Sambousek filled with cheese, also know as bourekas, is our grandmother's recipe. It's a real treat, buttery flaky dough filled with rich, salty cheese. It is worth the time it takes to make them. Warning: they will not last long.
It made me think of our grandmother, Abuelita. For years, she stayed with us during our summer vacation while our parents were away. She always gave us her undivided attention, all the time. No distractions. Just absolute pure, love and dedication.
This is one of the many (many) delicious treats she used to make for us. These cheese borekas will always remind us of her the most. The absolute best we've ever had. Even our neighbors used to get all excited knowing she would be coming to visit, hoping she would bake a batch for them!
Give them a try and we're sure you will love them too.
Enjoy!
How to make cheese Sambousek
1. Roll out the boreka dough on a floured surface, about ⅛ inch thick
2. Using a glass or cookie cutter, cut out 3.5 inch rounds
3. Spoon 1 to 2 teaspoons of filling in the center
4. Fold it to create a half-moon
5. Seal the edges using your fingers or a fork
6. Brush borekas with beaten egg, sprinkle sesame seeds on top and bake at 350F for 15 minutes
Bake to irresistible perfection
Other Middle Eastern Food Recipes
- Fattoush Salad
- Watermelon Feta salad
- Hummus
- Deconstructed Hummus
- Tabbouleh (Tabouli) Salad
- Maamoul
- Semolina borekas
- Knafeh
Abuelita's Cheese Borekas ( Cheese Sambousek)
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 28 1x
- Diet: Kosher
Description
This cheese borekas ( sambusek) recipe is our grandmother's recipe, it is a real treat, buttery flaky dough filled with cheese. It is worth the time it takes to make them. Warning: they will not last long.
Ingredients
- For the dough:
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 16 tbsp cold butter, diced
- Pinch of salt
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp ice-cold water
- For the filling:
- 5oz shredded cheddar cheese
- 6oz sheep's milk feta cheese
- 2 eggs, beaten separately
- ⅛ tsp salt
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- To prepare the dough, combine flour, butter and salt in a food processor. Pulse a few times until it resembles coarse cornmeal
- In a small bowl, lightly beat egg and cold water. Pour into flour/butter mixture and pulse until it forms a dough.
- Lightly flatten the dough, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes
- In the meantime, prepare the filling. Combine cheddar and feta cheeses with one beaten egg and salt. Mix well
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface, about ⅛ inch thick. Using a glass or cookie cutter, cut out 3.5-inch rounds
- Spoon 1 to 2 teaspoons of filling in the center, fold it to create a half moon and seal the edges using your fingers or a fork
- Brush with beaten egg, sprinkle sesame seeds on top and bake at 350F for 15 minutes.
- Prep Time: 45 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Israeli
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 boreka
- Calories: 149
- Sugar: .3
- Sodium: 262.7
- Fat: 11.6
- Saturated Fat: 3.2
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 8.1
- Fiber: .3
- Protein: 3.7
- Cholesterol: 30.3
cindele
A perfect blog! Picture- exquisite, story- beautiful, genuine, heartwarming, revealing; Recipe- fabulous!! Running out now to buy more feta !! Thank you Ruth and Vicky for making life so lovely and delicious
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you Cindelle. You are so sweet !
Esther Massouda
My mom use to use yeast in the recipe but I had lost it. Good luck with yours.
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you! Hope this reminds you of your moms recipe 🙂
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic
This looks delicious! Makes me miss my grandma, who also makes the best treats. Can't wait to see her during the holidays 🙂
Vicky & Ruth
We miss our grandma too. Hopefully we will see her this summer.
Sarah | The Sugar Hit
Cheese pastries with sesame seeds? UMMM yes please.
ATasteOfMadness
Anything with cheese gets my attention right away. This looks fantastic!!
Marcie
These look amazing! Love the story -- I miss my grandmother! She always spoiled us kids.
Vicky & Ruth
Aren't grandmothers great?
Alison@AliBabka
Pictures are gorgeous! What a great recipe. My mouth is watering!
Melinda (Kitchen Tested)
Seriously beautiful! Reminds me of the borekas I grew up eating at my Sephardic friends houses!
Vicky & Ruth
Our grandmother has always some borekas ready to bake in the freezer!
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs
Loved your story and the pics! These look so delicious! I think I'm going to make them soon 😉
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you so much Consuelo!
Jenny @ BAKE
These look so tasty! I hope if I'm ever a parent I can lavish my child with that much attention!
Vicky & Ruth
I am sure you will be a great mom!
Sarah Klinkowitz
Oh these look perfect - I'll take two with a cup of nana tea!
Vicky & Ruth
Come on over! we will have them ready!
stephanie
these are so similar to our syrian sambousek! would love to try your recipe!
Sina @ thekosherspoon
I love sambusak. On my to-make list and I think I'll come back to your recipe.
This American Bite
You make this look so simple.
Vicky & Ruth
Simple, but time consuming and totally worth it!
Ronnie Fein
I am hoping my grandchildren have these same precious cooking with me memories. So wonderful. Your recipes and photos always look so fabulous.
Vicky & Ruth
We are sure they will!
DB
Can I use a cow milk cheese instead of the sheep feta? Love your recipes!
Vicky and Ruth
Thank you! Yes, you may use cow's feta.