Cheese Fatayer Recipe

Cheese Fatayer is a Middle Eastern or Lebanese cheese pie that contains fillings of mozzarella cheese, egg, and feta cheese, which are added to the dough. The dough is then assembled into boat-like shapes and baked until golden brown. It is traditionally served as breakfast or snacks and is popular in Lebanon, Jordan, and other Levantine countries.

This post was originally published in March 22 2021.

The Cheese Fatayer has a savory flavor containing mild saltiness from the feta cheese and creaminess from the egg. Additionally, the mozzarella cheese gives a gooey or stretchy texture when pulled apart, providing a satisfying taste. Also, the bread of the dough is so warm & soft and it has a nutty flavor due to the black cumin seeds, enhancing the flavor of the fatayer.

When I visited Jordan for vacation, I remember early one morning the bakery in my neighborhood was making fresh pastries called Fatayer. I have eaten many delicious pastries, such as chicken fatayer or spinach fatayer, but one of my favorites of all is the cheese fatayer. This is considered our Middle Eastern version of a Cheese Calzone, which has a similar texture

Although this is a Lebanese cheese pie, you will find this pastry in every street food bakery in Jordan, Syria, and most Levantine countries. Aside from breakfast or snacks, we like to serve it during Ramadan Iftar for our suhoor or when hosting guests in our homes. And the best thing is that it is a freezer-friendly, & kid-friendly recipe which you can serve them during snacks, breakfast or even at school where you can store in their lunch box.

Recipe Ingredients

I. For the Fillings

Here are the ingredients I use to make my delicious Cheese Fatayer:

Cheese: There are two kinds of cheeses I use in this recipe. Firstly, I use feta cheese, which gives a mild salty and tangy flavor, while mozzarella cheese provides a milky flavor with a creamy & stretchy texture.

SUBSTITUTION SUGGESTION: You can use other type of cheese like Akawi cheese which is a Middle Eastern cheese that is similar to feta cheese. Also, you can use ricotta or cottage cheese instead of Mozzarella cheese to add creaminess.

Egg: Together with Mozzarella cheese, egg gives a creamy texture to my cheese filling, which I mix together during the preparation process.

Black Cumin seeds: These seeds, also known as Nigella seeds, provide a nutty flavor to my cheese, enhancing the taste.

Other Ingredients: Additionally, you will need salt and black pepper for seasoning

II. For the Dough

The ingredients for the dough are exactly the same when making flatbread, mini pizza, manakish, or any fatayers.

Flour: I use all-purpose flour for my dough.

Olive Oil: I prefer to use extra virgin olive oil because it gives a nutty and strong olive flavor to the dough.

Yeast: I use instant yeast to help double the size of the dough.

Other ingredients: Additionally, I use water to combine the yeast and make the dough; brown sugar to add sweetness; and salt to enhance the flavor.

How to make the Dough

Here are the instruction to make the dough, which will take 10 minutes to mix the ingredients & kneading, and 1-2 hours to let the dough double in size.

Firstly, I combined the all-purpose flour along with salt, brown sugar, and olive oil in a large bowl, which I mixed gently and set aside.

Next, I combined warm water with instant yeast in a large cup, which I later transferred into the bowl and stirred gently. After that, I kneaded it with my clean hands for 5 minutes until the dough was soft and fluffy. I covered it with a clean towel and left it for 1 hour.

Once the dough had doubled in size, I removed it and used my hand to divide it into 8 pieces. I then shaped each piece into a ball and covered them again with a clean towel to set them aside

TIPS: If the dough is too sticky, add ¼ cup of flour and knead again. But if the dough is too dry, you can add 2-3 tablespoons of water and knead again. In addition, brush the bowl with oil before placing the dough so it will not be sticky once it grew in size.  

How to make the Cheese Fillings

While waiting for the dough to rise, I use my free time to prepare the cheese filling.

I combine mozzarella cheese, feta cheese, egg, black cumin seeds, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl, stirring gently before setting it aside.

TIPS: You can add chopped mint, spinach or parsley leaves when combining together with the cheese and egg. This will make your cheese fatayer more nutritious.

How to Assemble and Bake the Fatayer

To assemble it, I use a rolling pin to flatten each ball into an oval shape.

Next, for the topping, fill 1.5-2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture onto the dough and spread it evenly. Then, I fold the dough over the filling on all sides and pinch the ends together to form a boat-shaped pastry

Lastly, I brush each side of the dough with egg wash before transferring them to the oven. Bake at 200°C (390°F) for 15 minutes, and you're done

SERVING SUGGESTION: I highly recommend serving this together with hot tea or coffee, along with assorted pastries like spinach or chicken fatayer, or manakish. Additionally, I like to serve it with healthy Middle Eastern salads like Arabic salad or tabbouleh. These are traditional practices we follow when having breakfast or inviting guests to our house.

TIP: Do not overfill the cheese mixture since it may not be able to hold its shape which may break open when baking

Variation

Cheese Manakish: This is a type of Middle Eastern flatbread that is topped with with Mozzarella cheese and cream cheese.  

Cheese Pide: This is a Turkish pide pizza that contain filling of cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese which is similar to fatayer.

Troubleshoot and Questions

📋 Recipe Card

Cheese Fatayer Recipe

Saif Al Deen Odeh

Cheese Fatayer is a traditional Middle Eastern or Lebanese pie filled with mozzarella cheese, egg, and feta cheese, baked to golden perfection. Popular for breakfast or snacks, it's enjoyed in Lebanon, Jordan, and other Levantine countries.

4.64 from 22 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 1 hour hr

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Course Vegetable Recipes

Cuisine Lebanese, MIddle East

Servings 8 Serving

Calories 201 kcal

Equipment

• 1 Oven For baking the fatayer

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Ingredients for the Dough:

• 2 cups of white flour
• ¾ cup of water
• 1.5 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons of yeast
• 1 teaspoon of salt

Ingredients for Cheese Topping:

• 1 large egg
• ¾ cup of feta cheese
• 1.5 cups of mozzarella cheese
• 1 tablespoon of black cumin seeds
• ½ teaspoon of salt and black pepper

Instructions

 

Making the Dough

• First, combine the all-purpose flour along with salt, brown sugar, and olive oil in a large bowl, gently mixing them before setting aside.
• Next, combine warm water with instant yeast in a large cup, then transfer it into the bowl and stir gently. After that, knead the mixture for 5 minutes until the dough becomes soft and fluffy. Cover it with a clean towel and leave it for 1 hour.
• Once the dough has doubled in size, remove it and divide it into 8 pieces by hand. Shape each piece into a ball and cover them again with a clean towel to set them aside.

Making the Cheese Filling

• While waiting for the dough to rise, use your free time to prepare the cheese filling.
• Combine mozzarella cheese, feta cheese, egg, black cumin seeds, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl, stirring gently before setting it aside.

Assembling and Baking

• To assemble, flatten each ball into an oval shape using a rolling pin.
• Next, for the topping, fill 1.5-2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture onto the dough and spread it evenly. Then, fold the dough over the filling on all sides and pinch the ends together to form a boat-shaped pastry.
• Preheat the Oven at 200 C or 390 F. Although this is optional, sprinkle the sides of the dough with black cumin seed.
• Lastly, brush each side of the dough with egg wash before transferring them to the oven. Bake the fatayer for 15 minutes or until it turns light brown, and you're done!

Notes

• If the dough feels sticky, incorporate ¼ cup of flour and knead. Conversely, if it's too dry, add 2-3 tablespoons of water and knead. Also, brush the bowl with oil before placing the dough to prevent sticking as it rises.
• Avoid overfilling the cheese mixture since it may not be able to hold its shape which may break open when baking

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 201kcalCarbohydrates: 25.7gProtein: 8.2gFat: 7.3gSaturated Fat: 2.8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 58mgSodium: 970mgPotassium: 93mgFiber: 1.2gSugar: 2gCalcium: 73mgIron: 2mg

Keyword cheese fatayer, cheese fatayer recipe

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