Savory Serbian Gibanica

Name: Savory Serbian Gibanica
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Appetizer
Ingredients: 500g cottage cheese; 200g feta cheese; 3 large eggs; 200ml sour cream; Salt; 500g filo pastry sheets; 100g melted butter; 100ml mineral water; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

A traditional Serbian pie with cheese and crispy filo layers

Gibanica is a classic Serbian dish made of layers of crisp filo pastry and a creamy cheese blend. Perfect as an appetizer or a delicious snack, it embodies comfort and tradition.

1 h 30 min
8
Intermediate

Ingredients

For the Cheese Filling

500g cottage cheese

(or farmer's cheese)

200g feta cheese

crumbled

3 large eggs

200ml sour cream

Salt

to taste

For the Pastry Layers

500g filo pastry sheets

100g melted butter

100ml mineral water

Optional Ingredients

1 teaspoon baking soda

for a fluffier texture

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

for topping

Preparation

Preparing the Cheese Filling

Combine cheeses and eggs

In a large bowl, combine the cottage cheese, feta cheese, and eggs.

Add sour cream and salt

Mix in the sour cream and a pinch of salt.

Add baking soda (optional)

If desired, add baking soda to help the filling rise slightly and mix well.

Preparing the Pastry Layers

Preheat the oven

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).

Grease the baking dish

Grease a large baking dish with melted butter.

Layer filo sheets

Lay one filo sheet on the bottom, brush with butter, and repeat with several more sheets.

Be generous with brushing butter between the filo sheets for the best crispy layer. Ensure filo sheets are covered with a damp cloth to prevent drying. Sprinkling water droplets can make even crispier layers.

Cooking Process

Layer filo and filling

Alternate filo sheets with spoonfuls of cheese filling until both are used up.

Finish with final filo layer

Finish with a filo sheet layer, brushing generously with butter. Top with sesame seeds if using.

Bake the gibanica

Place in the oven and bake until golden brown and crispy, approximately 45 minutes.

Plating & Serving