After the quick and easy recipe post of last week, this week I have for you the very opposite…
The recipe here, from the fabulous traditional Sephardic cuisine, requires some preparation and practice. However, the result is so tasty and unique, that I’m sure that once you’ll make and taste these wonderful savory pastries, you will see they are well worth the effort.
The recipe here is from my maternal grandmother, who grew up in the Sephardic community of Izmir. Here is an interesting quote from Wikipedia, about the origins of the pastry: “Virtually all sources agree on the Judeo-Spanish roots of boyoz. It is a contribution to İzmir’s urban culture by Sephardic Jews evicted from Spain after 1492 and who settled in large numbers in a number of prominent Ottoman cities of the period, among which İzmir stood out as one of the primary destinations. These explanations on the roots of boyoz are confirmed by the presence of a pastry very similar to boyoz in the culinary traditions of such other offshoots of Spanish culture as Argentina, Chile, Peru and Mexico, where they are common especially in the diet of Sephardic Jews, usually with cheese and spinach fillings.”
Unlike what the first sentence in there says, that Izmir “is practically the only city where it is prepared for commercial purposes and follows the original recipe”, Israel, where the majority of the Jews from Izmir moved to, is another place where the pastries are sold commercially and are well known and loved all over the country, by people of all origins.
For more information about Sephardic origins, check out this post.
The pastries are traditionally prepared for weekend brunch, and served with fresh small diced vegetables salad, yogurt and hard boiled eggs on the side. They are also perfect for mid-week breakfast, lunch, or even a light dinner.
A few notes:
* The dough is a type of Fillo/Strudel dough, with the difference that you stretch it using oil.
* The dough needs to “rest” for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, before stretching. So plan ahead accordingly.
* Since the dough and filling require early preparations, is makes sense to make a fairly large amount, especially since the baked pastries freeze well, in an airtight container, for up to 2-3 weeks. Just make sure to bring them to room temperature and reheat them in a toaster oven, NOT in the microwave, and you’ll be able to enjoy an almost fresh-like pastry.
* Don’t let the amount of oil for the “resting” stage intimidate you. It is not absorbed in the dough while “resting”, and you will see at the end of the process that most of it remains in the pan.
* Don’t be tempted to use bread flour – the dough will turn out too dense. AP flour works best here.
Makes: 30
Prep time: 30 minutes for the dough + 30 for the fillings
Resting time: minimum 4 hours, preferably overnight
Shaping time: about 30 minutes
Baking time: 30-35 minutes
Ingredients:
For the dough:
2.75 lbs (1kg 250 grams) AP flour
2 cups water (+ up to 1/2 cup, if needed)
3 Tbs light olive oil or safflower oil
3 Tbs white vinegar
1 tsp salt
For the dough “resting” stage: 2 cups oil
Filling options: (all seasoned with salt and black pepper):
1. Thinly cut Swiss Chard, topped with finely grated Pecorino cheese.
2. Cooked mixture of grated onions, zucchini and tomato paste.
3. A mixture of mashed cooked potato, feta cheese and an egg.
For assembling: 2-3 Tbs raw Tahini (optional), sesame seeds
1. Place all the dough ingredients in a mixer bowl, fitted with the kneading hook. Start mixing on slow speed, until the dough incorporates, scraping the sides a few times. Increase the speed to medium and knead for about 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic and doesn’t stick to the bowl. If you see that the dough is still not forming properly, add the extra 1/2 cup water. * Note that the dough is quite stiff. If your mixer motor is not very strong, make sure to stop it now and then, so that the motor will not burn. *
2. Pour 2 cups oil into a deep medium size pan. Divide the dough into 30 balls of 2.2 oz (60 grams). Roll each dough ball in the oil and place them, in one layer, in the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and leave for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, at room temperature.
3. Meanwhile, prepare the fillings: thinly cut the washed and drained Swiss Chard leaves (keep the stems to prepare a cooked salad, as shown HERE) and place on a kitchen towel to dry out (preferably overnight). Cook the mixture of grated zucchini, onions and tomatoes, with a bit of oil and tomato paste, salt and pepper, until well cooked and without liquids (this too can be done a day ahead). Cook the potatoes in their skin, let cool and peel. Mash roughly and add feta cheese, egg, salt and pepper.
4. After at least 4 hours, or on the following day, line 2 baking sheet pans with baking paper. Preheat the oven to 355F (180C).
5. Take one dough ball, with some of the oil, and place it on a large, smooth work space. Pat the dough flat with the palm of your hand and start pressing it gently, to flatten it. Now, very gently, with your fingers, start pressing and pulling the dough from all sides, so it stretches and turns into a paper-thin circle, about 9.5” (24cm). If using, mix the Tahini with a bit of oil from the pan, and drizzle a bit over it.
5. Filling: The Swiss Chard: place a generous handful of the cut Swiss Chard at one end of the circle. Top with a bit of the cheese, salt and pepper. Gently fold the dough over the filling, and roll into a roulade, then form it into a spiral. Place in the baking sheet and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
The zucchini or potato-cheese filling: fold the dough ends, from all sides, towards the center, creating a square. Place a tablespoon of the filling on the center and fold into a triangle or a rectangle. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top.
Bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until the pastries are golden-brown.
Oh it looks divine!
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Thank you Cindy. I have to agree, they really are! 🙂
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They look absolutely fabulous – rustic and delicious as it should be! I really think we should treasure those old recipes- who is gonna remember all that when we’re gone! This is a real art of cooking, real food worth the effort, something we should share as often as we can. I will be trying this one soon- especially cause now I’m at home recovering from an injury, so I’m looking forward to it! Hugs Ronit xx
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Thank you Marta! You are so right, we really need to cherish these recipes and document them. They are cultural treasures, with so much history and memories in them. As much as I know it’s not possible in today’s world to rely on them alone, it’s still so important to make such recipes every so often, and keep these wonderful culinary traditions alive.
I hope your injury is not too bad. I wish you the best of health and a great week! 🙂
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oh my goodness, it looks delicious!
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Thank you Aletta! These are really extremely delicious and hard to resist! 🙂
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I can imagine that! 😀
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וואו , עשית אותי רעב ברגע. נראה לי שאני הולך להכין בויוס לשבת בבוקר.
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חחח תאמין לי שגם אני נהייתי רעבה מזה. את הביויוס הכנתי לפני יותר מחודש ורק עכשיו יצא לי להעלות את הפוסט ובינתיים אזלו כולם כי כל החברים קיבלו את חלקם ולמי לא נשאר? 🙂 אבל גם אני החלטתי שבשבוע הבא תהיה עוד נאגלה. ואחר כך דיאטה… 🙂
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Your pastries look wonderful and I can tell they would be delicious – I like the filling 🙂
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Thank you Judi! 🙂
The fillings are light and so even though the pastries are relatively big, they are not heavy at all.
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I would love to try and make them – maybe this fall when the cooler weather arrives 🙂
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Sounds like a good plan! 🙂
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It looks absolutely amazing, I think I already know what to bake tomorrow!
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I’m glad to hear Kris! I hope you’ll enjoy the results. I’ll be happy to hear your comments. 🙂
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These look well worth the work. What a treat!
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Thank you Lindy!
They really are well worth of the work, which after a while becomes quite meditative and soothing. 🙂
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These look fantastic! Great technique. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Thank you! I find pleasure in sharing, especially these old and almost forgotten recipes and techniques. 🙂
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These look really tasty!
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Thank you Sabrina! 🙂
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Thanks so much for this recipe. I think it would make a great central activity for a cooking retreat. Plenty of hands-on work, and more than enough time for conversation and quiet time during the resting phase. Plus, it’s lovely and no doubt delicious. Glyn
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Thank you Glyn. I’m glad you’ve found this old family treasure suitable for your retreat.
I find the whole procedure to be quite soothing and even meditative. 🙂 I hope you’ll enjoy the process and results. I’ll be happy to hear your comments. Ronit
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Looks a bit intimidating but also looks like it would be well worth the effort! The spirals with the Swiss Chard are especially appealing to me. Love hearing the history behind these.
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Thank you Greg! I’m glad to hear you’ve found this recipe history interesting.
I can’t deny that, unlike most of my recipes, this one requires patience and practice, but for me it’s well worth the effort. 🙂
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נראה מעולה ברמות על!! עשית את כולנו רעבים..
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תודה יקירתי! יאללה, לעבודה! 🙂
אני מגיעה באוקטובר, מקווה שיצא לנו להיפגש.
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Lovely… I am trying it today itself…
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Thank you Ish. I hope you’ll enjoy the results. 🙂
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You’re right, it looks delicious but it’s a lot of work. I might wait for an invite to afternoon tea.
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You’re right, this recipe is really one of the more complicated ones. If someone would invite me for these, I’ll gladly accept! 🙂
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🙂
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Ooh.. Making me want to make some now! God bless Sephardic Jews! I’m going to look for a Sephardi site now!
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Thank you Dinie! I’m glad you liked the recipe. Sephardic Jews really have a wonderful cuisine. You can use the “search” button and find a few other posts with Sephardic recipes.
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Thanks! I found some websites on Google, bookmarked them yesterday! I will search your blog again too!
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Looks very delicious, I can imagine there are many uses for this dough.. 🙂
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Thank you Krešo, I’m glad you liked the dish. The dough wonderful to work with and indeed can be used in different ways. 🙂
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