Sambusak
Sambusak's origin is Iraq. It is a type of pastry filled with various fillings and baked in the oven. Sambusak is a very close relative of Italian calzone and Argentinian empanada and many more pastries of this family. The original Sambusak in Iraq was filled with hummus, but fillings like cheese, mushrooms and pizza are popular too.
​
Pastry:
500 g (1lb 2 oz) white flour
1 tsp. dry yeast
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsps. sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 tbsps. olive oil
1 1/4 cup water
1 egg
sesame seeds
​
Hummus filling:
1 cup dry chickpeas
olive oil
3 onions
1/2 tsp. turmeric
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. cumin
salt
pepper
​
Pizza filling:
2 cloves garlic
100 g (3.5 oz) tomato paste
olive oil
oregano
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
salt
pepper
Preparation time: 2 hours
Difficulty level: Medium
Servings: 12
Ingredients
Preparation
Prepare the dough:
In a bowl mix the yeast with 1/2 cup warm water, add sugar and baking powder, mix and wait 5 mins.
Add the flour and rest of the water gradually mixing all the time.
Add salt and olive oil and knead for a few minutes until the dough is smooth and soft but not sticky.
Cover with a towel and let it double in volume (about 1 hr.)
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
Put on a working surface sprinkled with flour and make 12 balls of equal size. Cover and let rest for another 15 mins.
Roll out each ball into a circle of about 15 cm (6") in diameter. Put about 2 tbsps. filling and fold in two and pinch to seal. Let rest for 15 minutes.
Arrange the pastry in a baking pan over baking paper. Beat an egg with 1 tbsp. water and brush. Sprinkle with some sesame seeds.
Bake for about 15 mins. till golden brown.
​
Hummus filling:
Prepare the chickpeas like for hummus (see recipe). Mash partly with a potato masher.
Dice the onions thinly. Heat some olive oil in a frying pan and sauté the onions on a medium low heat until they are translucent, add salt, pepper, turmeric, paprika and cumin and sauté 5 mins. more. Let cool and mix with the chickpeas, taste and adjust the seasoning. Let cool to room temperature before filling the pastry.
​
Pizza filling:
In a sauce pot heat some olive oil and add the garlic minced. Add the tomato paste and equal volume of water. Stir and bring to a boil. Add salt, pepper and oregano, reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce thickens. Let it cool down and stir in the cheese.
