Lahmajeen Fatayer Middle Eastern (Print-Friendly Version)

Fluffy flatbread topped with savory beef, herbs, and vibrant spices for a classic Middle Eastern treat.

# What You’ll Need to Make This:

→ Dough

01 - 340 g all-purpose flour, plus more as needed
02 - 0.5 tablespoon salt
03 - 0.5 tablespoon instant yeast
04 - 240 ml lukewarm water
05 - 0.5 tablespoon sugar
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
07 - 2 tablespoons plain yogurt

→ Beef Filling

08 - 450 g ground beef (80/20 blend)
09 - 1 red bell pepper, chopped
10 - 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
11 - 2 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped
12 - 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
13 - 2 jalapeños, seeds removed and diced
14 - 2.5 teaspoons Aleppo pepper
15 - 1 tablespoon chili powder
16 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
17 - 1 teaspoon ground coriander
18 - 1 teaspoon ground allspice
19 - 1 teaspoon salt
20 - 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
21 - 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
22 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
23 - 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses (optional)

→ Assembly

24 - Milk or heavy cream, for brushing dough
25 - Additional flour, as needed for shaping

# How to Prepare:

01 - Combine flour, salt, instant yeast, lukewarm water, sugar, olive oil, and plain yogurt in a large mixing bowl. Knead for 2 to 3 minutes until a soft, elastic, and slightly sticky dough forms. Incorporate additional flour as necessary. Transfer to a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.
02 - In a large bowl, thoroughly combine ground beef, red bell pepper, Roma tomatoes, parsley, garlic, jalapeños, Aleppo pepper, chili powder, cumin, coriander, allspice, salt, black pepper, onion powder, tomato paste, and pomegranate molasses if using. Set aside.
03 - Preheat the oven to 245°C. Punch down the risen dough and divide into 12 even pieces. Shape each into a ball, dust with flour, and roll into a thin circle. Spread a thin layer of beef filling onto each circle, pressing the filling gently into the dough.
04 - Arrange filled dough rounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush the edges with milk or heavy cream. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges turn golden brown.
05 - Allow the fatayer to cool slightly before serving. Accompany with plain yogurt or a fresh salad if desired.

# Extra Tips:

01 - For enhanced flavor, substitute ground lamb for beef. Adjust jalapeño and Aleppo pepper quantities for preferred heat. Serve with yogurt or a crisp salad for balance.