Oh my goodness, you guys. Have you ever tried Malawach? It’s a traditional Yemenite bread that’s made from layers of dough and butter, and it’s SO GOOD.
If you’re not familiar with Malawach, let me introduce you. It’s a flaky and buttery bread that’s similar to a pancake or a flatbread. It’s made by rolling out dough and spreading it with butter, then folding it and rolling it out again to create layers of dough and butter. The result is a deliciously flaky bread that’s perfect for any meal.
Malawach is traditionally served with hard-boiled eggs, chopped or crushed flavored tomatoes and finally the famous z’hug, a spicy condiment that is often served with the marak temani soup. But malawah can also be served in a sweet version, with honey. You can also serve it with your favorite toppings such as cheese, hummus or jam. It’s a versatile bread that can be enjoyed in many different ways.
In this blog post, we’ll show you how to make Malawach at home. It’s easier than you might think and the results are seriously amazing. We’ll also share some of our favorite toppings and serving ideas so you can enjoy Malawach in all its delicious glory.
But before we get into the recipe, let’s talk a little bit more about Malawach and its origins. Malawach is a traditional Yemenite bread that has been enjoyed for centuries. Y
emenite Jews brought this traditional bread with them to Israel in the ‘50’s, and it was commonly eaten for breakfast where it was served with a drizzle of honey or with hard boiled eggs, grated tomato, and zhug (a Yemeni spicy herb sauce). Malawach has since crossed over into mainstream Israeli culture.
Making Malawach at home is a fun and rewarding experience. The dough is easy to work with and the process of rolling it out and spreading it with butter is almost therapeutic. And the best part? The smell of freshly cooked Malawach wafting through your kitchen is enough to make your mouth water.
So grab your rolling pin and let’s get started!
Ingredients
- 4 cups of Flour
- 1 1/4 cups of lukewarm Water
- 2 ounces of melted Butter or margarine
- Black sesame seeds
- A pinch of Salt
Instructions
- First, mix together the flour, water and salt in a large bowl. Knead the dough for about 15 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Then knead again for another 15 minutes.
- Next, divide the dough into 4 equal parts and roll each part into a smooth ball. Spread a little butter on top of each ball and let it rest for about 45 minutes.
- After the time has passed, roll out each ball of dough with a rolling pin or by hand until you have a very thin sheet. Use a brush to spread melted butter on both sides. Fold the dough and make a knot to improve the texture of the dough. Cover and let rest for 45 minutes. Roll out the dough again and use a round mold to cut out the dough.
- Heat up a frying pan over medium heat and fry the malawah for a few minutes on each side.
- Sprinkle with black sesame seeds to taste and… Enjoy!
Notes
- Malawach can be served in a variety of ways. It is traditionally served with hard-boiled eggs, chopped or crushed flavored tomatoes and finally the famous z’hug, a spicy condiment that is often served with the marak temani soup.
- But malawah can also be served in a sweet version, with honey. You can also serve it with your favorite toppings such as cheese, hummus or jam. It’s a versatile bread that can be enjoyed in many different ways!
- You can add other ingredients to the Malawach dough or use them as toppings. Some people like to add scallions, garlic or spices to the dough for extra flavor.
- You can also experiment with different toppings such as cheese, hummus or jam. The possibilities are endless, so feel free to get creative and make the recipe your own!
- You can substitute some of the ingredients in the Malawach recipe. For example, if you don’t have pastry flour, you can use all-purpose flour instead.
- If you don’t have unsalted butter, you can use salted butter and reduce the amount of salt in the recipe. You can also use margarine or ghee instead of butter. It’s always a good idea to experiment and find what works best for you!
