afoona
Breads & Pastries

Malawach – Vegan version

Layered, crisp Yemeni malawach - for Shabbat breakfast Vegan version: Flax egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg).

⏱ 45 min🍽 8 servings 🌍 Middle Eastern👩‍🍳 Afoona🧩 3 parts

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Wrapping Dough

  1. 1
    In a bowl, mix the flour, salt and sugar.
    Bowl
  2. 2
    Add the water and Knead about 10 minutes, until you get a smooth, soft dough that doesn't stick to your hands.
    ⚙ KneadingBowlStand mixer
    💡If the dough sticks, add a tablespoon of flour; if it crumbles, a tablespoon of water. Good dough is as soft as an earlobe.
  3. 3
    Cover and let the dough rest 30 minutes at room temperature.
    💡Oil-and-water dough needs no rising: the rest relaxes the gluten, so the dough rolls out thin without shrinking back.

To assemble

  1. 4
    Divide the dough into 6 balls and roll each ball into a circle very thin on an oiled surface.
    ⚙ Dividing into Balls and RollingRolling pin
    💡Dough that springs back needs rest: cover the balls for 10 minutes and the gluten relaxes.
  2. 5
    Spread the margarine, generously over each round, fold into a rectangle and again into a square.
    💡Folding and rolling dough spread with butter creates layers: over the heat the butter separates them, and the malawach comes out flaky.
  3. 6
    Chill the squares for at least 1 hour, then flatten each one with your palm into a thin round.
    Refrigerator
    💡Flatten and fry the folded dough while it's cold: softened butter escapes from the dough, and the layers disappear.
  4. 7
    Heat the heavy skillet over medium heat, grease it lightly with oil and fry each Malawach 3–4 minutes per side, until browned.
    ⚙ Pan-fryingStoveFrying pan
  5. 8
    Bring a pot of water to a boil, deep enough to cover the flax egg by about 2 cm.
    StovePot
  6. 9
    Gently lower the flax egg into it with a spoon.
  7. 10
    Turn down the heat slightly and simmer 10–11 minutes.
    ⚙ SimmeringStove
    💡A gentle simmer, not a boil: a hard boil dries the food out and clouds it, a slow simmer cooks it evenly.
  8. 11
    Transfer immediately to a bowl of ice water for 5–10 minutes, and peel from the wide end.
    Ice bath
    💡Cold water right after cooking stops the cooking and separates the membrane from the white: peeling is easy, and the yolk doesn't turn gray.
  9. 12
    Serve hot with the tomato paste and zhug and the hard-boiled flax egg.
403calories
7 gprotein
47 gcarbs
20 gfat
● protein 7%● carbs 48%● fat 45%

Per serving (148 g), of 8 servings

For the Wrapping Dough · To assemble ·

A button hides that part of the recipe, in print too. Another click brings it back. The choice is kept for this recipe.

⚖ About the ingredients

🔧 Tools needed (7) · 🍳 2 cooking vessels

  • Refrigerator · Also works: Freezer (Chills faster; don't let it freeze) · Ice bath (Ice bath)
  • Stove · 💡 Workaround, changes the dish: Portable hot plate (one weaker burner) · Camping gas stove (One burner, outdoors) · Electric pressure cooker (multicooker) (One pot, no real shallow frying)
  • Frying pan · Also works: Wok (None) · 💡 Workaround, changes the dish: Pot (High sides, slow evaporation and weak browning)
  • Pot · Also works: Deep skillet (sauté pan) (less liquid, faster evaporation) · 💡 Workaround, changes the dish: Wok (For quick cooking)
  • Rolling pin · Also works: Glass (for drinking/serving) (Bottle/glass, less even rolling) · Pasta machine (For pasta dough)
  • Bowl · Also works: Pot (None)
  • Ice bath · 💡 Workaround, changes the dish: Refrigerator (Much longer, less green color)

Helps, not needed: Stand mixer

By the steps, as the recipe is built now: another version or addition can change the list.

🛒 Shopping list