Cheese Fatayer#BreadBakers

A Fatayer, is part of Lebanese cuisine and also of other Middle Eastern countries. Fatayer can be made with different type of fillings like mince, spinach, etc. Traditionally a Cheese Fatayer is made with the Akkawi cheese but you can also make it with feta cheese or mozarella cheese or a mix of both. Here I have used Kiri Cheese and zaatar spice to make these Fatayer .

Makes 6 
Ingredients
150 Grams Bread Flour
¼ Cup Milk
1 Teaspoon Sugar
6 Grams Fresh Yeast
½ Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Tablespoon Oil
½ Teaspoon Sea Salt
Half An Egg
1½ Tablespoons Water
For The Filling
4 Squares Kiri Cheese
1 Teaspoon Zaatar
1 Teaspoon Oil
For Brushing
Half An Egg
Sesame Seeds - optional 
Method 

In a large bowl add the sugar and yeast, mix it well and let is aside for 10 minutes or till it is frothy. 

Once the yeast has bloomed add in the flour, milk, baking powder, oil, salt and egg together in the bowl and mix it gradually to make a combined dough. Take this dough on to a work surface and knead it to make a nice soft and smooth dough. Keep this in a oiled bowl , cling wrap it, till it doubles in volume.

In the meantime in a small bowl mix in the Zataar and oil well, then add in the Kiri chees and mix it well. Refrigerate it.

When the dough has doubled, deflate it and make 6 equal balls. Roll each dough in to smooth balls, cover and leave it aside for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes flatten each ball into small round circles.

Divide the cheese filling into 6 equal parts. Fill the cheese in the middle. Fold the flattened dough and close in the middle (As shown in the pic).

Place on the greased baking pan. Repeat same process until the remaining circles.
Brush on top of each piece with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds ( I skip this).

Bake them in a preheated oven 180°C for about 18 - 20 minutes or until golden brown. These were done in 18 minutes.

Enjoy them for breakfast or as evening snacks. These taste good when hot and fresh! These were simply super delicious!!

My Notes
If you do not have Zaatar spice check the Recipe Homemade Zaatar Spice
Labels: Bread Bakers, Cheese, Breads, Zaatar, Lebanese, Middle Eastern, Snacks, Breakfast

• #BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated each month on this home page.
  
  We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.
  
  
  

• Bazluma from Magical Ingredients
• Cheese Fatayer from Sneha's Recipe
• Egyptian Mahlab Bread from Food Lust People Love
• Halloumi Cheese, Olive, and Mint Bread from Cook with Renu
• Ka'ak Asfar from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Olive Oil Blueberry Muffins from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Pita from Passion Kneaded
• Scones with Za'atar and Feta from Palatable Pastime
• Sourdough Man'oushe (Za'atar Flatbread) from Zesty South Indian Kitchen
• Vasilopita from A Messy Kitchen 

Eggless Layali Lubnan#EattheWorld

This is a delicious and easy Lebanese dessert which can be made for Ramadan or any other time. This Lebanese Nights Dessert (Layali Lubnan), is a very famous Lebanese dessert widely served all over Lebanon. It is one of the most served dessert at home because it’s easy to make and tasty.

Ingredients
For The Semolina Layer / First Layer
4 Cups Milk
½ Cup Sugar
½ Cup Semolina
1 Teaspoon Rose water
For The Sugar Syrup
½ Cup Sugar
1 Cup Water
1 Teaspoon Rose water
For The Second Layer
2 Cups Milk
2 Tablespoons Sugar
2 Tablespoons Corn flour
½ Cup Cream Cheese

For Garnishing
½ Cup Finely Chopped Pistachios 

Method
For the Semolina Layer

Add all the ingredients into a pan and cook the first layer till t becomes thick.

Pour it in a greased pan and set it in the refrigerator for an hour.
For The Second Layer 

Mix together all the ingredients in a pot with a whisk without any heat at first until there are no lumps. Then, bring to medium-high heat and keep whisking until it starts to thicken. It should look creamy and pourable. 

Pour on top of the first layer and keep it in the fridge for 6 - 8 hours.

Cling wrap it and refrigerate.

After it is cooled and set 

then loosen the sides with a butter knife and take this onto serving plate. 

Garnish it with pistachios. 

To Make The Sugar Syrup

Make the syrup in the meantime by mixing together the sugar and water. Let it come to a simmer for about 5-10 minutes until it slightly thickens. Let this cool completely.

Then drizzle all over the dessert as much as you like or drizzle to each person's slice. This is up to you. I cut a slice and then poured the sugar syrup on top.

Enjoy .. this is simply delicious...

Labels: Lebanese, Eggless, Eat the World, Sweets & Desserts, Dessert, Semolina, Middle Eastern

Join us as we Eat the World!!!

Each month Evelyne of CulturEatz invites us to visit a country and explore their foods. This month it's Lebanon. 

Check out all the wonderful Lebanese dishes prepared by fellow Eat the World members and share with #eattheworld. Find out how to join Eat the World here and have fun exploring a country a month in the kitchen with us! 

 Culinary Cam: Some Lebanese Favorites: Lamb Ummo, Lubyee Bi Lahmi, and Mujadara

Amy’s Cooking Adventures: Ka’ak (Lebanese Purse Bread) 

Pandemonium Noshery: Halawet el Jibn - Lebanese Semolina Cheese Dessert 

Sneha’s Recipe: Eggless Layali Lubnan 

Cultureatz: Lebanese Shish Tawook 

A Day in the Life on the Farm: Instant Pot Beef Shwarma 

Magical Ingredients: Malfouf Salad 

Mujaddara with Spiced Yogurt

My second recipe from this site Food 52 Weekly contest.  I, followed this recipe as given and turned out prefect and great.

Recipe source here
Serves 4

Ingredients 

3/4 Cup Puy lentils / Sabut Masoor
1/2 + 1/2  Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Basmati Rice
1.1/2 Cups Water

2 Tablespoons Butter
3 Tablespoons Olive oil
3 Onions  -  thinly sliced

For the Spiced Yogurt 

Ingredients1/2 Cup Hung Curds  
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon powder
1/2 Teaspoon Cumin powder
1/2 Teaspoon coriander powder 
1/2 Teaspoon Paprika powder 
3 Tablespoons Mint - chopped 
Juice and zest of half a lemon
1/4 Teaspoon Salt 

Method

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
Put lentils, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 4 cups water in a large pot/ vessel  and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer lentils until soft but not mushy, about 20 minutes. Drain lentils and set aside. Rinse  the pot / vessel.

In the same pot,  add rice, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1. 1/2 cups water, set over medium heat, and bring to a boil. When water begins to boil, cover it, transfer to oven, and cook for 15 minutes, until perfectly cooked. Remove from oven, uncover, and fluff with a fork. Set aside.

While rice cooks, set a wide, deep saute pan over medium-low heat and add butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil. When butter has mostly melted, add onions and toss to incorporate with butter and oil.
After 5 minutes, onions will have softened slightly and started to release their liquid. Raise heat to medium and cook 10 to 12 minutes more, until onions are very soft and browned. Add water by the tablespoon if pan gets too dry or if onions start to stick. When onions are well browned, add last tablespoon of olive oil and raise heat to high. Cook another 3 to 4 minutes, until bottom layer of onions has charred and crisped; try not to stir too much, or onions won't crisp up.
Combine rice, lentils, and most of the onions in large serving bowl and let sit for at least 15 minutes, to blend the flavors together.  Taste, and add more onions if desired. 

Meanwhile, make the spiced yogurt: mix all ingredients together in a small bowl. 

If mujaddara has cooled significantly, reheat in a low oven or even in the microwave for a couple minutes. To serve, plate a big scoop of mujaddara and serve it with spiced yogurt.  Enjoy....

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 57

Labels : Rice, Sabut Masoor, Lentils, Yogurt, Vegetarian, Continental Cuisine, Lebanese, Blogging Marathon

Lebanese Shish Tawook / Chicken Kabob

This month in Mena's Cooking Club, I am travelling to Lebanon our host Sarah choose this recipe. Have you been there! I have not, but that's the advantage of blogging, you still get to enjoy world's cuisine in your home kitchen.

In Lebanon, Shish Tawook can be found in most fast food restaurants.  It is usually ordered as a sandwich of grilled chicken rolled in a “pita” bread with some Lebanese Garlic Sauce called Toum and some salty pickles, fries. It can also be served in a plate with a side of rice and grilled veggies. As I was surfing found that there are different recipes, some using yogurt or tomato paste. Though is popular all over Lebanon and each family has their own recipe. Does any one know what the word tawook mean?. Well, let me tell you. Tawook is a variant on the Turkish word tavuk, meaning chicken. So shish tawook means chicken skewers, Shish tawook is typically eaten with garlic paste toum. When I was going to many recipes, found that hardly any spices are used. Was very curious to know how it would taste. But let me tell you this is has an awesome taste. My daughter enjoyed this. But you must make the Toum cause it enhances the taste of tawook.

My today's post I dedicate to Noor who  initiate's  the monthly challenges.  In spite if not being well and dealing with injury pain, she still continues to organize this challenge for us.  Noor, thank you and you are always in my prayer, get well soon.

Ingredients

500 Grams boneless chicken breast - cut into cubes
2 Tablespoons Lemon juice
1/2 Teaspoon Lemon rind
5 cloves of Garlic -  crushed
3 Tablespoons Yogurt
3 Tablespoons  Olive oil
1 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
1 Teaspoon Pepper powder
1/4 Teaspoon Ginger paste
1/4 Teaspoon Oregano
1/4 Teaspoon Paprika
3/4 Teaspoon Salt or to taste

1 Long Black Brinjal - cut into thick roundels 

1  Green Capsicum - cut into big cubes
Lebanese Garlic Paste / Toum (see recipe below) to be served with Shish Tawook

Method

Marinating the Chicken

Marinate the chicken breast chunks for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight in the fridge. The longer they marinate, the juicier and more flavorful they are. Right before grilling, skewer the chicken. Mix all ingredients well together while rubbing the chicken. Place in a container, cover, and let it marinate in the fridge (I left it overnight). An hour before grilling I marinated the veggies along with the chicken and kept aside.

Grilling the Shish Tawook

Soak the bamboo skewers in water for half an hour at least. 

The longer you marinate the chicken the quicker it grills. Grill on medium heat between 18 - 20 minutes max. Heat a grill pan on medium heat.

Skewer the chicken and veggies right before grilling.   

As soon as you remove them from the grill, place them in a big warm pot, place the lid tightly, and let rest for 8-10 minutes - this helps the chicken become more moist (this step is optional)

Lebanese Garlic Sauce called Toum
Garlic sauce is made like mayonnaise and a lot of fresh garlic is added in the process. A simpler way of doing this is to use ordinary mayonnaise and add lots of fresh crushed garlic.

Ingredients
1 Clove Garlic - peeled and chopped
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Vegetable oil / I use olive oil

1/2 Teaspoon Lemon juice

1/2 Teaspoon  White Vinegar

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Sugar

1/4 Teaspoon Mustard paste ( Optional)  - I used it.

Method
Place all the ingredients in a bowl except the oil and blend well, then as you are blending  pour the oil gentle in a thin stream  (like a trickle) till the thick.  The Garlic Toum is ready. 

Serve and enjoy with Shish Tawook.

Labels:  International Cuisine, Mena Cooking Club, Starters, Kebabs, Lebanese, Chicken, Garlic, Sauce 

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