Lebanese Spinach Fatayer

Spinach fatayer or fatayer bi sabanekh is an authentic Middle Eastern recipe and is popular in Lebanese cuisine. Spinach, onions and seasonings wrapped in a homemade soft dough then baked to golden perfection.

This fatayer recipe makes the perfect appetizer or snack and are one of the most popular Ramadan recipes. They are savory, tangy and oh so flavorful!

Next time, try these easy cheese fatayer recipe.

With only an hour of rising time, spinach fatayer take less than an hour to prep and stuff. These are the worth effort. Your kitchen will smell so good when these are baking.

Of course, there is nothing like the first bite into a fatayer as well! Breaking open the spinach fatayer, the dough is so soft and your first bite is filled with the sensation of soft dough, flavorful spinach and tanginess. It will be difficult not to eat the whole batch!

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why You'll Love It
• 📝 Ingredients
• 🥄 Instructions
• 💡 Tips
• ⌛ Make Ahead
• 🧺 Storage
• 💬 FAQs
• 📣 Related Recipes
• More Lebanese Recipes
• More Bread Recipes
• Spinach Fatayer

❤️ Why You'll Love It

• A delicious and unique appetizer.
• Authentic Middle Eastern cuisine.
• Great recipe to get the kids to help.
• A Lebanese snack or appetizer.
• Savory, tangy and delicious.

These Lebanese spinach pies are so much fun to make! Be sure to get your kids to help out. They can help roll out the dough, make circles with cookie cutters and even stuff and fold. Of course, they may not look perfect but can feel good about baking and can help eat the result. Stuffed full of veggies, I won't tell if you won't!

📝 Ingredients

Note: This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

📋 Ingredient Notes

• Flour: All-purpose flour is used to make the dough as well as for dusting the work surface.
• Yeast: Necessary for the dough to make it rise.
• Sugar: gives the dough a nice flavor.
• Salt: is added for the dough
• Yogurt: Makes the dough moist and helps with the bread rising. See my notes, in the recipe card, if you'd like to skip it.
• Oil: For the dough and to keep the dough from sticking to the bowl when rising.
• Onion: for the fatayer stuffing.
• Spinach: Main ingredient in the stuffing.
• Cilantro: Adds flavor but if you're not a fan, you can leave the cilantro out.
• Black pepper: seasoning the stuffing.
• Coriander: similar to the taste of cilantro but in dry seed form.
• Sumac: a wonderful Mediterranean seasoning made from dried berries has a tart tangy taste and citrus flavoring.
• Pomegranate molasses: usually in syrup form and has a tangy sweet and sour flavor.
• Lemon juice: adds a citrus flavor to the spinach mix.
• Pine nuts / walnuts: optional flavor can be added into the spinach mix.

🥄 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.

1. In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, yeast and salt and mix well.
2. Add olive oil and yogurt, continue to knead. Gradually add water until you reach a firm elastic dough. You will need to knead the dough for 5 minutes if using an electric mixer or 10-12 minutes if kneading by hand.
3. Add 1 teaspoon of oil to a clean bowl, place the dough in and turn to cover the dough all over with a thin layer of oil. Cover and let it rise for about an hour.

1. In a large skillet over medium heat add oil then add chopped onion and sauté for about 3 minutes.
2. Add spinach and continue to cook for about 3 more minutes. Take it off heat and all the remaining ingredients. Taste to adjust seasoning.

1. Preheat oven for 450°F, adjust oven racks and prepare the pans as instructed in the recipe card below. Divide the dough in half, return one half to the bowl and cover. Using your rolling pin, roll the other half to a thickness of ¼ inch. With any rounded cup, plate or a large round cookie cutter, cut circles in the dough.
2. Place 2 tablespoons of the mixture in the center of each circle.
3. Stretch the dough a bit from two opposite ends to get the dough away from the filling and pinch to seal and form a cone like shape.
4. Now hold the remaining part of the circle and press against the other cone edges to form a triangular shape.
5. Press firmly to seal, put on the prepared baking sheet and cover until you done with the rest of the dough.

1. Brush tops with more olive oil and bake in the center of your oven for 10 minutes or until the bottom is golden brown. Move the baking sheet to the upper rack and continue to bake for 3-5 more minutes or until the top is golden brown. Check out air fryer directions in the recipe card below.

💡 Tips

• Adding yogurt to the dough makes it more fluffy and helps in proofing. You can skip it but make sure to add more yeast, I would say about ½ teaspoon and more warm water.
• Adding chopped nuts to the spinach mixture is a desirable addition, if you have an allergy, do not have nuts or prefer not, then feel free to skip it.
• The spinach fatayer I grew up with is tart, really tart and this is how it is supposed to be for me. If in doubt or you do not really like the tartness then feel free to reduce the sumac, pomegranate molasses and lemon juice to your liking. But I highly recommend at least 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses.
• Sumac, pomegranate molasses and lemon juice are used to give tartness to the spinach mixture if you do not have one substitute with the other.
• If you are in a hurry you can substitute store bought pizza dough for the homemade dough.

⌛ Make Ahead

Fatayer can be made ahead of time and reheated when ready to serve.

🧺 Storage

• To store fatayer place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
• Freeze in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. To reheat, wrap frozen fatayer with kitchen paper towel and reheat in the microwave for 10-20 seconds or until soft.

💬 FAQs

📣 Related Recipes

• Here is our favorite easy empanadas recipe filled with a flavorful ground beef mixture.
• Love phyllo? try these easy phyllo cups appetizer that are great anytime of the day.
• These stuffed mini peppers are so easy to make and they taste amazing. Perfect as appetizers or snacks, but also great for parties!
• Sambusa or Samosas are triangular shaped pastry filled with spicy vegetables or meat mixture. Very popular through the Middle East, India and many other countries. Here is an easy samosa recipe for snacking or as a party appetizer.
• Bruschetta with Balsamic Glaze is an easy appetizer from Italy. Crusty bread slices toasted with garlic and topped with parmesan cheese, diced tomatoes and fresh basil.

More Lebanese Recipes

• Try this delicious and easy to follow Lebanese rice recipe, perfect side dish for any Middle Eastern meal. Garnish with fresh herbs or toasted pine nuts to boost flavors.
• Sfiha is one of the authentic Middle Eastern recipes made with an easy delicious dough.
• Manakeesh with za'atar or cheese are another favorite and it is sometimes called the Arab pizza.
• Chicken shawarma rice is one of our favorite easy weeknight meals. Tender chicken with flavorful yellow rice topped with an amazing white sahwarma sauce all take just about 30 minutes!
• Baked Kibbeh is a delightful meat dish with crispy exterior and delicious flavorful ground beef filling. Baked instead of fried this is a healthier option for kibbeh lovers.

More Bread Recipes

• Unleavened bread is easy to make and does not require any special ingredients or equipment. All you need is flour, water, olive oil and salt.
• How to make Yorkshire pudding? It is actually a very simple recipe much like popovers, crisp golden outside with a hollow core. Whip up the batter in just few minutes and enjoy an airy delight that is great for any meal.

I hope you'll like this recipe and please if you make this recipe, snap a pic and hashtag it #amiraspantry — I love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter!
Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for the FREE Amira's Pantry newsletter delivered to your inbox with lots of tips and surprises! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for all the latest updates.

If you like this recipe do not forget to give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and attach a photo of your finished dish. It is always a pleasure of mine to see your photos and check your own take of the recipe. Thank you.