What is Zelnik?
Zelnik is a traditional Macedonian food, somewhat similar to the Greek spanacopita and very similar to the Bulgarian Banitsa . Zilnik is popular in winter and traditionally served on Christmas Eve, is a yeast filo dough with spinach filling, cheese and eggs - often with leek or potatoes and sometimes containing cabbage or cabbage. It can be created and baked in individual portions such as Cornish Pasties or other spicy cakes, but more often it is produced with filling inside large leaves Filo dough and rolls arranged in a spiral and baked in a pan in the oven. Is to eat hot or cold.
The filling may vary considerably depending on the chef and tradition. The main difference between Zelnik and Banitsa is the dough - filo used for Banitsa is simple and pastry for Zelka is traditionally made by hand with yeast added for another body and flake. Zelnik also usually has a more significant pilling than Banitsa.
During slimmer years, Zelnik was often made with any green leaves or zElena's, including kopřistí, dandelion leaves and green beets. When it is made in individual parts, it is a portable food such as Russian pierogis or German bierocks . In regional Balkan cuisine there is a traditionally spicy food, but can also be made in a sweet version, with pumpkin or apples and honey.
The origin of the name Zelnik is not clear; Some say it is derived from the Macedonian or Bulgarian word for cabbage and others say it is a variation on the word for green or green. Zelka in Bulgarian is cabbage and green in Bulgarian is green, so either is entitled to merit. bougatsa is another similar food; It is Greek pastry, but it is often made with custard and is usually considered to be breakfast. tiropita is similar to the Greek layers of the variety; It is usually baked with a mixture of cheese and eggs.
When the Zelnik is served for special occasions, asIt is Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve, pupils or spells good luck will sometimes bake into pastry for one happy person to find. Most often they are coins wrapped in gold paper or perhaps a Dogwood twig with bud to symbolize health, longevity or prosperity. Surprise is sometimes just a happy wish written on paper, wrapped in foil and inserted into the spiral of bread.
In some parts of Bulgaria, similar food with rice filling is popular. Other variants include fillings with roasted beef or pork, onion or other vegetables, herbs and mushrooms. Sweet fillings are more popular in some regions. In some areas, the content of walnut and cinnamon is common. Variations with apples are called shtrudel and the pumpkin version called tikvenik is also regionally popular.