This 5 ingredient Fatayer dough is fool-proof, super versatile, and easy to make. Makes soft and fluffy flatbread, often enjoyed baked with different toppings. Use it for Za’atar Manakeesh, Fatayer Sabanekh (Spinach Pies), Lahm b Ajeen (Meat Pies), and more!

About The Recipe

• Easy to make

• Only needs 5 ingredients

• Super versatile

• Makes soft and fluffy flatbread

What To Use The Dough For

This soft and fluffy dough can be used for making many recipes. Including Manakeesh, Fatayer Sabanekh, Pizza, and more!

Ingredients You Need

• All purpose flour: Make sure to sift and weigh using a kitchen scale.

• Vegetable oil

• Water: Needs to be lukewarm

• Instant yeast: Mixed with flour first before adding remaining ingredients

• Salt

• Sugar

How To Make Fatayer Dough

Add the sifted flour to a large bowl. Mix in the instant yeast. Add the salt and sugar and whisk again, making a well in the centre. Add the oil to the centre. Cover the flour on top and rub by hand to coat it all in oil. Go in with the water and knead to combine until smooth. Roll into a large ball. Cover with food wrap and kitchen towel. Rest in a warm place (inside the pantry cupboard), allowing it to rise for an hour to double in size.

Once the dough is ready, cut into 4 quarters, then continue cutting into 18 equal parts. Use a kitchen scale to weigh each for best results. Should be about 25g each.

Form each into a ball, pinching the bottom and rolling to smoothen out. Place separated on a flat plate, and cover in food wrap to rest for 15 minutes. They’re ready to be flatten down and spread with fillings to bake.

FAQs

Why is my dough too sticky?
The dough might feel too sticky because the water is too warm. It’s ok if it takes a minute to smoothen out. I recommend gradually adding the lukewarm water to the flour while kneading, to avoid stickiness.

How do I shape Fatayer dough?
Fatayer can be shaped in various ways. The classic are the circular open-face pies (for za’atar Manakeesh). It can also be folded into boat-like pockets for cheesy filling.

Why did the dough not rise?
The yeast might be expired. Or the temperature on the water might not be right. If it’s too hot, it could kill the yeast and prevent from rising.

Related Recipes

Fatayer Dough Recipe

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How To Make Fatayer Dough

Recipe by Waseem HijaziCourse: Breakfast, Baking, BreadCuisine: Arabic, Middle EasternDifficulty: Easy

Servings

18

pieces

Prep time

15

minutes

Baking time

10

minutes

Resting time

1

hour 

15

minutes

Total time

1

hour 

40

minutes

This 5 ingredient Fatayer dough is fool-proof, super versatile, and easy to make. Makes soft and fluffy flatbread, often enjoyed baked with different toppings. Use it for Za’atar Manakeesh, Fatayer Sabanekh (Spinach Pies), Lahm b Ajeen (Meat Pies), and more!

Ingredients

• 2 cups (250g) all purpose flour, sifted

• 1 1/2 tsp instant yeast

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 tsp sugar

• 1/4 cup (50ml) vegetable oil

• 1/2 cup (115ml) water, lukewarm

Directions

• Add the sifted flour to a large bowl. Mix in the instant yeast. Add the salt and sugar and whisk again, making a well in the centre.
• Add the oil to the centre. Cover the flour on top and rub by hand to coat it all in oil. Go in with the water and knead to combine until smooth. It may look too wet at first and sticking to the fingers – that’s normal. Continue mixing and kneading to bring it together into a ball.
• Roll into a large ball. Cover with food wrap and kitchen towel. Rest in a warm place (inside the pantry cupboard), allowing it to rise for an hour to double in size.
• Once the dough is ready, cut into 4 quarters, then continue cutting into 18 equal parts. Use a kitchen scale to weigh each for best results. Should be about 25g each. Form each into a ball, pinching the bottom and rolling to smoothen out.
• Place separated on a flat plate, and cover in food wrap to rest for 15 minutes. They’re ready to be flatten down and spread with fillings to bake.

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