Amazing bourekas filled with cheese and topped with toasted sesame seeds. Life is full of small, heartwarming moments—whether we’re part of them or simply witness them, they occur more often than we realize. All we need to do is open our eyes and pay attention.
Recently I witnessed one of those simple moments worth sharing. It wasn’t dramatic—just rare in today’s distracted world.
I was working in a park when a father and his son, about six or seven years old, rode their bikes over and sat on the grass together. They talked for half an hour, then played soccer for a while, then sat again and kept talking. They stayed for at least an hour and a half. The father never glanced at his phone or seemed distracted; his full attention was on his child. After they finished, they got on their bikes and rode away.
I couldn’t help but smile watching them. How often do we see a connection like that these days?
That scene reminded me of our grandmother, Abuelita. During summer visits she lived with us while our parents were away. She always gave us her undivided attention—no distractions—just pure love and dedication.
Among the many delicious treats she made, the ones we remember most are these cheese bourekas. They are the best we’ve ever had. Neighbors used to get excited when she came to visit, hoping she’d bring a fresh batch.
Try them and we think you’ll fall in love with them too.
Enjoy!
How to make bourekas
-
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 -
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 -
Baked and covered in sesame seeds
Other Middle Eastern Food Recipes
- Fattoush Salad
- Watermelon Feta Salad
- Hummus
- Deconstructed Hummus
- Tabbouleh (Tabouli) Salad
- Maamoul
- Semolina Borekas
- Knafeh
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Bourekas (Cheese Sambousek)
4.8 from 5 reviews
- Author: Vicky Cohen and Ruth Fox
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 24 to 28
Description
Amazing cheese-filled bourekas made with a tender, flaky dough and a savory cheese filling, finished with toasted sesame seeds. These hand pies are perfect for snacks, parties, or a comforting treat at home.
Ingredients
- For the dough:
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 16 tbsp (2 sticks) cold butter, diced
- Pinch of salt
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp ice-cold water
- For the filling:
- 5 oz shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 oz sheep’s milk feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 eggs, beaten separately
- ⅛ tsp salt
- Sesame seeds for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- To make the dough, combine the flour, cold diced butter, and a pinch of salt in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
- In a small bowl, lightly beat the egg with the ice-cold water. Add this mixture to the flour and butter and pulse until the dough comes together.
- Shape the dough into a disk, flatten slightly, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- While the dough chills, prepare the filling by mixing the shredded cheddar, crumbled feta, one beaten egg, and ⅛ teaspoon salt until well combined.
- On a floured surface, roll the dough to about 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 3.5-inch round cutter or glass, cut out rounds.
- Place 1 to 2 teaspoons of filling in the center of each round, fold into a half-moon, and seal the edges by pinching with fingers or pressing with a fork.
- Brush each boureka with the remaining beaten egg, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and bake at 350°F for about 15 minutes, until golden.
- Prep Time: 45 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins