Traditional Baniza – A Culinary Project with Modern Twists

In our latest project, we dedicated ourselves to a traditional Bulgarian specialty: Baniza. This delicious pastry, which includes both sweet and savory fillings, is widely popular in Bulgaria and is served on many occasions. However, our approach was to reinterpret the classic Baniza with a healthier version by omitting butter and brushing the dough with only an egg.

The Tradition of Baniza

Baniza is a very popular dish in Bulgaria, prepared for centuries. Traditionally, the dough is made from scratch – a mixture of flour, water, and sometimes salt, which is rolled into a thin, flexible dough. The dough is then filled with a variety of fillings, rolled up, and baked. In the past, it was common to stretch the dough by hand, which required a lot of skill. Today, however, many people opt for pre-made filo dough to save time – and we took advantage of this convenient option as well.

Our Baniza – Four Different Fillings

We decided to prepare four different fillings for our Baniza – two sweet and two savory. This is typical for Baniza, as it can be served both as a breakfast or a snack in the afternoon or evening.

The sweet versions were made with pumpkin and honey, and apple with dates, all enhanced with cinnamon. For the savory versions, we chose the classic filling, which consisted of eggs, creamy white cheese, and yogurt. The second savory version was made with leek, cheese, and paprika.

The Healthier Version – No Butter, Just Egg

To make the Baniza a little healthier, we decided to forgo the traditional amount of butter that is usually used in the dough and brushed on top of the finished Baniza. Instead, we brushed the dough rolls with just an egg, giving the Baniza a beautiful golden color while adding fewer fats and calories.

Omitting the butter did not diminish the flavor of the Baniza at all. In fact, the result was surprisingly delicious – with a perfect balance between the crispy dough and the juicy fillings.

Conclusion: Tradition Meets Innovation

Our project of preparing Baniza was not only a journey into the culinary tradition of Bulgaria but also an experiment in how to modernize this tradition without losing the original taste.

With the various fillings, both sweet and savory, we were able to cater to a wide range of tastes. The Baniza was a resounding success – it was delicious, varied, and at the same time lighter than the traditional, fattier version. A perfect example of how tradition and innovation can merge to create something new while still staying authentic.

By Sarah K.