Spinach Fatayer

5 from 3 votes

Fatayer is a Middle Eastern food that comes stuffed in so many ways. Here is an easy spinach pastry that is delicious as a snack, appetizer or party food. Soft dough wrapped around tart spinach mixture, a staple in the Lebanese cuisine.

Prep Time30 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Rising time1 hr

Total Time45 mins

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: Lebanese

Diet: Halal

Servings: servings

Calories: 177kcal

Author: Amira

Ingredients

For the dough:

3 cups all purpose flour, extra for dusting 375g
½ Tablespoon yeast 5g
½ Tablespoon sugar 7g
2 teaspoon salt
¼ cup plain yogurt
¼ cup oil, extra for brushing 60ml / 2 oz
¾ cup warm water

For the spinach filling:

2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion chopped
1 lb frozen spinach thaw and drained
¼ cup cilantro chopped
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon coriander
2 Tablespoons sumac
2 Tablespoons pomegranate molasses
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
¼ cup pine nuts or chopped walnuts optional

Instructions

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

Make the filling:

In a large skillet over medium heat add oil then add chopped onion and sauté for about 3 minutes.
Take it off the heat and add all the remaining ingredients.
Mix well and taste to adjust seasoning.

Assemble and bake:

Preheat the oven to 450°F, adjust oven racks one in the middle and one in the upper third of your oven.
Brush two heavy rimmed baking sheets with oil and set aside.
Lightly dust a clean working surface with flour and then place your dough ball on it.
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.
Release the rolled dough from the working surface by hand, this is done so when we cut the circles it will not shrink.
With any rounded cup, plate or a large round cookie cutter, cut circles in the dough.
Place two tablespoons of the mixture in the center of each circle.
Stretch the dough a bit from two opposite ends to get the dough away from the filling and seal to form a cone like shape.
Now hold the remaining part of the circle and press against the other cone edges to form a triangle.
Press firmly to seal, put on the prepared baking sheet and cover until you are done with the rest of the dough.
Continue with the other half the same way.
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 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
Let them cool on a wire rack before serving.

Notes

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 another ½ teaspoon and more warm water.
Adding chopped nuts to the spinach mixtures 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 suppose 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.
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.

Storage:

Place spinach fatayer in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Freeze 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.

Air fryer directions:

Preheat air fryer to 400°F and air fry for 4 minutes.

Nutrition