Hejazi street food · Ramadan favourite
Mutabbaq Recipe (Saudi Stuffed Pan Bread)
Oiled dough balls. Stretch thin. Fold and fry.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenMutabbaq is a Hejazi street snack: dough stretched paper-thin, filled with spiced mince, egg and leek, folded into a square and fried crisp. At home the dough tears or the inside stays raw. The fix is resting oiled dough balls for an hour so they stretch, a dry cooked filling, and a medium-hot pan.
The 3 laws of mutabbaq
Why this recipe works
Short rest
Relaxed dough stretches thin without tearing.
Raw mince
The fry is too short to cook raw meat.
Very hot
The inside heats before the outside burns.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Dough
Filling
The NineFoods dough gauge
Will the dough stretch?
Pull the edge of a rested dough ball gently.
Method · 4 stages
Step by step
Dough
- Knead flour, salt, sugar and water 10 minutes until smooth.
- Divide into balls, coat in oil and rest.
Filling
- Brown mince with onion and spices until dry; cool.
- Mix with leek, eggs, coriander and chilli just before filling.
Stretch and fold
- Stretch a ball paper-thin on an oiled surface. Use the gauge above.
- Spread filling in the centre and fold the sides into a square parcel.
Fry
- Fry seam-side down until golden, flip and fry the other side.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Not rested.
Fix next time
Rest dough balls in oil for a full hour.
Why
Raw mince or pan too hot.
Fix next time
Cook the mince first and fry on medium-hot.
Why
Wet filling.
Fix next time
Cook the mince dry and add egg just before filling.
Why
Pan too cool.
Fix next time
Heat the pan before adding the parcel.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Beef mince | Filling | Chicken mince or cheese and banana for sweet mutabbaq |
| Leek | Freshness | Spring onions |
| Baharat | Spice | Garam masala |
| Homemade dough | Wrapper | Spring roll pastry, layered |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Lemon wedges and a spicy dipping sauce.
Store
Best fresh; fridge 1 day.
Reheat
Re-crisp in a dry pan or air fryer.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 6 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 4 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (will the dough stretch) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Mutabbaq FAQ
What is mutabbaq?
A thin folded pan bread stuffed with mince and egg, a street food from the Hejaz.
Is mutabbaq the same as murtabak?
Yes, it is the same family of dish found from Arabia to Southeast Asia.
Can I use spring roll pastry?
Yes, layer two sheets for a quick version.
Is there a sweet mutabbaq?
Yes, with banana, cheese or Nutella.