Fatayer
My mother made these savory triangle-shaped pies in industrial quantities every time so that she could feed the family, the neighbors and her loved ones. She would even save some in the freezer for unexpected visitors! She would prepare the dough the previous night, and the next day she would wake up at the crack of dawn to start her labor of love.
I will never forget the smell that drifted throughout the house; a warm comforting smell that felt like a hug. Nor will I forget the taste of the freshly baked dough coming right out of the oven mixed with the tangy moist spinach; it was so irresistible!
This is how my mother loved us, and I owe it to her to spread this love!
Fatayer
Yield: 3 dozens
Ingredients
For the dough
- 2.2 pounds flour
- 3/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 3/4 cup lukewarm water or as needed
For the filling
- 4 cups frozen spinach leaves thawed and water squeezed out (or fresh spinach leaves chopped)
- 1 bunch fresh mint leaves
- 1 bunch fresh parsley leaves
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 tsp allspice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp sumac or more to taste
- Salt to taste
Instructions
Prepare the dough
- Mix the flour with the yeast, salt and sugar.
- Add the oil and water and knead well until incorporated. Add water as needed while continuing to knead.
- It might take up to 5 minutes of kneading to get a smooth dough.
- Shape the dough into a ball, wrap it with plastic paper and put it in the fridge for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
Prepare the filling
- Mix the spinach with the mint and parsley. Massage the chopped onion with the allspice then add to the spinach mixture.
- Add the oil, sumac and salt. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
Put together
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 C).Oil a baking sheet.
- When the dough is ready, place it on a floured surface and roll it out with a pin until very thin.
- Use a tea cup or a cookie cutter to cut out circles out of the dough.
- Place 1 tbsp filling inside each circle, bring up 2 sides and pinch them together, then close up the bottom to get a triangular shape. Stick everything together until well sealed.
- Place the fatayers on the baking sheet and bake in the heated oven for around 15 minutes or until golden. Take out, serve and enjoy!
