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Fatayer Bi Sabanekh (Lebanese Spinach Pies)

Fatayer Bi Sabanekh (Lebanese Spinach Pies)

Cuisine:Lebanese

Course:Snack

0s prep 15m cook 15m ready

About 25 small pies These sumac-scented pies are a favorite of ours. They make a wonderful addition to a mezze platter accompanied by a bowl of Tahini Dressing. For a larger, flakier spinach pie, see Spanakopita.

Ingredients

Servings:
  • 12 ounces frozen spinach
  • 1
    • ½ cup (120g) warm (105° to 115°F) water
    • 1 envelope (2 ¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
    • 1 cup (235g) lukewarm (80° to 90°F) milk
    • 6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
    • ¼ cup (50g) sugar
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • About 3 ½ cups (440g) all-purpose flour
    • (Melted butter)
    Sub-recipe steps
    1. Combine in a large bowl and let stand until the yeast is dissolved, about 5 minutes: ½ cup (120g) warm (105° to 115°F) water; 1 envelope (2 ¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
    2. Stir into the dissolved yeast: 1 cup (235g) lukewarm (80° to 90°F) milk; 6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled; ¼ cup (50g) sugar; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon salt
    3. Add and beat in until a soft dough forms: About 3 ½ cups (440g) all-purpose flour
    4. Transfer the dough to a large oiled bowl and turn once to coat with oil. Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 12 hours and up to 3 days. When ready to bake, remove the dough from the refrigerator and allow it to rest, covered, for 30 minutes.
    5. Punch down the dough, divide it into 15 equal portions, and round them into balls. Place the rolls in 2 cake pans or one larger baking pan and allow to rise until doubled in bulk, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
    6. While the dough rises, preheat the oven to 425°F.
    7. Bake the rolls until golden brown, about 15 minutes. If desired, brush the tops with: (Melted butter)
  • ½ cup finely chopped onion
  • (⅓ cup crumbled feta)
  • ¼ cup pine nuts or coarsely chopped slivered almonds, toasted
  • 2 tablespoons ground sumac or the finely grated zest of 1 lemon plus 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¾ teaspoon salt (½ teaspoon if using feta)
  • Olive oil

Let's Prepare

Collect

Gather these ingredients - no prep needed yet.

  • 12 ounces frozen spinach
  • 1 ½ recipe No-Knead Refrigerator Rolls, using olive oil instead of butter or shortening and using 1 egg yolk instead of 1 egg
  • ½ cup finely chopped onion
  • (⅓ cup crumbled feta)
  • ¼ cup pine nuts or coarsely chopped slivered almonds, toasted
  • 2 tablespoons ground sumac or the finely grated zest of 1 lemon plus 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¾ teaspoon salt (½ teaspoon if using feta)
  • Olive oil

Let's Cook

  1. Step 1.

    Set aside in a colander to thaw and drain: 12 ounces frozen spinach

  2. Step 2.

    Prepare the dough for: ½ recipe No-Knead Refrigerator Rolls, using olive oil instead of butter or shortening and using 1 egg yolk instead of 1 egg

  3. Step 3.

    Proceed through the first rising, and do not refrigerate.

  4. Step 4.

    While the dough rises, prepare the filling. Press the thawed spinach in the colander to get out as much liquid as possible. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in: ½ cup finely chopped onion; (⅓ cup crumbled feta); ¼ cup pine nuts or coarsely chopped slivered almonds, toasted; 2 tablespoons ground sumac or the finely grated zest of 1 lemon plus 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 2 tablespoons olive oil; ¾ teaspoon salt (½ teaspoon if using feta)

  5. Step 5.

    Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets or line with parchment paper.

  6. Step 6.

    Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead it briefly to deflate it. Roll it out to a ⅛-inch thickness. Cut into 3- to 4-inch rounds with a biscuit cutter. Gather the dough scraps into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Place 1 scant tablespoon filling in the center of each dough round. To shape, bring three sides of the dough together in the center and pinch them closed to form a triangle. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling. You may re-roll the dough scraps up to 3 times to cut out more rounds. Place the pies on the prepared baking sheets and brush with: Olive oil

  7. Step 7.

    Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes, rotating the baking sheets front to back and switching oven racks halfway through. Serve hot, warm, or cold.

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