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. 2026 Jan 8;15(2):222. doi: 10.3390/foods15020222
  Food Name: Flija & Sac Tava About: Flija is a layered baked batter dish carrying strong cultural value in Kosovo and for broader Balkan culinary heritage. Sac Tava, on the other hand, is a traditional Turkish main course in which meat and vegetables are cooked over high heat to achieve a rich savoury profile. The two dishes are combined into a single plate format, representing a fusion interpretation of the shared gastronomic heritage of Türkiye and Kosovo. Inline graphic
  Total Time: 6
  Pax: 10
  Ingredients
  For Flija Batter
  • 2000 g Flour

  • 2000 mL Milk

  • 12 Eggs

  • 500 mL Water

  • 500 g Yoghurt

  • 30 g Salt

  • 300 g Butter (for brushing)

For Sac Tava
  • Diced lamb or beef: 5000 g

  • Onion: 1000 g

  • Green & red peppers: 1000 g

  • Tomatoes: 1000 g

  • Garlic: 10 cloves (25 g)

  • Olive oil: 300 mL

  • Butter: 150 g

  • Dried thyme: 50 g

  • Chilli flakes: 50 g

  • Black pepper: 50 g

  • 50 g Salt

Mise en Place Procedure:
  • Set sac lid heating system to 250–300 °C

  • Dice meat into 2 × 2 cm cubes

  • Chop vegetables into 1.5 cm pieces

  • Keep proteins at +4 °C until needed

  • Prepare steel baking tray (38 × 28 cm)

  • Food contact areas sanitized (HACCP compliance)

  Requirements (Tools & Equipments)
 
  • Traditional sac lid (upper heating source)

  • Stainless steel tray 38 × 28 cm

  • Thick-bottomed sauté pan (20 mm)

  • Hand whisk

  • Silicone brush

  • Blast refrigerator (+4 °C)

  • Food thermometer (up to 300 °C)

Stage Procedure
1 Combine flour, milk, eggs, yoghurt, salt → whisk until homogeneous
2 Pour a thin layer of batter into tray
3 Brush lightly with melted butter
4 Cook under heated sac lid for 5–7 min
5 Repeat steps 2–4 for 15–18 layers total
6 After final layer, cool to 40 °C
7 Heat sauté pan with olive oil at 200 °C
8 Brown diced meat on high heat: 5–7 min
9 Add onions, peppers, tomatoes, garlic → sauté 10 min
10 Add spices & butter → simmer 45–60 min at 95–98 °C
11 Plate Sac Tava over sliced Flija squares (10 × 10 cm each)
12 Rest dish at 60–65 °C during service window