Appetizer · Snack · Eastern European ·

Savory Serbian Gibanica

Name: Savory Serbian Gibanica
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Appetizer
Ingredients: 500g cottage cheese, (or farmer's cheese); 200g feta cheese, crumbled; 3 large eggs; 200ml sour cream; Salt, to taste; 500g filo pastry sheets; 100g melted butter; 100ml mineral water; 1 teaspoon baking soda, for a fluffier texture; 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, for topping

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.

4.8(211 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·September 8, 2025

Savory Serbian Gibanica — Appetizer served and photographed from above

Prep

30 min

Cook

1 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Cheese Filling

For the Pastry Layers

Optional Ingredients

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 525 kcal
Protein: 22.45 g
Carbs: 44.51 g
Fat: 29.44 g
Fiber: 2.51 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 4203 kcal
Protein: 179.6 g
Carbs: 356.1 g
Fat: 235.5 g
Fiber: 20.1 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
500g cottage cheese (or farmer's cheese)	500	85	20	18	0
200g feta cheese crumbled	530	28	6	43	0
3 large eggs	215	18	1	15	0
200ml sour cream	414	4	8	44	0
Salt to taste	0	0	0	0	0
500g filo pastry sheets	1775	42	319	30	19
100g melted butter	717	1	0	81	0
100ml mineral water	0	0	0	0	0
1 teaspoon baking soda for a fluffier texture	0	0	0	0	0
1 tablespoon sesame seeds for topping	52	1.6	2.1	4.5	1.1

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Cheese Filling

1
Combine cheeses and eggs
In a large bowl, combine the cottage cheese, feta cheese, and eggs.
2
Add sour cream and salt
Mix in the sour cream and a pinch of salt.
3
Add baking soda (optional)
If desired, add baking soda to help the filling rise slightly and mix well.

Preparing the Pastry Layers

1
Preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
2
Grease the baking dish
Grease a large baking dish with melted butter.
3
Layer filo sheets
Lay one filo sheet on the bottom, brush with butter, and repeat with several more sheets.
Tip: 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.

How to Make Savory Serbian Gibanica

Total time: 2 h · Yields 8 servings

1
Layer filo and filling
Alternate filo sheets with spoonfuls of cheese filling until both are used up.
2
Finish with final filo layer
Finish with a filo sheet layer, brushing generously with butter. Top with sesame seeds if using.
3
Bake the gibanica
Place in the oven and bake until golden brown and crispy, approximately 45 minutes.