Spinach Fatayer

Fatayer come in all shapes and sizes. A Lebanese fatayer are traditionally filled pyramids of pastry, whereas (oddly enough) an Egyptian fatayer are flat and round like a stuffed puff pastry pizza. We loved the spinach and cheese filled fatayer we had in Luxor and this recipe recreates it perfectly. 

Ingredients

makes 2

for the pastry

425g plain flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

300ml warm water

200g clarified butter (or ghee)

for the filling

500g fresh spinach

olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped

lemon juice
salt

pepper
200g feta

200g cheddar

Method

Place the flour and salt in a large bowl, then slowly add the water and stir through until you reach a smooth but quite wet and sticky dough.  Continue to knead the dough for 15 minutes. 

Split the dough into four equal parts. Drizzle over melted ghee to cover the surface. Then allow the dough to rest for an hour. 

On a clean work surface, drizzle more of the melted ghee and spread out the dough to as thin as you can, ending up with a large thin circle.

Next brush the dough surface with melted ghee then fold a third of the dough over the middle. Brush again with ghee. 

Then fold the other third over and brush with ghee.

Fold again a third from the left, over the centre, and brush with ghee. Then finally fold the third from the right over the centre, and brush with ghee. 

You should end up essentially with a square of layered dough

Repeat the steps with the other three pieces.   

For the filling, blanche the spinach, then squeeze out all the excess water and roughly chop. 

Next, in a large frying pan over a medium heat fry the onions in the olive oil. Continue to fry until golden brown. 

Add the spices and season well, then add the spinach. Stir in really well.

Add the grated cheese and once it starts to melt remove it from the heat.

Preheat oven to 190°C

Place one of the dough layers on foil on a baking tray, top with half the filling, and top with the other layer of dough. 

Seal the edges by pressing them together.

Brush with more ghee, of course, then bake in the oven for 25 minutes, until golden brown.