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Pie Dough for Lahma bi Ajeen, Sfiha, and Fatayer

It is a bread dough made with olive oil.

Ingredients

1 teaspoon active dry yeast
Pinch of sugar
About 1 cup lukewarm water
3 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Dissolve the yeast with the sugar in 1/2 cup of the warm water. Leave in a warm place for about 10 minutes, until it froths.

    Step 2

    Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl and mix in the oil. Add the yeast mixture and, a little at a time, just enough of the remaining warm water so that the dough holds together in a ball. Begin by using a fork, then work it in with your hands. Knead vigorously for about 10 minutes, until the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl and is smooth and elastic.

    Step 3

    To prevent a dry crust from forming on the surface, pour 1/2 tablespoon oil in the bottom of the bowl and roll the dough around in it to grease it all over. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place for about 1 1/2 hours, until doubled in bulk.

Cover of Claudia Roden's The New Book of Middle Easter Food, featuring a blue filigree bowl filled with Meyer lemons and sprigs of mint.
Reprinted with permission from The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, copyright © 2000 by Claudia Roden, published by Knopf. Buy the full book on Amazon or Bookshop.
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