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Sambousek bi jibneh
Cheese half-moon pastries
Sambousek bi jibneh: crisp Syrian half-moon pastries filled with white cheese, parsley and nigella
Hot sambousek bi jibneh are the first thing to vanish from a Syrian mezze spread or a Ramadan iftar table, where Damascene and Aleppan cooks fry dozens at a time. A tender olive-oil pastry is folded around white cheese, parsley and nigella seeds, then crimped with a fork or twisted into a rope edge and fried or baked until blistered and golden. Eat them warm, when the cheese is soft and stringy. Common mistake: using a salty cheese straight from the brine — soak akkawi or halloumi for an hour first. Chef's tip: mix a little mozzarella into the filling for that stretchy pull. Akkawi, halloumi and mozzarella are often made with animal rennet; use vegetarian-rennet versions if needed.
- Total time
- 65 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the dough
- 10 ½ oz plain flour
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ cup warm water
For the filling
- 7 oz akkawi or halloumisoaked 1 hour, grated; vegetarian-rennet if needed
- 3 ½ oz mozzarellagrated; vegetarian-rennet if needed
- ½ oz flat-leaf parsleychopped
- 1 tsp nigella seeds
To fry
- 2 cups sunflower oil
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Mix 10 ½ oz plain flour, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp sugar and ½ tsp baking powder, rub in ¼ cup olive oil, then add ½ cup warm water and knead for 5 minutes into a smooth, soft dough. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.
35 minStep 2: Mix 7 oz akkawi or halloumi, 3 ½ oz mozzarella, ½ oz flat-leaf parsley and 1 tsp nigella seeds.
Step 3: Roll the dough thinly (2 mm) and cut out 9 cm circles. Put a heaped teaspoon of filling on each, fold into a half-moon and press the edges hard with a fork to seal.
Step 4: Heat 2 cups sunflower oil to 350°F in a deep pan. Fry 5–6 at a time for 2–3 minutes, turning, until blistered and golden. Drain on paper. (Or brush with oil and bake at 400°F for 15–18 minutes.)
15 minStep 5: Serve warm. Uncooked sambousek freeze well on a tray; fry from frozen, adding a minute.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- Protein
- 15 g
- Carbs
- 38 g
- Fat
- 23 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does sambousek bi jibneh take?
- About 65 minutes in total: 45 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- 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 sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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