afoona
Homemade Yemenite Malawach
Breads & Pastries

Homemade Yemenite Malawach

Crisp, layered Yemenite malawach, a traditional Shabbat pastry with butter

⏱ 1 hr🍽 8 servings 🌍 Middle Eastern👩‍🍳 Afoona🧩 2 parts

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Wrapping Dough

  1. 1
    In a bowl, mix the flour, salt and sugar.
    Bowl
  2. 2
    Gradually add the water and Knead about 5 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, until the dough is almost translucent.
    ⚙ 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 softened butter, generously over each round, fold in three and again in three, like an envelope.
    💡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 wraps for at least 30 minutes, then roll each one out again into a round.
    RefrigeratorRolling pin
    💡Roll out 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
    Serve hot with honey, a hard-boiled egg and tahini sauce.
376calories
5 gprotein
34 gcarbs
24 gfat
● protein 5%● carbs 36%● fat 59%

Per serving (97 g), of 8 servings

For the Wrapping Dough · To assemble ·

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⚖ About the ingredients

🔧 Tools needed (5) · 🍳 One cooking vessel

  • 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)
  • Rolling pin · Also works: Glass (for drinking/serving) (Bottle/glass, less even rolling) · Pasta machine (For pasta dough)
  • Bowl · Also works: Pot (None)

Helps, not needed: Stand mixer

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

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