# Middle Eastern version of bierock (German meat pie) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [October 1, 2025, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-eastern-version-of-bierock-german-meat-pie/1023577 "2025-10-01T18:44:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-eastern-version-of-bierock-german-meat-pie/1023577/1 "2025-10-01T18:44:40Z")
When I was a child back in the 1970’s there was small shop called The Gunny Sack that sold hand held meat pies similar to a German bierock. There were a variety of fillings available so perhaps some were vegetarian. It was a huge treat for me as a kid so I’d like to recreate them. I recently asked my mother what she remembered of the place and all she could recall was that she thought the owner was middle eastern and that he said it was a common food in his home country. Anyone have experience with that sort of cuisine? I’ve made bierocks and pasties before but they don’t go for spices other than salt and pepper. I distinctly remember spices that were not part of our usual meals. Kelevra ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-eastern-version-of-bierock-german-meat-pie/1023577/2 "2025-10-01T18:49:10Z")
Ras el hanout is a very common and delicious middle-Eastern spice blend. You might start with that. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-eastern-version-of-bierock-german-meat-pie/1023577/3 "2025-10-01T23:25:46Z")
I’ve had Lebanese fatayer which are kind of like an open faced empanada. > **[Fatayer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatayer)** > > Fatayer (Standard Arabic: فطائر, romanized: faṭāʾir; Levantine Arabic: فطاير, romanized: faṭāyir; sg. فطيرة, faṭīra) are meat pies that can alternatively be stuffed with spinach or cheese such as feta or akkawi. They are part of Arab and Levantine cuisine are eaten in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt and, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.\[citation needed\] Fatayer are also popular in Argentina, where they are considered a variety of empanada under the name empanadas árabes (sg. Some ... ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-eastern-version-of-bierock-german-meat-pie/1023577/4 "2025-10-02T12:23:12Z")
Turkish _börek_? > **[Börek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%B6rek)** > > Börek or burek or byrek is a family of pastries or pies made in the Middle East and the Balkans. The pastry is made of a thin flaky dough such as filo with a variety of fillings, such as meat, cheese, spinach, or potatoes. A borek may be prepared in a large pan and cut into portions after baking, or as individual pastries. They are usually baked but some varieties can be fried. Borek is sometimes sprinkled with sesame or nigella seeds, and it can be served hot or cold. > Throughout the Balkan pe... ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-eastern-version-of-bierock-german-meat-pie/1023577/5 "2025-10-02T12:32:51Z")
That actually looks a lot like I remember them! The filling was minced and the crust was different than a bierock. I’ll look into some recipes for this and see how it turns out. Thanks everyone for your help!