Areesh Fatayer

Areesh is a homemade dairy product made from laban (beverage of fermented milk). I will share my Areesh recipe very soon in my blog. Areesh Fatayer is perfectly-seasoned savory pie usually served as entrée. You can be creative with your filling as you like because, in my opinion, many vegetables can be a perfect match with Areesh in the filling mixture.

Dough ingredients:

• 1 kg all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons milk powder
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 teaspoons dried yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• lukewarm water in a cup, quantity to be used as needed

Filling ingredients:

• 700 g Areesh
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 green or red capsicum, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon hot paprika
• 1 tablespoon dried mint or fresh mint finely chopped
• Salt and pepper

Mix all ingredients together

The method:

• Dissolve the yeast with sugar in a half cup of lukewarm water. Leave the yeast mixture aside till it ferments.
• In a large bowl, add the flour, salt and the milk powder and mix well.
• Pour the oil and the yeast mixture over the dry ingredients. Then, gradually add the lukewarm water as needed. Knead the mixture with hands, or use an electric dough kneader, for 10 minutes till you get soft, smooth and non-sticky dough.

• Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl and cover with cling wrap. Leave it to rest in a warm dark place till it doubles in size. Usually takes an hour and a half to two hours.

• Cut the dough into small balls and place them on a floured surface.
• Cover with cling wrap and leave them to rest for half an hour.
• Flatten each dough ball into a circle using dough roller. Add some of the filling to the middle, then fold the dough in half over the filling. Twist the edges or use a fork to secure them.
• Grease an oven tray with a generous amount of oil or melted butter. Transfer the fatayer pieces and press them with your hand into the tray.

• Brush the fatayer surface with oil or melted butter.
• Bake in a preheated oven on 180^oC till they get the nice golden colour.