Turkish Recipe

Spinach & Feta Gozleme

Turkish Recipe - Spinach & Feta Gozleme

This is a traditional Turkish recipe that may also have origins in Greece. It is so wonderfully simple in its ingredient content that the flavours are really able to be appreciated... great cooked on a BBQ hot plate or fried in a pan and that is the only cooking required... This pastry is light, crisp and delicious and is easily made from scratch.

• Combine 300ml of warm water with a packet of instant dried yeast, a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of caster sugar in a jug and stir to combine then cover and stand in a warm place for a few minutes until bubbles form on the surface.
• Sift into a large bowl 3 cups of plain flour and add to this the yeast mixture and 2 tablespoons of olive oil...mix into a soft dough and turn out onto a floured board... knead for a few minutes until elastic in texture. Cut it into 4 pieces and proof them on a greased tray covered with a clean cloth in a warm place until they have doubled in size (about 20 minutes).
• Roll out each piece to approx 40x50cm rectangle and place a large handful of baby spinach on to one half and then crumble about 50 grams of marinated feta cheese on top along with some salt & pepper... I purchase a flavoured tub of feta and then add extra spices to it which usually includes fennel seeds and  cracked pepper corns... Fold dough over enclosing the filling and remove the air by gently pressing and pinch close the edges to seal.
• Brush one side of the Gozleme with olive oil and place onto the hot plate for 2-3 minutes until golden brown then brush the top with some oil and flip over for a further 2-3 minutes until crisp... remove slice and serve with a wedge of lemon... don't miss this step its the best bit. Truly adds another dimension to this simple dish.