bougatsa

The name comes from the Byzantine Greek {{lang|el|πογάτσα}} (pogátsa), from the ancient Roman pānis focācius, literally "hearth bread"; cf. Italian focaccia.{{cite web|url=https://www.thessalonikiartsandculture.gr/blog/texnopersona/i-istoria-tis-bougatsas/|title=History of bougatsa food|website=thessalonikiartsandculture.gr|language=el|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625230407/https://www.thessalonikiartsandculture.gr/blog/texnopersona/i-istoria-tis-bougatsas/|archive-date=25 June 2023}} It may have had a classical origin in the Ancient Greek/Roman placenta cake. A similar dessert is still known as placenta ({{langx|el|πλατσέντα}}) on the island of Lesbos in Greece.{{cite web|url=http://www.bostanistas.gr/?i=bostanistas.el.article&id=3528 |title=Placenta, from Agia Paraskevi of Lesvos|last=Triantafylli|first=Kiki|date=17 October 2015|language=el|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625225946/http://www.bostanistas.gr/?i=bostanistas.el.article&id=3528 |archive-date=25 June 2023}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5U0iAwAAQBAJ |title=Sarakostiana: 50 recipes for Lent and its celebrations from Mamavasso |last=Giannetsou |first=Vasileia Louvari |year=2014 |publisher=Georges Yannetsos |language=el|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215183407/https://books.google.com/books?id=5U0iAwAAQBAJ |archive-date=15 December 2022|via=Google Books |page=161|quote= The placenta is like the placenta of the ancient Greeks, with nuts and honey.}} Placenta is a type of pancake, made from two layers of dough, usually filled with cottage cheese. Sometimes chocolate or apples are used instead. The cake is covered with honey, before being baked.{{cite web|url=https://www.196flavors.com/bougatsa/|title=Bougatsa|last=Laurie |first=Liagre |website=196flavors.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708175925/https://www.196flavors.com/bougatsa/|archive-date=8 July 2023}}

It originated in Northern Greece, in particular the city of Serres and city of Thessaloniki.{{cite web|url=https://culinarybackstreets.com/cities-category/athens/2021/cb-on-the-road-59/ |title=CB on the Road: Thessaloniki's Infinitely Delicious Pie |last=Doriti|first=Carolina |website=culinarybackstreets.com |date=22 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312162635/https://culinarybackstreets.com/cities-category/athens/2021/cb-on-the-road-59/ |archive-date=12 March 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntages/mpoygatsa-me-krema-i-me-tyri-7-syntages-gia-anapofasistoys/132254/|title=Bougatsa with cream or cheese: 5 recipes|language=el|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923214926/https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntages/mpoygatsa-me-krema-i-me-tyri-7-syntages-gia-anapofasistoys/132254/|archive-date=23 September 2023}} Today, bougatsa can be found in Greece in specialty shops called bougatsadika or bougatsopolia, selling bougatsa exclusively.{{Cn|date=March 2025}}

The taste of bougatsa varies between regions of Greece. For example, bougatsa cream in Veria is very sweet and full of cream, while in Thessaloniki the bougatsa cream is crunchy and not that sweet, and in Chania Crete the bougatsa cheese is made of local mizithra cheese (not sweet) but sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. Similarly to Veria, the bougatsa cream in Athens is sweet and full of cream.{{Cn|date=March 2025}}

==Preparation==

File:Bougatsa.png]]

File:BougatsaAthens.webm cafe]]

Traditional Greek bougatsa is prepared from hand-made phyllo dough wrapped around a filling. After it is baked about 30–35 minutes in the oven, it is cut into small pieces and served hot on a small plate. The bougatsa cream is filled with semolina custard; it is then cut into small pieces and served hot, topped with lightly dusted powdered icing sugar and/or cinnamon.

The bougatsa recipe parts are: preparing the custard filling; placing about 5 sheets of buttered phyllo pastry (also known as filo) in a baking dish; assembling the bougatsa; preheating the oven to the correct temperature and baking until the phyllo dough reaches the desired golden-brown crispness; cutting the bougatsa while still hot into small portions and serving.{{cite web|url=https://greekfoodcentral.com/by-course/desserts/bougatsa-creamy-greek-custard-pie/ |title=Traditional Greek Bougatsa Recipe: Crispy Phyllo Pastry with Custard Pie |website=greekfoodcentral.com|date= 25 September 2023 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312171156/https://greekfoodcentral.com/by-course/desserts/bougatsa-creamy-greek-custard-pie/ |archive-date=12 March 2024}}

Most modern bougatsa is made with machine-made phyllo, but some cafes and bakeries selling hand-made bougatsa still exist, especially in smaller towns and villages of Greece.{{Cn|date=March 2025}}

There are several bougatsa food versions which have their own filling, with the most known being:{{cite web|url=https://www.olivemagazine.gr/chrisima/themata-chrisima/7-monadikes-syntages-gia-spitiki-bougatsa-glykia-kai-almyri/ |title=7 unique recipes for homemade bougatsa (sweet and salty)|last=Sklatinioti |first=Evi |language=el |date=17 January 2024 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117174444/https://www.olivemagazine.gr/chrisima/themata-chrisima/7-monadikes-syntages-gia-spitiki-bougatsa-glykia-kai-almyri/|archive-date=17 January 2024}}

• Bougatsa cream,{{cite web|url=https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/mpoygatsa-me-krema-2/190250/|title=Bougatsa with cream and crunchy handmade phyllo |last=Bantis |first=Filippos |language=el|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311045731/https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/mpoygatsa-me-krema-2/190250/|archive-date=11 March 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/mpoygatsa-thessalonikis-me-etoimo-fyllo/156930/|title=Thessaloniki Bougatsa (with ready-made dough) |language=el|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221231754/https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/mpoygatsa-thessalonikis-me-etoimo-fyllo/156930/|archive-date=21 February 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.food.com/recipe/bougatsa-greek-cream-filled-phyllo-pastries-70884 |title= Bougatsa (Greek Cream-Filled Phyllo Pastries) |website=food.com|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231001094459/https://www.food.com/recipe/bougatsa-greek-cream-filled-phyllo-pastries-70884 |archive-date=1 October 2023}} that has semolina custard, that is a sweet food and dessert
• Bougatsa cheese, {{cite web|url=https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/mpoygatsa-me-tyri-2/190256/ |title=Bougatsa with cheese by a bougatsa expert|last=Bantis |first=Filippos|language=el|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230311045727/https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/mpoygatsa-me-tyri-2/190256/ |archive-date=11 March 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/mpoygatsa-me-tyri/156937/|title=Bougatsa with cheese|language=el|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202052612/https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/mpoygatsa-me-tyri/156937/ |archive-date=2 December 2022}} with feta cheese that is a savoury food
• Bougatsa cheese,{{cite web|url=https://www.cretangastronomy.gr/2012/12/bougatsa-krema-mizithra/ |title=Bougatsa with cream and mizithra cheese |website=cretangastronomy.gr|language=el |date=30 December 2012 |url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230602021823/https://www.cretangastronomy.gr/2012/12/bougatsa-krema-mizithra/ |archive-date=2 June 2023}} with mizithra cheese
• Bougatsa chocolate cream,{{cite web|url=https://www.olivemagazine.gr/recipe/bougatsa-sokolatas-nistisimi/ |title=Bougatsa chocolate fasting |language=el|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312155924/https://www.olivemagazine.gr/recipe/bougatsa-sokolatas-nistisimi/|archive-date=12 March 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://cooktime.gr/r/53639143/μπουγατσα_με_σοκολατα_ευκολη_νοστιμη_αφρατη_/ |title=Bougatsa chocolate |website=cooktime.gr|language=el|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312160433/https://cooktime.gr/r/53639143/μπουγατσα_με_σοκολατα_ευκολη_νοστιμη_αφρατη_/ |archive-date=12 March 2024}}
• Bougatsa apple,{{cite web|url=https://chefonair.gr/syntages/mpougatsa-milo-stafides/ |title=Chef on Air on Sky TV: Bougatsa apple with raisins|publisher=Chef on Air |website=chefonair.gr |language=el|date=17 November 2016 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323083739/https://chefonair.gr/syntages/mpougatsa-milo-stafides/ |archive-date=23 March 2023}}
• Bougatsa potato purée
• Bougatsa spinach
• Bougatsa mix of spinach and feta cheese
• Βougatsa minced meat,{{cite web|url=https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/mpoygatsa-me-kima-anameikto/190261/|title=Bougatsa with minced meat|language=el|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201140439/https://www.gastronomos.gr/syntagh/mpoygatsa-me-kima-anameikto/190261/ |archive-date=1 December 2023}} usually a mix of beef and pork or beef and lamb

The process of making bougatsa by hand-made filo was featured on an episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations filmed in Chania, Crete.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1189463/?ref_=ttep_ep4 |title=Anthony Bourdain: Greek Islands, Episode aired 28 January 2008|publisher=IMDb|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312163706/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1189463/?ref_=ttep_ep4 |archive-date=12 March 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://eatlikebourdain.com/anthony-bourdain-in-greece/|title=Anthony Bourdain in Greece: The Complete Country Guide |website=eatlikebourdain.com |date=10 November 2023|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230925122813/https://eatlikebourdain.com/anthony-bourdain-in-greece/ |archive-date=25 September 2023}}

{{Portal|Food|Greece}}

• Banitsa, a similar pie from Bulgaria
• Cremeschnitte
• Focaccia
• Galaktoboureko
• Knafeh
• List of custard desserts
• Pogača
• Spanakopita, a pie made with spinach and sometimes cheese
• Tyropita, a pie made with cheese

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Category:Breakfast dishes

Category:Custard desserts

Category:Greek desserts

Category:Greek pastries

Category:Greek Macedonian cuisine

Category:Stuffed dishes