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Beef Sambousek

Levantine · Appetizer

Crispy, golden-brown Mediterranean pastry pockets filled with a savory mixture of spiced ground beef, sautéed onions, and toasted pine nuts.

Intermediate
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Beef Sambousek — recipe cover
1 hrA little patience, a lot of flavor
Prep time40 min
Cook time20 min
Servings6 people
DifficultyIntermediate
Let's make something good

How to make it

6 steps. Take it one step at a time.

  1. Combine the flour and salt

    In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add the vegetable oil and warm water. Knead by hand or with a stand mixer until a smooth, elastic dough forms. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.

    30 min
  2. Prepare the filling

    While the dough rests, prepare the filling. Heat a splash of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it into small crumbles.

  3. Add the chopped onion

    Add the chopped onion to the beef and sauté until translucent. Stir in the salt, allspice, cinnamon, and black pepper. Remove from heat and stir in the toasted pine nuts. Let the filling cool completely.

  4. Roll out the dough very thin

    On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough very thin (about 2mm). Use a round cutter or glass to cut out circles about 8-10cm in diameter.

  5. Place a tablespoon of filling

    Place a tablespoon of filling in the center of each circle. Fold the dough over to create a half-moon shape. Pinch the edges firmly or use a fork to seal.

  6. Heat oil in a deep pan

    Heat oil in a deep pan to 180°C (356°F). Fry the sambousek in batches until golden brown and crispy on both sides. Drain on paper towels.

    10 min

A little kitchen wisdom

For the best texture, ensure the dough is rolled very thin. You can also bake these at 200°C (400°F) for a healthier version, though frying is the traditional method for maximum crunch.

What you'll need

Rolling pinRound cookie cutterDeep fryer or large skilletPaper towelsStand mixer
Keep the good going

For now. And for later.

Make it ahead

Sambousek can be assembled ahead of time and kept in the freezer before frying.

Store & enjoy

Store fried sambousek in an airtight container. Reheat in an oven or air fryer to maintain crispness. Avoid reheating in the microwave as they will become soggy.

Allergens

Contains wheat, gluten, tree nuts.

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An AI-created recipe from the EZdish collection. Ingredient quantities and techniques have not been independently kitchen-tested. Published on this website . Updated . First published in the EZdish collection .

Beef Sambousek
Step 1 of 6

Combine the flour and salt

In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add the vegetable oil and warm water. Knead by hand or with a stand mixer until a smooth, elastic dough forms. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.

30 min