Pogačice sa Jogurtom/Mini Yogurt Biscuits

The only thing I need to tell you about these delicious mini biscuits or Pogačice is that when I make them I end up making at least 2 more batches that same week. These are THAT good, and they are one of my most asked for recipes by guests, friends, and family. In fact, I’ve made many variations of these over the years but today I’m sharing my original version with you. You can then use it to customize per your tastes.

In conversations with family members, I’ve learned that some people make these with sour cream. I prefer to use Greek yogurt in my recipes because it tends to be a little thicker, tangier, and just makes my recipes taste better. You’ll notice I use Greek yogurt in lots of recipes here and I can’t recommend it enough. With that said, I’d also like to advise you to use the best butter you can get your hands on for recipes like this and baked goods in general. The butter really provides the flavor and if you’re not using good quality butter it will be reflected in your final product. An experienced pastry chef I used to work with used to always say “garbage in, garbage out”, referring to how low-quality ingredients yield low-quality products.

One of my additions to these biscuits/Pogačice is feta cheese or even minced deli meat. And I love to make them pretty small, using small Rakija glasses out the dough. They make a perfect addition to a charcuterie board or in addition to other appetizers. You can of course make them larger if you wish; I’ve even used cookie cutters to make larger versions.

Throughout the Balkans, it’s been popular over the years to have pastries in addition to cake and other treats at birthday parties. And because puff pastry and pastries in general are very popular there, prepared frozen varieties can be found at almost any grocery store. Pop them in the oven and in minutes you can have delicious pastries ready to eat. With the exception of full puff pastry and a select few treats, I can’t find the same type of pastries here as they have in the Balkans freezer section. And while this is not puff pastry, it’s a baked savory pastry after all. And I never say no to pastries!

I hope you give these Pogačice a try for your next party or gathering. And if you’re interested in more baked goods, check out the Bakery section!

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Pogačice sa Jogurtom/Mini Yogurt Biscuits

Recipe by The Balkan HostessCourse: AppetizersCuisine: Balkan

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Easy savory pastry – perfect addition for an appetizer or charcuterie board!

Ingredients

• 2 sticks (226 g) butter, room temperature

• 1 tablespoon instant dry yeast (1 kesica)

• 3 heaping spoonfuls Greek yogurt (3 dobre kašike)

• 2-3 cups (270-400 g) all-purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon (3 g) salt

• 1 egg + 1 egg yolk

• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) milk

• Sesame seeds, optional

Directions

• In a large bowl add the room temperature butter, whole egg, a packet of instant yeast, Greek yogurt, and salt. Whisk until all combined.
• Next, add in flour a little at a time and using your hand knead the dough until it comes together into a very soft Play-doh like consistency. It should be compact, soft, and not too firm. Add flour little by little so you don’t end up adding too much.
• Once the dough has come together and no longer sticks to your hands or the bowl, dust the bottom of the bowl lightly with flour and then place the dough back in the bowl. Dust the top of the dough with a little more flour and cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a dishtowel. Leave the dough to rest for 30-40 minutes.
• After the dough has had time to rest, preheat your oven to 350 F/175 C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
• Lightly dust your work surface with flour and then place the dough on top. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough to the thickness of your finger. Making the dough too thin will result in cracker-like biscuits which is not what you want.
• Using a cookie cutter or cup that’s been dipped in flour, gently punch out the biscuits in the shape and size that you’d like. You can also cut the dough into squares with a knife.
• Place the cut-outs onto your lined baking sheet. Repeat until you fill-up the sheet or all the dough has been used.
• In a small cup combine the egg yolk and milk. Using a pastry brush, gently brush the top of every biscuit, then sprinkle sesame seeds on top if using.
• Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown and slightly puffed up. Once baked, transfer them to a bowl and place the bowl in a plastic grocery bag or cover with foil for a few minutes to soften them up. Then serve and enjoy!

Notes

• Store leftovers in a plastic bag or airtight container.