🌿 Ingredients
For the Basic Savory Dough (or use store-bought pizza dough):
2¼ tsp active dry yeast (one ¼-ounce packet) 🍞
Scant 1 tsp sugar
1 cup warm whole milk 🥛
3½ cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for rolling)
1 tsp kosher salt 🧂
⅓ cup neutral oil (like grapeseed) + more for greasing
For the Fatayer Filling:
1 lb baby spinach, roughly chopped 🌿
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped 🧅
1½ tbsp sumac ❤️
1 tsp ground black pepper
¼ tsp ground allspice
Juice of 1 large lemon (≈ 4 tbsp) 🍋
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 🫒
1 large egg, lightly beaten 🥚
Salt to taste
🔥 Instructions
① Activate the yeast:
In a small bowl, mix yeast, sugar, and ½ cup warm milk. Stir and let sit 10 minutes until bubbly and fragrant 🍞.
② Mix the dry ingredients:
In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine flour and salt.
③ Add the wet ingredients:
Slowly add ⅓ cup oil, then the yeast mixture, and the remaining ½ cup milk.
Mix until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms (add a little milk/water if too dry).
④ Let the dough rise:
Grease a bowl with oil, shape dough into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm spot for 1½ hours, until doubled in size ⏳.
🌿 Make the Filling
⑤ Salt the spinach:
Place chopped spinach in a colander, sprinkle with 1 tsp salt, toss, and let sit 5 minutes to release liquid.
⑥ Sauté the onion:
In a skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium-high. Add onion and cook until soft and lightly golden (≈5 minutes). Remove to a bowl.
⑦ Wilt the spinach:
Add another 1 tbsp olive oil to the pan, then cook the spinach just until wilted (≈1 minute).
⑧ Wring out the spinach:
Cool slightly, then squeeze out as much liquid as possible using a clean towel (this step prevents soggy pies!).
⑨ Mix the filling:
Combine the spinach with the onions, then add sumac, pepper, allspice, and lemon juice. Mix well and adjust seasoning 🍋✨.
🥟 Assemble and Bake
⑩ Roll out the dough:
Punch down the dough, then roll to ¼-inch thick. Cut into 4-inch circles using a glass or cutter. Cover with a towel and rest 5–10 minutes.
⑪ Preheat oven:
Set to 400°F (200°C). Brush baking sheets lightly with oil.
⑫ Fill and fold:
Place 2 tbsp filling in the center of each circle.
Bring up three sides to meet in the middle, pinching edges firmly to form a triangle 🔺 (use wet fingers to seal).
⑬ Bake:
Arrange pies on the sheet, brush tops with beaten egg, and bake 12–15 minutes until golden brown 😍.
💡 Tips
- You can freeze baked or unbaked Fatayer — just reheat in the oven before serving.
- For extra flavor, sprinkle a pinch of za’atar on top before baking 🌿.
- Swap spinach for Swiss chard, kale, or cheese for variation 🧀.
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