Syrian spinach fatayer

Fatayer  is a staple of Syrian cuisine.It is dough made by mixing flour and water filled with different types (meat, cheese or spinach).

Spinach fatayer is made with onions, sumac, paprika, salt, pepper, and cayenne. It is lightly coated in a lemon and olive oil before sealing inside circles of dough and baking until golden and flaky.

Spinach fatayer are a wonderful food, tasty, full of nutrients, vitamins, and fiber. The small size of the fatayer makes it a perfect appetizer or light snack.

Although there are traditional fillings, For example, with this spinach fatayer, you could add some crumbly feta cheese if wanted or something similar.

Dough

150 g plain white flour

1 tsp. dry yeast

¼ tsp salt

1 tsp. Sugar

1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to brush dough

200 g spinach, shredded into thin strips

1 small onion, very finely chopped

¼ tsp  ground black pepper

1 tbsp sumac

1 tbsp pine nuts

3 tbsp lemon juice to taste

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1- Mix half a cup of warm milk with sugar and yeast. Wait 10min for yeast to double in size.

2- Once the yeast has foamed and doubled in size, add salt, half of the flour, vegetable oil, rest of the milk and flour; knead until the dough comes together.

3- Place the dough back in the ball and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Place in a warm area for about 1 hour to rise. While the dough is rising, prepare the spinach filling.

4- Put the chopped spinach in a bowl, sprinkle with a little salt and rub the salt in with your fingers until the spinach wilts. Squeeze the spinach dry and place in a clean bowl.

5- Put the chopped onion in a small bowl. Add a little salt and ground black pepper and rub the seasoning in with your fingers to soften it. Add the sumac, pine nuts, lemon juice and olive oil. Mix well.The filling should be quite strongly flavored to offset the rather bland pastry.

6- Preheat the oven to 230 degrees.

7- Roll out the dough into a 5-inch circle. Place about 2 tablespoons of filling in the middle. Bring 2 sides together and pinch to close. Bring the third side up so it looks like a triangle and pinch to close well. Place on a baking sheet.

8. Bake for 12 minutes in a preheated oven until golden brown.