Fatayer (Spinach Hand Pies)

Savory and delicious, these spinach hand pies, known as Fatayer, are one of my favorite appetizers to make and share. Handy to pack for lunch, take on a picnic, or serve as a side dish, you won't get enough of this special, tasty treat.

What is Fatayer?

Fatayer, the triangular-shaped savory hand pies known for their tasty fillings and delicate pastry, originated in Middle Eastern cuisine. These delectable treats, pronounced “fat-tah-y-er,” will capture your senses with a burst of flavor in every bite. They are so good that you'll want to bring these spinach pies to your next special gathering.

Fatayer Fillings

There are 3 main fillings for Fatayer: Spinach, cheese, and meat. Our mom only made spinach fatayer, so we are keeping our family tradition by sharing with you this spinach hand pie recipe that we enjoyed on special occasions and the Jewish Holiday of Purim since it is shaped like a hamantaschen.

Fatayer Dough

The foundation of any great fatayer lies in its dough. While traditionally the dough for these savory pies is made with yeasted dough (flour, water, and yeast) modern adaptations often utilize store-bought pizza dough for convenience and ease. It is a worthwhile time-saving shortcut. We decided to introduce a modern twist to the Fatayer recipe using a rich olive oil dough that's light, flaky, and delicious! Our dough doesn't contain yeast which significantly cuts the time to make this recipe. There's no need to wait for the dough to rise.

Fatayer Ingredients

Ingredients for the Fatayer Dough

• All-Purpose Flour.
• Baking Powder.
• Salt.
• Vinegar or Lemon.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
• Boiling Water.

Ingredients for Fatayer Filling

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Any neutral oil will work.
• Yellow Onion.
• Frozen Spinach. You can use fresh spinach, chopped fine and measured by weight.
• Salt.
• Sumac.
• Garlic Powder.
• Ground Black Pepper.
• Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice. You can use bottled juice, but it loses something in flavor and brightness.
• Chopped Pine Nuts or Walnuts.

How To Make Fatayer

Here's how to make the filling: Heat olive oil in a large skillet and add onion, cooking until translucent. Add the frozen spinach and cook until the spinach has thawed and the water released has evaporated. Add salt, sumac, garlic powder, black pepper, and lemon juice and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Finally, add pine nut, mix well, remove from heat, and let it cool slightly while you prepare the dough.

This traditional fatayer dough comes together quickly; it is made by hand; no stand mixer is needed. Let it rest a bit while you prepare the filling. Rolling a dough, cutting out circles, and repeating the process until no dough is left can be time-consuming, so we devised two shortcuts. Keep reading...

How to Shape Fatayer

Shaping fatayer does not have to be time-consuming though. We found two shortcuts that will make this process easier.

Shortcut 1: use ¼ cup of dough, roll it into a ball, and flatten it with your hand. Add the filling and shape the dough into triangles by folding up three sides of the circle and pinching the dough at each corner to seal it.

Shortcut #2: Use ¼ cup of dough, roll it into a ball, use a tortilla press to flatten the dough. Then, add two tablespoons of the spinach mixture for filling and form it into triangles by folding up three sides of the circle and pinching the dough at each corner to seal it.

Either of these solutions is easier than using a rolling pin. Once all the Fatayers are formed, place them on a lined baking sheet and chill them for fifteen minutes in the freezer. Then, take them out of the freezer and bake them for twenty-five minutes until the edges are golden brown.

Tips for Making the Best Lebanese Spinach Pie

• Cook the filling mixture long enough to ensure it is dry and has no spinach juice or excess water. Cook out as much liquid as possible.
• Place the filling in the center of the dough circle.
• Leave the edges free of filling, and then pinch the edges to seal the dough so that they don't fall apart.
• If you use fresh spinach, there will be more liquid to cook down, but the spinach itself needs to be cooked down.
• Struggling with soggy fatayer filling? Place the filling in a clean tea towel and wrap it tight, then squeeze out the excess liquid into the sink.

What to Serve with Fatayer?

These hand pies make a fabulous appetizer at any party, and guests will be blown away when they realize how much flavor is in every bite. They also work well as a side dish at home, a handy snack, or an easy lunchbox addition. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, spinach hand pies complement so many dishes that you will never wonder what to make.

Dip your Fatayer in Schug or tahini sauce or serve with a drizzle of tzatziki, or a yogurt dill dressing. Fatayer with:

• Tabouli Salad
• Hummus
• Baba Ganoush
• Fattoush Salad

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between samosas and fatayer?

Samosas are fried pastries with various fillings based on Asian cuisine. Fatayers are baked pastries with various fillings based on Middle-Eastern cuisine. While they are similar, the common filling for each is different.

What is fatayer in English?

This word is the Arabic word for "pies".

How do I store leftovers of fatayer?

Leftovers should be refrigerated and can be kept for four or five days. You can keep them in a freezer-quality plastic bag or airtight container.

Can you freeze fatayer?

Yes. Freeze the Fatayer on a lined sheet pan. After a few hours, you can move them to one single air-tight container, and they will not stick together. Then, you can remove the number you need and reheat them for serving.

How to reheat fatayer?

Reheat them by placing them on a sheet pan in the toaster oven or oven at 200ºF and bake until hot throughout.

If you enjoyed this recipe, it would help us tremendously if you left us a star rating in the comments below or on the recipe card. Do you have any questions about the recipe? Do you need a swap for any of the ingredients? We are here to help, just leave us a question in the comments below.