My Eggplant Bourekas are part of a long tradition of savory pastries or pies that can be found in many parts of the world. Argentina has Empanadas, India has Samosas & Veggie Puffs, Greece has Spanakopitas, Ethiopia has Sambusas and Israel has Bourekas. Some pies are baked in the oven, others are fried. Some are made with flour, some with phyllo dough, and others with puff pastries. And the fillings are varied–potatoes, spinach, ground meat, lentils, mushrooms and of course eggplants.

The Lingo in Mediterranean Cuisine

Bourekas are also called Borek or Burek in Turkey, Byrek in Albania, Byurek in Bulgaria, Boureki in Greece.

What’s in an Eggplant Boureka?

Eggplant Bourekas are baked pastries, usualy made from phyllo dough or puff pastry, stuffed with some mixture of egpplant, onions, tomatoes and cheese. However, just skip the cheese for a vegan version. The eggplant mixture is super delicious and creamy enough on it’s own. In fact, my husband prefers the vegan version because he feels like the cheese masks the yummy flavors of the eggplant.

Boureka Tips

For a yummy potato and cheese boureka, see https://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/potato-cheese-bourekas/
Consider buying frozen bourekas from your nearby mediterranean deli. They are delicious, super easy to make and a great snack or meal for a toddler.
You can also make them and freeze. Just skip the baking stage and freeze after you’ve wrapped them in the puff pastry dough. When ready to eat, take out of freezer and pop in the oven for 25-30 mins.
I love using the Wewalka brand puff pastry sheets. They are not frozen, and 100 percent vegan. For other vegan puff pastry sheet brands, see https://thrivecuisine.com/lifestyle/vegan-puff-pastry-brands/

Eggplant Boureka

Author: priya’s mashups
Prep Time: 5
Cook Time: 45
Total Time: 50 mins.
Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Eggplant & onion are lightly seasoned and cooked down, then mixed with cheeses. This creamy mash is sealed into puff pastry sheets and baked until they are crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside.

Scale

Ingredients

13.2 oz. packet Wewalka puff pastry (these are vegan)

1 tbsp. olive oil

2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped (approx. 1 tbsp.)

1 cup onions, diced small

1 cup eggplants, cut into 1 cm. squares

1/2 cup jalapenos, roughly chopped

1/2 cup tomatoes, roughly chopped, without the seeds

1/4 cup feta cheese

1/4 cup cream cheese

1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

1/4 tsp. sumac (optional)

Salt to taste (approx. 1 tsp.)

1/8 cup water

2–3 tbsps. milk

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Heat 2 tbsp. olive oil on med. heat. Add 1 cup onions + 1/2 cup jalapeno + 1 tbsp. garlic and saute for 5 mins until the onion turns translucent.
Add 1 cup eggplants + 1/2 cup tomatoes. Cook for 2 mins until the eggplant softens.
Season with 1 tsp. salt + 1/2 tsp. pepper + 1/4 tsp. sumac. Cook for 3 mins.
Add 1/8 cup water, turn the heat upto high, cover the pan and cook for 5-8 mins. until the egpplant is soft and tender.
Mash roughly with the back of the spoon or a hand masher.
Turn off the stove. Mix 1/4 cup each of feta and cream cheese into the still-warm eggplant mash.
Set aside and let cool.
Open the puff pastry sheet and cut into 6 squares or trianlges, depending on which shape you want.
Scoop spoonfuls of eggplant mash onto the squares/triangles, evenly dividing them among the six sheets.
Dip a brush into the milk and gently brush the inside edge of the four square sides or the three triangle squares. Then flip one side of th sheet over the egpplant mash to form squares or triangles. Press the edges together to seal. The water/milk should help to seal the edges.
Gently place the pastries on a mesh crisper or lightly oiled cookie sheet.
Place in pre-heated oven and bake for 20-25 mins. till the pastries are golden and crispy. Just remember to take them out of the oven as soon as you turn it off. Otherwise the pastries will continue to cook in the oven from the residual heat and it doesn’t take long for them to go from golden to dark brown and slightly burnt.
Serve Crispy Creamy Eggplant Bourekas!

Notes

This is a great dish to freeze. Just skip the baking stage and store in freeze after you’ve wrapped each of the puff pastry sheets into squares/triangles. When ready to eat, take out of freezer and pop in the oven for 25-30 mins. It’s that easy.
This is a great lunctime snack or meal for a toddler. It’s nutritious and filling.
I love the Wewalka brand Pastry Puff sheets because they are not frozen, so need no thawing and they are 100 percent vegan/plant based.
If you can’t find Wewalka, and are looking for store-bought vegan puff pastry sheets, try Pepperidge Farms Puff Pastry. They are also pretty good. While Wewalka and Pepperidge Farms are the only two brands I’ve tried and can recommend, for a more complete list of vegan puff pastry options, see https://thrivecuisine.com/lifestyle/vegan-puff-pastry-brands/

Category: Appetizer
Cuisine: Turkish

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1
Calories: 326
Sugar: 2.6
Sodium: 597
Fat: 23.5
Saturated Fat: 5.7
Carbohydrates: 24.1
Fiber: 2
Protein: 5,5
Cholesterol: 16

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