Zeljanica — Bosnian Spinach & Cheese Pie

⏱ 75 min · Serves 8

Golden coils of paper-thin filo wrapped around a tangy filling of spinach, feta and soft cheese, brushed generously with butter and oil until shatteringly crisp. Baked in a round tin the traditional Bosnian way, it's brilliant warm with a glass of cold yoghurt.

Per serving: 455 kcal · 16.0g protein · 33.0g carbs · 29.0g fat

Ingredients

• 500 g fresh spinach (or 400 g frozen, thawed and squeezed dry)
• 1 bunch spring onions, finely sliced
• 250 g feta, crumbled
• 200 g cottage cheese or ricotta
• 150 g soured cream, plus 3 tbsp for the top
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 400 g filo pastry (about 10–12 large sheets)
• 80 g butter, melted
• 80 ml sunflower oil
• 1 tbsp semolina or fine breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp sesame or nigella seeds (optional)

Method

1. Heat oven to 200°C fan-forced off / 200°C conventional. Grease a 28–30 cm round tin or a 25x35 cm roasting tin.
2. Wash the fresh spinach, shred it finely and toss with the salt. Squeeze hard with your hands to wilt and drain it, then discard the liquid. (If using frozen, just squeeze very dry.)
3. Mix the spinach with spring onions, feta, cottage cheese, soured cream, 2 eggs, pepper and the semolina. Taste — it should be pleasantly salty and tangy.
4. Stir the melted butter and oil together in a jug; this is your brushing mix.
5. Lay one filo sheet on the worktop, brush lightly with the butter-oil, then spread a thin line of filling along one long edge. Roll up loosely into a long sausage — don't pack it tight.
6. Coil the roll into the centre of the tin. Repeat with the remaining filo and filling, coiling each new roll around the last until the tin is filled like a snail shell.
7. Beat the last egg with the 3 tbsp soured cream and 2 tbsp of the butter-oil, and brush all over the top. Scatter with seeds if using.
8. Bake 35–40 minutes until deep golden and crisp. Sprinkle over 2 tbsp water, cover with a clean tea towel and rest 10 minutes to soften slightly, then cut into wedges and serve warm.