The fridge is open. The bread is stale. The clock is ticking.
What do you do with bread that has gone hard? Most people toss it. A smarter cook turns it into something warm, savory, and deeply comforting. This is how to make bayat ekmek böreği. It is a classic Turkish dish. It turns waste into comfort food. You need almost nothing but what you already have.
Gather Your Ingredients
You do not need a fancy pantry for this. The magic is in the simplicity. Here is what you need to pull this off.
- 8 to 9 slices of stale bread. It must be dry. Fresh bread will turn to mush too fast.
- 2.5 cups of milk. Whole milk works best for richness.
- Half a cup of liquid oil. Vegetable or sunflower oil is standard.
- 3 eggs. Large ones.
- 1 teaspoon of salt. Adjust to taste.
- Half a teaspoon of baking soda. This gives it that distinct rise.
- Butter. For greasing the pan and topping the finished dish.
- Half a block of white cheese. Feta or similar brined cheese. Crumbled is best.
- Grated kaash cheese. This is the melty layer on top. Kaash is a specific Turkish melting cheese, but mozzarella or cheddar can work in a pinch if you are adapting for local tastes.
The Step-by-Step Process
Start with a large bowl. Crack the three eggs into it. Whisk them until they are uniform. Do not be shy with the whisk.
Now add the milk. Pour in the salt and the baking soda. Add the half cup of oil. Mix everything again until the batter is smooth. It should look like a thin custard.
Take your white cheese. Crumble it into the liquid mixture. The cheese should dissolve slightly into the milk.
Preheat your oven. Set it to 200 degrees Celsius. Grease a baking tray generously with butter. Use enough butter so the edges don’t stick.
Cut your stale bread into cubes. Do not chop them too small. You want texture. Scatter half of the bread cubes onto the buttered tray.
Pour half of the cheese-and-milk mixture over this first layer of bread. Let it soak in for a moment.
Add the remaining bread cubes on top. Pour the rest of the liquid over them.
Use the back of a spoon. Press down on the bread. You want the liquid to penetrate every nook and cranny. If the bread floats, it won’t cook evenly. Press it flat.
Place small pats of butter on the very top. This ensures a golden crust.
Put the tray in the oven. Bake for about 40 minutes. Check it at 35 minutes. The edges should be bubbling.
Take it out. Sprinkle the grated kaash cheese over the top. Return it to the oven. Bake until the cheese is melted and browned.
This takes about 5 more minutes. Watch it closely. Burnt cheese is bitter. Golden cheese is delicious.
Why This Works
People ask how to use up stale bread. This recipe answers that question
