Pastry with cheese and parsley filling (pogaca)

Pogaca is a popular breakfast option for Turkish people, especially busy ones that want to take their breakfasts to go :) You can also try this recipe using boiled potatoes with salt and pepper or olives instead of cheese and parsley.

Ingredients:

3 cups whole-wheat flour
1 pack of instant yeast
1,5 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup milk
100 g margarine
A handful of parsley
1/2 cup shredded feta cheese
3/4 cup grated cheddar
1 egg yolk
Black cumin seeds or sesame seeds

Directions:

• Sift the flour into a large bowl and make a hole in the middle.
• Put the yeast, sugar and half a teaspoon of salt in the hole.
• Heat the margarine to melt it and mix with the milk. Add this mixture to the flour and mix.
• Let the dough rise for 30 minutes after covering the bowl with a wet cloth.
• Turn the oven up to 180°C (350°F).
• While the dough rises, prepare the filling. Mix together the feta, cheddar and parsley.
• When the dough is ready, add another teaspoon of salt and mix it in. Then, tear egg-sized pieces from it and briefly knead them in your hand. Press to make a circle, place about 1 teaspoon of the filling in it, close and roll it into a ball.
• Place the pastries on a baking tray, and make sure to leave some space between them since they will expand. Brush the tops with the egg yolk and sprinkle with black cumin seeds or sesame seeds. You may add a tiny bit of chili powder to the egg yolk, which creates a more vibrant colour.
• Bake for about 20 minutes. You can tell whether the pastries are done by checking if their bottom surfaces are browned.

Enjoy!