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Mhadjeb
Constantine's square semolina flatbreads stuffed with spicy tomato and pepper
Mhadjeb (also mahjouba) are the folded flatbreads of Constantine and the east of Algeria, sold on street corners at teatime and made in every home during Ramadan. A stretchy semolina dough is pulled paper-thin with oiled hands, filled with a jammy stew of onion, tomato and pepper, folded into a square and cooked on a dry griddle until spotted brown. Chef's tip: knead the dough for the full 15 minutes; it must stretch almost transparent without tearing.
- Total time
- 110 min
- Difficulty
- hard
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
For the dough
For the filling
Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Mix 14 oz fine semolina, 3 ½ oz plain flour and 1 tsp salt, then add 1 ¼ cups warm water gradually and knead for 15 minutes until very smooth, soft and elastic. Divide into 8 balls, coat with some of 2 tbsp sunflower oil and rest, covered, for 30 minutes.
45 minStep 2: Make the filling: heat 4 tbsp olive oil and cook 3 onions and 2 green or red peppers over a medium heat for 12 minutes until soft. Add 3 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tsp harissa or chilli paste, 1 tsp sweet paprika and ½ tsp ground cumin for 1 minute.
13 minStep 3: Add 5 ripe tomatoes and ¾ tsp salt and cook for 15–20 minutes, stirring, until thick and jammy with no watery liquid left. Common mistake: a wet filling — it soaks through the thin dough and tears it. Cool completely.
20 minStep 4: Oil the worktop and your hands with ¼ cup sunflower oil. Flatten a ball and stretch it outwards with your palms and fingertips into a very thin sheet about 35 cm across.
Step 5: Spread 2 tbsp of filling in a square in the centre. Fold the sides over it, then the top and bottom, to make a flat square parcel about 12 cm wide.
Step 6: Cook on a hot dry griddle or heavy frying pan over a medium heat for 2–3 minutes a side, pressing with a spatula, until golden with brown patches.
20 minStep 7: Keep warm under a cloth while you cook the rest. Serve warm with tea or soup.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 52 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mhadjeb take?
- About 110 minutes in total: 60 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of onions?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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