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Silverbeet & Halloumi Pockets

Inspired by the popular Turkish street food gözleme, in this variation of these grilled bread pockets I skip the yeast and use a simple yoghurt dough that is a little less “bready” and all about the filling. They can be stuffed with all manner of deliciousness, such as roasted pumpkin, pine nuts and feta; leftover vegetable curry; or cheese, grated carrot and chutney. Here I have combined my favourite garden greens, herbs and halloumi. If you haven’t got halloumi use feta or a mixture of grated cheese and parmesan.
Servings 8 pockets
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

Yoghurt dough

  • 2 cups (300g) plain flour (or use a combination of white and wholemeal flours)
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup (180ml) natural yoghurt
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1-2 tbsp milk

Silverbeet & halloumi filling

  • 1 tbsp olive oil plus extra for cooking
  • ½ brown onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp dried oregano or mint
  • Pinch of chilli flakes (optional)
  • 400 g bunch of silverbeet (see recipe for preparation)
  • 200 g packet halloumi, grated

Yoghurt Sauce

  • About ⅓ cup (80ml) natural yoghurt
  • 1 garlic clove, finely grated or chopped
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • Salt to season
  • Pinch of dried oregano/mint and chilli flakes

Instructions

  • Prepare the yoghurt dough so it can rest while making the filling. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Make a well and add the yoghurt and olive oil. Use a fork to whisk the yoghurt and oil together while gradually mixing in the flour into a “scruffy” dough. Add milk 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough comes together.
  • Tip onto a lightly floured bench and knead for 1-2 minutes until smooth. Invert the mixing bowl over the dough and leave to rest.
  • Make the filling. Warm the olive oil in a heavy-based frying pan over a moderate heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes until softened. Add the garlic, cumin, herbs and chilli, cook for a further minute until fragrant.
  • Meanwhile, wash the silverbeet leaves, shaking off the excess moisture. Finely chop the stalks and add them to the onion mixture, sautéing to soften.
  • Chop the leaves and add them to the pan, don’t mix. Cover with a lid for 5 minutes. The droplets of water remaining on the washed leaves will create steam to wilt the silverbeet. Remove the lid, turn up the heat and sauté until excess moisture has evaporated. Tip onto a plate to cool down.
  • Divide the dough into eight and roll each into a ball. Cover again with the bowl.
  • Grate the halloumi and add to the silverbeet mixture.
  • On a lightly-floured bench roll out one dough ball at a time into a round, about 15cm wide. Spoon 3 heaped tablespoons of the silverbeet mixture onto one half of the dough, then fold over the other half to create a crescent shape, pressing to seal. Repeat with the remaining filling and dough, cooking the pockets as you go.
  • Wash out the frying pan used for the silverbeet and reheat. Add a slick of oil and cook 2 pockets at a time - with a rotation of rolling, filling and cooking. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden - adjust the heat as needed so they don’t burn but keep it hot enough to cook the dough. Add a slick of oil to the pan as needed.
  • Combine the yoghurt sauce ingredients in a bowl, seasoning to taste.
  • The pockets are best eaten while warm served with the yoghurt sauce for dipping. They can also be cooled on a rack then reheated in a pan for a quick lunch.

Notes

To freeze the pockets, cook until lightly golden. Cool on a rack then freeze. Defrost pockets as needed, heating in a hot pan until golden. 
+ Cook in the oven
These pockets can also be cooked in the oven (thanks for this feedback from a lovely reader) at 190C for about 20 minutes until golden. They won't have the crispy exterior that I like about frying on the stovetop but it does save hands-on cooking time. Always good to have options!