Vegan Borek Inspired Swirl Pie
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10-12 filo pastry sheets
- 600 g frozen spinach
- 300 g firm tofu
- 6 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Zaatar
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp mixed dry herbs such as a mix of thyme, majoram, parsley, oregano, basil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Start by thawing the frozen spinach. You can either let it thaw in the fridge or boil it in boiling water until soft. Make sure to squeeze out any excess water to avoid a soggy filling. Then chop it roughly, we want to get rid of the stringy bits.
- Next, add the tofu into a large mixing bowl, together with nutritional yeast, 2 tbsp olive oil, soy sauce and salt and pepper to taste. the nutritional yeast will give the mixture a cheesy flavor, while the soy sauce adds depth and umami. Blend it until you get a ricotta-like texture. Taste and adjust to taste. Add in the chopped spinach and dry herbs and mix to combine.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C)static and line a round baking sheet/ pied dish with parchment paper. (The one used here is 22.5 cm / 8.86 inches diameter)
- Lay out a sheet of filo pastry on a clean, flat surface. Lightly brush it with a mixture of olive oil and water (2:1 ratio), then place another sheet on top. Spread a portion of the spinach and tofu filling along one edge of the filo stack, leaving a small border. It should look like a long thin sausage, do not over fill it, otherwise it will either be too soggy or break the sheets.
- Roll the filo tightly around the filling to form a log, brush the ending wiht the oil and water mixture to make sure that it sticks to the roll. Then starting from one end, carefully coil the log into a spiral shape and place it in the center of the prepared baking sheet.
- Repeat the process with the remaining filo sheets and filling, placing each new log around the previous one to create a larger swirl. Continue until all the filling is used and you have a large spiral on your baking sheet.
- Once assembled, brush the top of the pie with more olive oil. This step is crucial for achieving that golden, crispy crust that everyone loves. Sprinkle the za'atar evenly over the top for a final burst of flavor.
- Bake the pie in the preheated oven for 35-45 minutes, or until the phyllo is golden brown and crispy. The smell that will fill your kitchen as it bakes is absolutely irresistible! For the last 10 minutes, move it to the bottom of the oven, to ensure that it bakes properly on the bottom
- Once baked, remove the pie from the oven and let it cool slightly before slicing. This pie is best enjoyed warm, when the filling is soft and the phyllo is at its crispiest.
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