)
• 🧄 5 g garlic, finely grated (1 large clove / 0.18 oz)
• 🌿 5 g fresh dill, finely chopped (2 tbsp / 0.18 oz)
• 🧂 1 g fine sea salt (⅛ tsp / 0.04 oz)
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• To serve ✨
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• 🥛 Garlic yogurt
• 🥗 Tomato and cucumber salad
• 🍋 Lemon wedges
• 🌿 Extra fresh dill or parsley

Preparation

1. 1️⃣ Cook the leeks 🥬
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3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced leeks and cook for 8 min, stirring regularly, until soft, sweet, and lightly golden. Transfer to a wide bowl and cool for 10 min.
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5. 2️⃣ Mix the filling 🧀
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7. Add white brined cheese, yogurt, eggs, parsley, salt, and black pepper to the cooled leeks. Mix gently until evenly combined, leaving a few small pieces of cheese visible.
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9. 3️⃣ Prepare the oven and pan 🔥
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11. Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Lightly oil a 30 × 20 cm baking dish (12 × 8 in). Keep the phyllo covered with a clean kitchen towel while working.
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13. 4️⃣ Layer and fill the phyllo 📜
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15. Place one phyllo sheet on the work surface and brush it lightly with olive oil. Place a second sheet on top and brush again. Spread one-sixth of the filling in a narrow line along one long edge.
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17. 5️⃣ Shape the rolls 🌀
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19. Fold the short sides slightly inward, then roll the phyllo loosely around the filling. Place the roll seam-side down in the baking dish. Repeat to make 6 rolls.
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21. 6️⃣ Finish the surface ✨
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23. Brush the rolls with the remaining olive oil. Drizzle sparkling water evenly over the surface and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Leave them to stand for 5 min.
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25. 7️⃣ Bake until golden 🔥
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27. Bake at 190°C (375°F) for 40 min, until the phyllo is deeply golden, crisp around the edges, and firm through the center. Rest for 10 min before separating the rolls.
28. ‌
29. 8️⃣ Prepare the garlic yogurt 🥛
30. ‌
31. Mix yogurt, grated garlic, dill, and salt until smooth. Serve the cool garlic yogurt beside the warm phyllo rolls with lemon wedges and a fresh tomato salad.

Total Time

⏱ Prep: 30 min
🔥 Cook/Bake: 48 min
🛋 Rest: 25 min
⏰ Total: 103 min

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