Appetizer · Snack · Eastern European ·

Hearty Bulgarian Banitsa with Leeks and Feta

Name: Hearty Bulgarian Banitsa with Leeks and Feta
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Appetizer
Ingredients: 2 large leeks, cleaned and chopped; 200g feta cheese, crumbled; 2 large eggs, beaten; 1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 16 sheets phyllo dough, thawed if frozen; 1/2 cup butter, melted; 1/4 cup plain yogurt; 1 egg, beaten

A delightful and flaky pastry filled with sautéed leeks and creamy feta cheese.

5(269 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·September 25, 2025

Hearty Bulgarian Banitsa with Leeks and Feta — Appetizer served and photographed from above

Prep

30 min

Cook

1 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Filling

For the Pastry

For the Topping

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 293 kcal
Protein: 8.3 g
Carbs: 20.4 g
Fat: 19.8 g
Fiber: 1.2 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 2341 kcal
Protein: 66.4 g
Carbs: 163.3 g
Fat: 158.1 g
Fiber: 9.5 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
2 large leeks cleaned and chopped	110	3	24	0	4
200g feta cheese crumbled	530	28	6	42	0
2 large eggs beaten	140	12	1	10	0
1/4 cup fresh dill chopped	3	0.3	0.5	0.1	0.3
1/4 teaspoon black pepper	1	0.1	0.3	0	0.2
16 sheets phyllo dough thawed if frozen	640	14	128	7	5
1/2 cup butter melted	810	1	0	92	0
1/4 cup plain yogurt	37	2	3	2	0
1 egg beaten	70	6	0.5	5	0

These are nutritional estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Filling

1
Sauté the Leeks
In a pan, sauté the chopped leeks over medium heat until softened, about 10 minutes.
2
Cool the Leeks
Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
3
Combine Filling Ingredients
Mix in crumbled feta, 2 beaten eggs, fresh dill, and black pepper into the leeks.

Managing the Phyllo Dough

1
Keep Phyllo Covered
Keep the phyllo sheets covered with a damp cloth to prevent drying out.
2
Layer and Butter Phyllo
Carefully layer one phyllo sheet on a work surface and brush with melted butter. Repeat the process to make a stack of four buttered phyllo sheets.
3
Tips
Do not over-handle the phyllo dough as it tears easily.
Tip: Let the filling cool before placing it on the phyllo to ensure crispiness.

How to Make Hearty Bulgarian Banitsa with Leeks and Feta

Total time: 2 h · Yields 8 servings

1
Filling the Dough
Spread the leek and feta mixture evenly over the buttered phyllo stack.
2
Rolling the Banitsa
Roll the phyllo with filling into a log, then spiral it into a coil.
3
Baking
Place the coil in a round, greased baking dish and brush with the yogurt and egg mixture.