This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
Milas vekilharcı, a traditional dish unique to the Milas district of Muğla Province, consists of filo pastry sheets filled with a spiced meat or chicken mixture, baked, and then served with meat or chicken broth, strained yogurt, and spices. It was officially registered as a geographical indication on 9 December 2022 and is protected under Law No. 6769 on Industrial Property.
Milas vekilharcı is prepared using filo sheets made from wheat flour, water, olive oil, and eggs, which are filled with a mixture of medium-fat minced meat, olive oil, parsley, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt. The filo sheets are arranged in a circular pattern on a tray and cut into 2 cm squares before baking. After baking, they are moistened with hot chicken or meat broth, then topped with garlic-infused strained yogurt (kese yoğurdu), heated butter seasoned with red pepper powder, black pepper, and parsley. Each serving uses 150 g of the dish and 80 ml of hot meat or chicken broth.
The dish’s distinctiveness stems from its place in Milas culinary culture and its traditional use on special occasions such as Ramadan and weddings. The strained yogurt used in its preparation is also sourced from Milas.
The dough ingredients are kneaded and left to rest for one hour, after which they are divided into 70 g portions and rolled out with a rolling pin into filo sheets 60 cm in diameter and 1 mm thick. The filling is prepared by sautéing the minced meat in olive oil with spices, then adding parsley. Once cooled, the filling is placed along the long edge of each filo sheet and rolled. The rolled sheets are arranged in a circular pattern radiating outward from the center of an oiled tray and baked in an oven at 180 ℃ for approximately 30 minutes.
After cooling, the filo sheets are arranged on serving plates, and hot meat or chicken broth is poured over them. Garlic-infused strained yogurt, heated butter, black pepper, and parsley are then added before serving. In restaurants, the dish is kept ready-baked and portioned upon order. For external service, packaging suitable for direct food contact is used.
All production stages of Milas vekilharcı are carried out within the boundaries of the Milas district of Muğla Province. The link between the geographical indication and the product is established through its historical origins and the use of local ingredients.
Compliance with the registration certificate is monitored at least once annually, and as needed, by a minimum four-member oversight body composed of experts from relevant public and professional organizations under the coordination of the Milas Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The inspection covers criteria such as ingredient compliance, production method, serving style, packaging use, and correct application of the geographical indication label.
Product Characteristics
Preparation
Geographical Boundary and Oversight
