Fatayer is a delicious Middle Eastern pastry that is typically filled with a variety of fillings, such as cheese, spinach, or meat. This recipe for Beef and Spinach Fatayer combines the savory flavors of ground beef and fresh spinach, seasoned with cumin and sumac. The dough is made from scratch, using all-purpose flour, salt, sugar, instant yeast, warm water, and vegetable oil. The dough is then rolled out into circles, and the beef and spinach filling is placed in the center. The edges of the dough are folded over the filling and sealed, and the fatayer is baked until golden brown. These tasty pastries make a perfect appetizer or snack for any occasion.

Ingredients
- For the dough: For the dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp instant yeast
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- For the Filling:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 2 cups spinach chopped, fresh
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp sumac
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, salt, sugar, and instant yeast.
- Add warm water and vegetable oil to the dry ingredients, and mix until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let it rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- While the dough is rising, prepare the filling. In a skillet, cook the ground beef and onion until the beef is browned and the onion is soft.
- Add the chopped spinach, cumin, sumac, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Cook for another 5 minutes, until the spinach wilts.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Divide the risen dough into 8 equal portions. Roll out each portion into a circle with a diameter of about 6 inches.
- Place a spoonful of the beef and spinach filling in the center of each dough circle. Fold the edges of the dough over the filling, pinching them together to seal.
- Arrange the fatayer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Serve the beef and spinach fatayer warm as an appetizer or snack.
Dough was too hard for me. Had to throw it away. Not worth it.
Sorry to hear that your dough didnāt work out! Making dough can be tricky sometimes. Did you knead it long enough?
I had the same problem! My dough was real hard too. Maybe the measurements were wrong or somethinā.
Yum! I added some feta cheese to filling, and it was a hit at my party.
Made these for my kids and they loved! Easy to hold and eat. 10/10!
Do you really need yeast? I didnāt use it and they turned out fine. š¤·āāļø
Iām not a fan of spinach but gave it a try. Actually, it was better than I expected!
Can I use another meat? I donāt eat beef. š
Wait, can you actually replace beef with chicken? Sounds riskyā¦
You can use chicken! Just adjust the cooking time a bit since chicken cooks quicker. š
Not sure if I did it right. My fatayer fell apart⦠My dough was a disaster!
Super easy and delicious! You can also use chicken instead of beef, just saying.
This recipe is complicated for me. Iām not a cook and it made my head hurt!
I tried making these, but the dough didnāt rise at all. What did I do wrong? š
Dough is tricky! Did you use fresh yeast? If not, that could be why! Also, double-check your measurements next time. š
It sounds like you may not have let the dough get enough warmth or time to rise! Make sure your water is warm but not hot, and give it more time if itās chilly in your kitchen. Good luck next time! š
Yummy! These are perfect for parties! Just made a batch last night. Everyone loved them!
So glad to hear everyone loved them! They were a hit at my party too! š¤©
I made these last week and my family thought they were too spiced. Do you really need that much cumin?
So good! š Just like my grandma used to make!
I followed the steps but they didnāt come out right. The dough was too sticky even with flour.
Fatayer? Sounds like something I get at the fair. Delicious!
Is sumac necessary? I didnāt have any and used paprika instead.
These fatayers were amazing! So flavorful and crispy. Will make again for sure!
The rising time for the dough is too long. Iām impatient, haha!
I totally get you! Waiting is the worst, but trust me, the result is worth it! Maybe try a quicker recipe next time? š
1 hour seems long, but good things come to those who wait. Just get a snack while you wait! š
Fatayer? Sounds fancy! I made these while watching TV, nice snack!
This recipe is amazing! The flavors blend so well together. Will definitely make again!
I totally agree! The flavors are just perfect. I added some feta cheese to mine, and it made it even better!
Looks good, but is it really that easy? I always mess up the dough part. What if I donāt have sumac?