Cheese Fatayer
Open-faced pastry boats with a salty, melted cheese filling fragrant with nigella seeds and a hint of dried mint — pillowy dough that cradles rather than encloses its filling.
Cook this hands-free
All 214 Sofra recipes are free in the app. This one includes step-by-step English voice narration, hands-free Cooking Mode, and the original oud music by Charbel Rouhana.
Get Sofra on Google Play →Ingredients
- 500 grams plain flour
- 7 grams instant yeast
- 290 ml warm water
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 400 grams Akkawi cheese
- 1½ teaspoons nigella seeds (habbat al-baraka)
- 1 teaspoon dried mint
- 1 for glaze egg yolk
Instructions
- Make the dough: activate yeast in warm water with sugar for 5 minutes. Mix flour, salt, olive oil, and yeast water. Knead 8–10 minutes until smooth and springy. Cover and rise 1 hour.
- If using Akkawi, soak it in cold water for 30 minutes to reduce its saltiness, then drain and pat dry. Grate or crumble the cheese.
- Mix the cheese with nigella seeds and dried mint.
- Preheat oven to 200°C. Punch down dough and divide into 12 portions. Roll each into an oval roughly 12 × 8 cm.
- Fold the long edges of the oval inward by 1 cm and pinch the corners to create a boat shape with raised sides.
- Fill each boat generously with the cheese mixture, pressing it gently to fill the cavity.
- Brush the dough border with egg yolk for a golden glaze.
- Bake for 16–20 minutes until the borders are golden-brown and the cheese is bubbling and lightly browned. Serve immediately.
Hear every step read aloud
Step-by-step voice narration guides you hands-free. Faten's Idlib recipes carry her own Syrian-Arabic narration. Charbel Rouhana's original oud plays during Cooking Mode.
Get Sofra on Google Play →Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cheese Fatayer?
Open-faced pastry boats with a salty, melted cheese filling fragrant with nigella seeds and a hint of dried mint — pillowy dough that cradles rather than encloses its filling.
Where is Cheese Fatayer from?
Cheese Fatayer comes from Lebanese Mountains. Sofra documents this recipe as part of its 214-recipe Lebanese and Syrian heritage collection, including 49 dishes from Idlib province.
Is Cheese Fatayer vegetarian?
As written, Cheese Fatayer contains no meat or fish, so it is suitable for vegetarians. It does include dairy or other animal-derived ingredients, so it is not vegan. Check the full ingredient list against your own dietary needs.
What can I use instead of nigella seeds (habbat al-baraka) in Cheese Fatayer?
The nigella seeds (habbat al-baraka) called for here is part of the traditional recipe and gives Cheese Fatayer its authentic character, so keep it if you can. If you must substitute, choose the closest equivalent you have on hand and adjust to taste — the dish will shift slightly from the traditional version but still work. The Sofra app lists the full ingredient set and sourcing notes.
What do I serve with Cheese Fatayer?
In a Lebanese breads spread, Cheese Fatayer is served warm — with dips like hummus, labneh, or za'atar and olive oil, or alongside any main dish.
Can I make Cheese Fatayer ahead, and how do I store leftovers?
Breads are best fresh and warm. If you make this ahead, let it cool completely, store it in an airtight bag or container, and gently rewarm before serving. Many flatbreads also freeze well.