Bulgaria's beloved banitsa: A simple, savory delight for all
Anyone who has been on vacation in Bulgaria surely knows this delicacy. Just buy phyllo dough, and you can prepare it at home. The recipe is very simple, and banitsa can even grace a holiday table.
Banitsa is one of the characteristic dishes of Balkan cuisine. Residents of Sofia and Varna have been starting their day with this delicious pastry filled with salty cheese for generations. Its taste is exceptional, and additionally, this delicacy is relatively easy to make at home.
Always for breakfast
The name of this dish comes from an Old Bulgarian word that means rolling. It perfectly captures the essence of preparing banitsa, made from phyllo dough shaped into spiral rolls filled with a cheese mixture. In Bulgaria, warm banitsa can be found in almost every bakery from the early morning hours as part of a daily breakfast.
A delicacy with phyllo dough
Although traditional, phyllo dough is sometimes replaced with puff pastry. Inside the banitsa, there are often various vegetables, such as spinach, pumpkin, onion, or leek, as well as minced meat or rice. Sweet versions with additions like halva or apples are also available. Modern versions involve soaking the dough with milk mixed with sugar and vanilla before baking, representing a novel approach to this Balkan delicacy.
Perfect for the holidays
Banitsa is popular all year round but takes on special significance during Christmas and New Year's. These pastries are enriched with symbolic additions like cornel twigs for health, and even paper notes with wishes inside. Nonetheless, the classic version with cheese remains the most popular, often served with drinks like boza or ayran.
How to make banitsa at home?
Making banitsa primarily requires phyllo dough, which is as thin as a leaf and requires patience. Not everyone makes the dough from scratch nowadays, often using store-bought options. When choosing ready-made dough, it's worth paying attention to the ingredient list to avoid unnecessary additives.
Banitsa begins with a filling of eggs, yogurt, and cheese such as sirene or feta. Then, the phyllo dough is brushed with olive oil or butter, the filling is applied, and it's rolled up and arranged spirally in the oven. The prepared pastry is meticulously baked to a golden color and is best served warm as a side to yogurt or ayran.
