Cheese Fatayer - Nathan

Recipe by Nathan Dsouza




















Yield: 4 fatayers 

Ingredients:

melted butter

For the dough:
1 3/4 cup / 250 gm flour
1 1/4 tsp / 4gm  yeast
1.5 tbsp / 15 gm sugar
3 tsp / 10 gm milk powder
1 1/2 tsp / 5 gm salt
1 tbsp / 15 ml  olive oil
1/2 cup + little more / 140-160 ml water

Cheese mix:
400 gms mozzarella cheese (see notes)
salt
chopped coriander or parsley
2 eggs (beaten to bind the mixture)

Steps:
  1. Mix the flour and salt together.
  2. Make a well in the center, add milk powder, yeast, sugar, add the water slowly and knead for few minutes till the dough comes together and is smooth but slightly sticky. If you don't have milk powder, just use same quantity of milk as water.
  3. Then add oil and keep kneading till the oil is incorporated into the dough and the dough is soft, smooth and elastic. 
  4. Cover and rest for 15-20 mins.

    Cheese mix:
  5. Mix together mozzarella cheese, salt, chopped coriander or parsley and add beaten egg a little at a time to just bind the mixture, it should be runny, more like a thick, spreadable paste.

    Shaping the fatayer:

    Boat Shape: 
  6. Roll the dough into an oval shape, spread the cheese mix across, till about 1/2 inch from the sides, and then fold the long edges in, and pinch it together at the corners to get the boat shape. You can use toppings such as olives, tomatoes, zaatar etc as desired. 

    Triangle shape: 
  7. Roll out the dough into a circle, spread the filling in a triangular shape in the middle and bring 3 sides together and pinch to seal in the middle and along the 3 seams that will form.

  8. Once they are shaped, brush either with beaten egg or milk, and bake at 200C for about 10-12 mins. You'll know its done when its nice and brown and the cheese is bubbling.
  9. Brush with melted butter once done baking.
  10. ENJOY!
Notes:
  • If you are in Kuwait or the Gulf, you get a cheese called Akkawi Cheese, its the traditional cheese that is used by the fatayer shops. You have to soak it in water for sometime, and then you can use it.
  • If you want a similar size to mine, you can make 4 equal balls from this recipe, if you want mini ones, make 8 equal sized balls.
  • You can add more or less cheese depending on your taste.