If you’ve never heard of Gozleme, it is a Turkish pastry often found in markets here in Australia being churned out by lovely Turkish nonnas who have been making them for decades.
Cheese, mushrooms, spinach, and of course beef are all enveloped by the handmade dough that is then grilled on a hotplate till perfectly golden brown. It is popular for good reason, and this is my quicker version using store-bought pita bread as a shortcut to replace the dough.
Cheat’s Beef Gozleme
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 500 g beef mince
- ½ tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp ground mixed spice *
- salt & pepper to taste
- 6 small loaves pita bread**
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 200 g feta cheese
- chilli flakes, optional
- oil, as needed
- lemon wedges to serve
Instructions
- In a large pan over medium heat, pour the oil and add the onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, until softened and slightly yellow, about 3-4 minutes. Turn the heat up to high and add the beef. Cook, breaking up the large pieces with a wooden spoon, until nicely browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Add the spices and season with salt & pepper. Take the pan off the heat and let cool down until just warm.
- Slice the loaves of pita into halves. Stuff each half with a layer of cooked beef, followed by a layer of spinach leaves, then a layer of crumbled feta. Sprinkle with some chilli flakes if you like.
- Place a large non-stick pan on medium heat. Drizzle with 2-3 tbsp. of oil, then place the prepared pita halves into the pan in batches, cooking for 2-3 minutes on each side while pressing down with a spatula till golden brown and sizzling. Serve immediately with lemon wedges to squeeze on top!
Notes
** Pick the fattest, thickest pita loaves you can find, so that they don’t dry out too much while cooking. The size of the pita doesn’t matter much, you can always cut into smaller wedges when serving.
Nutrition
*This post is generously sponsored by Australian Beef
My name is Noha.
I’m passionate about food, an avid traveler, and I love to explore new cultures and cuisines whenever I get the chance by sharing my recipes and experiences with my readers.
A big fan of exploring different cuisines and always looking for new and exciting flavors to explore. I’m especially interested in healthy eating and finding ways to make delicious dishes without sacrificing nutrition.
