Turkish Pogaca, also known as Turkish Rolls and Turkish Bread Rolls, is one of our favourite pastry recipes from Turkey.
Our homemade Turkish Rolls recipe is quick and easy to make, ready to serve in under 90 minutes!
The crunchy and flaky Turkish Bread Rolls are stuffed with a mixture of freshly chopped dill, mint and crumbled feta cheese.
The traditional Turkish Rolls are sprinkled withsesame and caraway seeds before baking in the oven. They can be served hot for breakfast or enjoyed as an afternoon snack.
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What is Turkish Pogaca?
Pogaca is a traditional savoury pastry from Turkey.
You can find pogaca at Turkish bakeries and food markets prepared with different fillings such as feta, kasar cheese, potatoes or olives. Every home cook has their own style of pogaca recipe based on family preferences and traditions passed on from generation to generation.
Turkish Bread Rolls are are to Turkey what croissants are to France. They are ubiquitous across the country and can be found in every Turkish pastry shop or bakery.
Locals stop by their favourite bakeries on the way to work early in the morning because pogaca and simit are the best Turkish breakfast when you are dashing out the door and in a hurry.
Travel to the Middle East by Baking Turkish Bread Rolls at Home
I love traveling to the Middle East.
As a professional food and travel journalist, I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy amazing meals in the Middle East, from authentic markets to award winning restaurants.
For over ten years, I’ve been on the hunt for the best Pogaca recipe via adventures that had me zig-zagging through Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Israel and Dubai.
I spent 2 weeks traveling in Turkey, tasting my way through Goreme, Bodrum, Ephesus and Istanbul.
My fondest memories from Turkey always take place in the morning when the call to prayer whispers from a nearby mosque. I’d relax over brunch while sipping a tiny cup of Turkish coffee and nibbling on cheese and herb stuffed Pogaca.
I even paid to visit some of Istanbul’s most famous bakeries and pastry shops to taste authentic Turkish Rolls during a culinary walking tour of Istanbul.
Once back home from a Turkish holiday you’ll have a newfound appreciation for the flavours of Istanbul and can impress friends and family by making our easy Pogaca recipe!
Where To Eat Turkish Pogaca
If you live in a large city in Canada or America you’ll likely have access to a local Middle Eastern or Turkish restaurant that serves their own pogaca recipe.
Haven’t traveled to Turkey before? It may be helpful to first sample Turkish Rolls at a local bakery to better understand how the pastry is served. You’ll get an idea for the desired size of the roll and most flavourful fillings.
In Toronto, popular Middle Eastern restaurants that may serve Turkish Bread Rolls include Parallel, Byblos, Tabule, Fat Pasha, Maha’s, Masrawy Kitchen, Paramount Fine Foods, Anatolia, Barans, Meat Point, Sofra Istanbul and Pizza Pide.
My Family Loves Turkish Rolls
I love baking Turkish Pogaca for my family.
I first made these traditional Turkish Rolls on a warm summer morning at our family cottage in Muskoka. We had plenty of fresh dill and mint to pluck from the backyard herb garden.
I knew my family would love this Pogaca recipe because they crave anything made of carbs and cheese.
My mother thought the little Turkish Rolls were similar to croissants in that they are flakey and taste buttery. It helps that the dough is prepared with a mixture of cold butter, high quality olive oil and creamy Greek yogurt. Truly a decadent delight!
I like to bake these rolls for breakfast or brunch and serve them with crispy bacon, scrambled eggs and a fresh salad. They also make for an easy on the go meal or afternoon snack when you’re feeling peckish a few hours before dinner.
Pogaca Recipe Health Benefits
Our Pogaca recipe is packed full of healthy ingredients!
Whole wheat flour is rich in vitamins B-1, B-3, and B-5, along with riboflavin and folate. It also has more iron, calcium, protein, and other nutrients than white flour.
Eggs contain two vital nutrients that are not present in many foods: iodine and vitamin D. Eggs are also rich in tissue-building protein and vitamin B12, which helps your body manufacture blood cells.
Olive Oil is ranked as one of the healthiest fats and is a staple in the Mediterranean diet. It contains vitamins E and K and plenty of beneficial fatty acids and antioxidants.
Packed with calcium and friendly probiotic bacteria, sour cream and yogurt help keep your bones strong and your gut healthy. Yogurt may also help reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes and some types of cancer.
Consuming dairy products (such as milk and cheese) provides health benefits — especially improved bone health. Dairy foods provide nutrients that are vital for health and maintenance of your body. These nutrients include calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and protein.
Dill is packed with micronutrients such as Vitamin A and C, responsible for healthy vision, skin and immune function.
Fresh mint is antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, and can have a calming effect on the digestive system. It is also a good source of folate, which supports blood health.
A useful source of copper, calcium, manganese, and phosphorus, sesame seeds help support circulatory, digestive and skeletal health.
A rich source of blood-building iron, cumin may also help balance your blood sugar levels and reduce bad cholesterol. It is also traditionally used as a digestive aid.
Turkish Pogaca Baking Tips
This delicious Turkish bread roll recipe is quick and easy to make at home. We’ve included a few tips for novice bakers.
- Be sure to use cold butter when preparing the pogaca dough, the temperature of the fat is important as it helps create the croissant-like flaky texture.
- We’ve used fresh dill and mint in this recipe but you could get creative by using a mixture of other herbs like parsley, basil and chives.
- We’ve used crumbled feta for this Pogaca recipe but you could substitute for gruyere or aged cheddar.
- Other filling ingredient ideas you may want to try include chopped olive tapenade or sun dried tomatoes.
- You can also bake Turkish Rolls without a filling if you’re looking to keep things simple.
What To Serve With Turkish Rolls
There’s nothing more comforting than cozying up in the morning to a plate of piping hot Turkish Pogaca!
If you’re hosting a Turkish-themed dinner party you might want to serve Turkish Bread Rolls as part of a decadent buffet featuring Mihlama Kuymak Turkish Melted Cheese and Cornmeal, Vegan Spicy Turkish Salsa Ezme Salata Salad, Kisir Turkish Bulgur Salad, Peynirli Pide Cheesy Chorizo Turkish Pizza, Kiymali Pide Spiced Minced Meat Turkish Pizza or Turkish Mint Yogurt Corbasi Soup.
If you’re hosting a brunch for friends and family why not serve these savoury rolls with Kookoo Sabzi Vegetarian Persian Omelet, Southern Smoked Baked Beans with Bacon, Blueberry Lemon Muffin Tops, Vegan Buckwheat Gluten Free Porridge, Sourdough French Toast, Breakfast Polenta Bowl, Blueberry Mango Crepes or Banana Oat Flour Pancakes?
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BestTurkish Pogaca Feta Herb Bread Rolls Recipe
Pogaca Turkish Feta & Dill Rolls
Equipment
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- baking sheet
- Mixing bowls
- Plastic Wrap
- Small Spoon
- Cookie Cutters
- Pastry brush
Ingredients
- 3 cups All Purpose Flour
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 cup Cold Butter
- 3 Eggs
- 7 tbsp Olive Oil
- 3/4 cup Greek Yogurt
- 1/2 cup Fresh Dill chopped
- 1/2 cup Feta Cheese crumbled
- 2 tbsp Fresh Mint chopped
- 2 tsp Sesame Seeds
- 2 tsp Cumin Seeds
Instructions
- Combine the flour, salt and baking powder in a large bowl. Cut the butter into small pieces and add to the bowl. Mix the ingredients with your hands. Add 2 eggs, the oil, yogurt, and dill and knead well until the dough is smooth.
- Shape the dough into a ball, cover with plastic wrap and let rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Take out the dough, remove the plastic wrap, and cut the dough into two equal halves. Shape each half into a 6 inch long roll. Cut each roll into 5 pieces and transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Preheat oven to 375 F.
- In a small bowl crumble the feta and add chopped feta and dill. Mix until fully combined with a spoon.
- Flatten the dough pieces with your hands into oval shapes 1/2 inch thick. Put some feta and fresh mint on one half of each oval, leaving a 1/2 inch border. Fold the other half of the oval over the filling, press the edges together tightly, and fold the edges over a bit so the cheese doesn't spill out.
- Whisk the last egg with the milk in a small bowl and brush on top of each roll. Sprinkle the sesame seeds and cumin seeds and place on the middle rack of the oven. Bake for 45 minutes.
Nutrition
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