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bulemas pastry recipe sephardic
Photo credit Sharon Gomperts

Cheese and Spinach Bulemas

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5 from 2 reviews

These Sephardic pastries are crispy, savory, cheesy heaven. 

  • Total Time: 3 hours
  • Yield: 20 bulemas

Ingredients

For the filling:

  • 2½ lb fresh baby spinach, finely chopped
  • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • ½ cup finely grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
  • 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour

For the dough:

  • 1 cup warm water
  • 1 tsp active dry yeast
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 Tbsp vegetable or avocado oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour

For baking:

  • 2 cups vegetable oil
  • 1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg beaten, for egg wash

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, combine the spinach, cheeses and flour. Set aside. 
  2. In a large bowl, combine the water, yeast and sugar and let proof for 10 minutes.
  3. Combine the oil with the salt and add to the yeast mixture.
  4. Using a standing mixer with a dough hook or by hand, start incorporating the flour, one cup at a time. Dough should come together in 3-5 minutes and be just a bit sticky.
  5. Pour vegetable oil onto a baking sheet until it reaches halfway up the sides.
  6. Roll the dough into golf-ball-sized pieces, then place on the baking sheet and leave covered with towel for 1 hour.
  7. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  8. Using a small rolling pin, roll out the dough as thinly as possible, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
  9. Add a little of the filling and roll the dough like a jelly roll.
  10. Coil the roll into a snail and place on a baking sheet. Repeat to make all the bulemas. 
  11. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with grated cheese.
  12. Place in the oven and bake until the bulemas are a golden brown, about 15 minutes.

Notes

  • While fresh spinach is preferable, frozen spinach can be substituted. Ensure that it is defrosted and all liquid squeezed out.
  • Freeze cooled bulemas in a tightly sealed container or freezer bag. To reheat, preheat oven to 350°F, place frozen bulemas on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes.
  • Author: Sharon Gomperts and Rachel Sheff
  • Prep Time: 45 minutes + 1 hour for the dough to rise
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Sephardic