SouthernTurk
Unusual recipes for curious cooks.
https://southernturk.versust.com/recipe/air-fried-grits-and-cheese-borek-triangles
Printed September 1, 2026
Printed September 1, 2026
Air Fryer Alchemist
Air-Fried Grits and Cheese Börek Triangles
Leftover grits find new life as a creamy filling for flaky phyllo triangles. Southern comfort meets Turkish technique in the most unexpected way.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked stone-ground grits, cooled
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 12 sheets phyllo dough
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Black sesame seeds for topping
- Cooking spray
Preparation
What do you do with leftover grits? Most folks reheat them. I watched my Turkish neighbor make sigara böreği one morning and had an epiphany. This recipe was born from that aha moment.
Preparation
- In a bowl, combine cooled grits, cheddar, feta, eggs, chives, cayenne, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth.
- Unroll phyllo and cover with a damp towel to prevent drying.
- Take one sheet of phyllo and brush lightly with melted butter.
- Cut the sheet into 3 long strips.
- Place 2 tablespoons of grits mixture at the bottom of each strip.
- Fold into triangles: lift bottom right corner over filling to meet the left edge, creating a triangle. Continue folding like a flag until you reach the top.
- Brush each triangle with butter and sprinkle with black sesame seeds.
- Preheat air fryer to 360°F.
- Spray basket with cooking spray and arrange triangles in a single layer.
- Air fry for 12-15 minutes until golden and crispy, working in batches as needed.
Leftover magic: This is the perfect use for grits that have been chilling in your fridge. The cold texture actually makes them easier to work with as filling.
