CHEESE FATAYER

Pide, fatayer, manaeesh - whatever you call these, they are cheesy bites of heaven! It's basically the Middle Eastern version of cheese bread.

Now those who are in the Arab world will know what is a fatayer. All time favorite for many, I was introduced to the fatayer after coming to Dubai. And it is amazing how each restaurant’s fatayer tastes amazingly different and delicious

If you have ever made pizza dough, the proces for this recipe is very similar! It is pretty easy to make and comes together quickly. There is just a bit of down time but that gives you an opportunity to prep some other components of the recipe like the cheese filling.The easiest and most delicious part of this recipe is the cheese filling! It tastes so fresh yet rich at the same time and is what makes this dish unique compared to other cheese breads you may have had before.If you want it to be a bit spicy, add some red pepper flakes.

Traditionally the Cheese fatayer recipe is made with the akkawi cheese but you can make it with feta cheese or even mozarella cheese. I like to add both feta and mozzarella together for this Cheese Fatayer recipe.



INGREDIENTS

CHEESE FILLING

  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

  • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese

  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley

  • 1 large egg, beaten

  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1 teaspoon paprika

  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 teaspoon nigella seeds

DOUGH

  • 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour, additional as needed

  • 1/2 tablespoon salt

  • 1/2 tablespoon instant yeast

  • 1 cup lukewarm water

  • 1/2 tablespoon sugar

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons plain yogurt

FOR ASSEMBLY

  • milk or heavy cream, for brushing

INSTRUCTIONS

MAKE THE DOUGH

  1. Add the all-purpose flour, salt, instant yeast, lukewarm water, sugar, olive oil, and plain yogurt to a large mixing bowl.

  2. Bring the dough together using a hook attachment on a stand mixer or a wooden spoon/rubber spatula. You can also knead it by hand. Knead together for 2 to 3 minutes until you have a soft, elastic dough. It should be a bit sticky but not difficult to handle. If it is too sticky, add a tablespoon of flour as needed.

  3. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rest in a warm place for an hour or until double in size.

THE CHEESE FILLING

  1. While the dough rests, prepare the cheese filling. Combine mozzarella cheese, feta cheese, parsley, egg, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, and nigella seeds in a bowl.

  2. Set aside until assembly.

ASSEMBLY

  1. Preheat oven to 475°F.

  2. After an hour, punch down the dough and divide it into 12 equal portions, pinching each piece into a tight ball.

  3. Stretch each piece out longways and then shape it into an oval/football shape.

  4. Add a generous amount of cheese filling to the center and fold over the left and right sides while pinching the top and bottom to create a shape that looks like a boat. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the edges with milk or heavy cream. Repeat with the rest.

  5. Bake in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown on the edges.

  6. Take out of the oven, allow to cool for a few minutes, and then enjoy warm!

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