Mediterranean Meat & Cheese Savory Rolls

These Mediterranean Meat & Cheese Savory Rolls are the ultimate family fav! Packed with authentic herbs and spices wrapped in a sweet, fluffy dough that delivers that irresistible sweet-and-savory bite! What’s perfect with this appetizer is that it can fulfill the needs of both meat lovers and cheese lovers at the same time! One is filled with spiced beef and roasted pine nuts, and the other is a creamy, three-cheese blend inspired by my classic borek filling, but with a slight twist from my side. A fluffy roll that’s soft and sweet on the outside, bursting with flavor on the inside, the ultimate sweet-and-savory bite.

this RECIPE!

On the other hand, how can you resist these delicious savory appetizers? Moreover, its stunning spiral presentation is bound to get you in a frenzy of cravings!

This recipe was such a joy to make! Inspired by my other borek creations similar to the Russian pirozhki (small hand pies), I wanted to switch things up instead of repeating the same dish. I love the combination of sweet and savory — and since I’m a big fan of Hawaiian sweet rolls, I used that inspiration to create a beautiful “sini borek” (pan borek) with two different flavor varieties and a dough that has a sweet twist. While they may not be exactly traditional, their unique spin makes them just as irresistible. Plus, they store and reheat beautifully, making them perfect for enjoying later!

Honestly, they’re perfect for any celebration — whether it’s a birthday party, an anniversary, or even holiday gatherings like Thanksgiving potlucks and Christmas parties! They’re always a hit at our family events, but in our house, we don’t wait for a special occasion. We’ll make them during the week to enjoy as a quick snack or as a go-to meal!

My family loves these rolls so much, we’ll whip them up just because!

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IN THIS POST: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO MAKE THESE PERFECT MEDITERRANEAN MEAT & CHEESE SAVORY ROLLS

• 🍴INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE THESE MEDITERRANEAN MEAT & CHEESE SAVORY ROLLS
• STEPS TO MAKE THESE MEDITERRANEAN MEAT & CHEESE SAVORY ROLLS
• PREFER TO WATCH STEP-BY-STEP RECIPE VIDEO INSTEAD OF READING?
• JUMP TO RECIPE CARD

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🍴INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE THESE MEDITERRANEAN MEAT & CHEESE SAVORY ROLLS

Here is a preview of the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe! You can find these at your local grocery store, or you can shop online. (Detailed ingredients in Recipe Card down below)

STEPS TO MAKE THESE MEDITERRANEAN MEAT & CHEESE SAVORY ROLLS

Step 1: Prepare Starter and Dough Paste

Firstly, to begin your Starter, dissolve the yeast in warm water in a small bowl and give it a quick mix. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside to ferment.

Next, make your Dough Paste: in a separate bowl, combine the milk and water, then gradually add flour, mixing until a thick paste forms.

Step 2: Combine Dough Ingredients

Secondly, in another bowl, whisk together the remaining flour, sugar, and salt until well combined.

Now, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the dry ingredients, fermented starter, dough paste, milk, and eggs. Mix on medium speed until a sticky, well-incorporated dough forms.

Lightly oil your work surface with 1 tablespoon of oil, then transfer the dough onto it. Knead briefly and shape it into a smooth ball. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and set it aside to proof while you prepare the fillings.

Step 3: Prepare Roasted Pine Nuts & Meat Mixture

Thirdly, start by toasting the pine nuts in a warm skillet, stirring constantly until they’re lightly roasted and golden brown. Once done, remove them from the pan and set aside to cool.

Next, sauté your onions in a little olive oil until they become soft and lightly browned. Add the ground beef and cook until fully browned.

Meanwhile, in a separate pan, heat a small amount of olive oil and sauté your chopped fresh tomatoes over high heat for 1 minute. Then add the pepper paste and chopped green peppers, and let it all simmer on medium heat for another minute. Remove from the heat and pour this mixture over the cooked meat and onions.

Add your spices and freshly grated garlic, then mix everything well. Let it cook together for one more minute on medium heat. Once done, allow the mixture to cool for a few minutes before adding the fresh herbs and toasted pine nuts. Set the filling aside, uncovered, to cool completely before moving on to your cheese mixture.

Step 4: Prepare Cheese Mixture

Next, sauté the onions in a bit of olive oil until soft and lightly golden. Set them aside to cool completely. Once cooled, combine the sautéed onions with all of your cheese ingredients in a large bowl, and mix until well combined. Set aside.

At this point, it’s time to preheat your oven to 350°.

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Step 5: Prepare Dough Balls

Start by transferring the dough onto a floured surface. Divide it into two equal portions. Then, cut each half into 8 pieces, giving you a total of 16 pieces to start with. Using a kitchen scale, weigh each piece to 2 oz. Gradually pinch off any excess dough as needed to reach the correct weight. As you go through this process, you’ll end up with approximately 27 evenly sized dough balls.

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Step 6: Stuff and Roll Closed

Start by rolling out your dough to about 1/4″ thickness. Place about 1 1/2 teaspoons of either the meat or cheese filling along one edge of the dough.

Using a sharp knife, cut thin slits across the remaining side of the dough, being careful not to cut all the way to the edge with the filling. Thereafter, make the cuts from one side to the other to create a fringed effect.

Gently fold the edge with the filling over to enclose it and form a sealed pocket. Then, carefully roll the dough toward the slitted edge until you reach the other side, forming a spiral or roll.

Step 7: Place into the Pan and Bake

Lastly, lightly spray your baking tray with cooking spray to coat it evenly. Arrange the rolls on the tray in your desired pattern.

Finally, brush the tops of each roll with egg wash. Then, sprinkle sesame seeds on every other roll in a straight, alternating pattern—just like shown in my video.

Bake at 350°F (175°C) for a total of 50 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through—about every 20 minutes—for even baking. Once baked, remove from the oven and let the rolls cool slightly before serving. Finally, enjoy!

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PREFER TO WATCH STEP-BY-STEP RECIPE VIDEO INSTEAD OF READING?

Have any questions about this recipe or have you tried making our recipe yet? If so, we would LOVE to hear how it turned out! You can post, tag, rate, and comment down below and on Instagram! 👇 Thank you in advance! 

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RECIPE CARD

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