Egypt, hawashi – Egyptian street food

Indulge in the rich flavours of Egypt with this Hawashi recipe, a delightful street food that combines spiced meat filling with a golden, flaky dough. Bursting with aromatic herbs and spices, these savoury pockets are baked or pan-fried. Elevate your food game with this easy-to-make Middle Eastern treat!

Ingredients

Dough

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water

Filling

• 500g ground beef or lamb
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 tomatoes, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

For Serving

• Tahini sauce or yoghurt sauce
• Chopped tomatoes and cucumbers

Instructions:

Prepare the dough

• In a bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes frothy.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. Make a well in the centre and pour in the yeast mixture.
• Mix until a dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface until it becomes smooth.
• Place the dough back in the bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise for about 1 hour or until it doubles.

Prepare the filling

• In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground meat until browned.
• Add chopped onions, garlic, tomatoes, and parsley. Cook until the vegetables are soft.
• Season with ground cumin, coriander, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
• Remove from heat and let the filling cool.

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Assemble the Hawashi

• Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Divide the dough into golf ball-sized portions.
• Roll each ball into a thin circle on a floured surface.
• Place a portion of the meat mixture in the center of each circle.
• Fold the dough over the filling, sealing the edges to form a semi-circular shape.

Bake or pan-fry

• If baking, place the hawashi on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the dough is golden brown.
• If pan-frying, heat a pan over medium heat with a bit of oil. Cook the hawashi for 3-4 minutes on each side until the dough is cooked through and has a golden crust.

Serve

• Serve the hawashi hot, either on its own or with tahini sauce or yogurt sauce.
• Garnish with chopped tomatoes and cucumbers for freshness.

Enjoy your homemade Hawashi!