Tony Shalhoub’s Spinach Fatayer, Beauty, as seen on The Kitchen, Season 40
Recipe courtesy of Tony Shalhoub

Tony Shalhoub's Spinach Fatayer

Getting reviews...
  • Level: Intermediate
  • Total: 3 hr 30 min (includes rising time)
  • Active: 45 min
  • Yield: 4-6 servings
Fatayer are Middle Eastern hand pies. They're savory pockets of homemade dough stuffed with either meat, or fresh spinach and onions. These were a staple of any family gathering and are the perfect grab-and-go snack! They're great hot or cold, and you can eat with or without dips like labneh or hummus. Tony has memories from childhood of grabbing a fatayer and running around outside, or sitting on a stoop and eating them!

Ingredients

Filling:

Dough:

Directions

Special equipment:
a 3 1/2- to 4-inch round cutter
  1. For the filling: Heat a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add some olive oil, then cook the onions until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the spinach to the pan and cook until wilted, then add the lemon juice, mint, zaatar, salt, cinnamon and pepper. Set aside to cool.
  2. For the dough: Put the bread flour into a bowl, then add the warm water, oil, butter, salt, sugar and yeast. Stir, adding flour a little bit at a time if needed, until the dough isn't tacky or sticking to your fingers. Let rise until almost doubled.
  3. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  4. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Cut into 3 portions and let rest 10 to 15 minutes. Roll out until 10 to 12 inches, then cut out the circles with a 3 1/2- to 4-inch round cutter.
  5. Let the dough rest a little bit, then fill each circle with a heaping tablespoon of the spinach filling.
  6. Seal into a triangle, then place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush with olive oil.