Banitsa
Bulgarian filo pie baked in a yogurt and egg custard with sirene
Banitsa is the Bulgarian breakfast pie, bought warm in paper from corner bakeries in Sofia and Plovdiv with a bottle of ayran or boza, and baked at home on New Year's Eve with lucky charms (kasmeti) tucked inside. Crumpled sheets of filo are layered with crumbled sirene and a custard of yogurt and eggs, then baked until the top is shatteringly crisp and the inside soft and tangy. It is not boiled like Turkish su böreği: the yogurt custard is what makes it Bulgarian. Chef's tip: crumple the filo loosely rather than laying it flat; flat, tightly packed sheets are the usual mistake and give a dense, doughy pie.
- Total time
- 70 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 400°F (350°F fan). Stir ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda into 14 oz full-fat plain yogurt and leave for 5 minutes until it foams up.
5 minStep 2: Whisk 4 eggs with the yogurt and ½ cup sparkling water, then stir in most of 10 ½ oz sirene or feta, keeping a handful back.
3 minStep 3: Mix 3 ½ oz butter and 3 tbsp sunflower oil and brush a 23 x 33 cm baking dish with some of it.
2 minStep 4: Lay one sheet of 14 oz filo pastry in the dish, brush with fat and spoon over a little filling. Crumple the next two sheets loosely into ruffles on top, drizzle with fat and filling, and repeat until everything is used, keeping 2 flat sheets for the top.
12 minStep 5: Cover with the last two sheets, tuck in the edges and brush well. Cut through into squares with a sharp knife, then pour any leftover custard over so it runs into the cuts, and scatter the reserved cheese.
3 minStep 6: Bake for 40–45 minutes, until puffed, deep golden and crisp, and the centre no longer wobbles when the dish is nudged. Rest for 10 minutes, covered with a tea towel to soften slightly, then serve warm.
45 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 390 kcal
- Protein
- 15 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 23 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does banitsa take?
- About 70 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
- What can I use instead of full-fat plain yogurt?
- Sour cream or buttermilk, same amount.
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