Feteer ( , literally "pie") is a traditional Egyptian pie known for its flaky, layered texture and variety of fillings. It is distinct from
feteer meshaltet, a plain, layered pastry typically served without fillings. Feteer is always filled or topped, and due to its adaptability in ingredients and presentation, it is sometimes referred to as an Egyptian version of
pizza
Pizza is an Italian cuisine, Italian, specifically Neapolitan cuisine, Neapolitan, dish typically consisting of a flat base of Leavening agent, leavened wheat-based dough topped with tomato, cheese, and other ingredients, baked at a high t ...
.
Savory fillings commonly include meats such as ground beef, sausage, Egyptian
sogoq or
bastirma, as well as shawarma-style seasoned meats. Cheese-based fillings are also popular, often using blends of mozzarella, cheddar, feta, or creamy cheeses such as kiri. Other variations include combinations with vegetables, mushrooms, olives, and peppers.
Sweet varieties are typically filled with ingredients such as chocolate spreads,
qishta
''Qishta'' (, ), also known as ''kishta'', ''kashta '', ''ghishta'', or ''eshta'', is a dairy coagulated milk product prepared from heated fresh milk used in different dishes and consumed as a dessert. It is found in Southern Mediterranean cuisin ...
, nuts, bananas, honey, or sweetened condensed milk, and may be dusted with powdered sugar or drizzled with syrup.
Preparation
Preparation involves stretching dough until extremely thin, then folding it repeatedly, layering it generously with ghee. This creates a delicate, crispy, and flaky texture after baking. Fillings are introduced between the thin layers or placed atop the pastry before baking, depending on the desired outcome.
Abroad
Internationally, Egyptian feteer has become increasingly known, particularly in the United States due to the presence of Egyptian expatriate communities. Some restaurants in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
and
Orlando
Orlando commonly refers to:
* Orlando, Florida, a city in the United States
Orlando may also refer to:
People
* Orlando (given name), a masculine name, includes a list of people with the name
* Orlando (surname), includes a list of people wit ...
serve the dish.
In California, an establishment offers both traditional Egyptian fillings, such as
sodoq, and American-inspired toppings like barbecue chicken or spicy chicken with kiri cheese.
See also
*
Egyptian cuisine
Egyptian cuisine makes heavy use of poultry, legumes, vegetables and fruit from Egypt's rich Nile Valley and Delta. Examples of Egyptian dishes include rice-stuffed vegetables and grape leaves, hummus, falafel, shawarma, kebab and kofta ...
*
Feteer meshaltet
*
Murtabak
Murtabak, or Mutabbaq (, ), is a Yemeni stuffed pancake or pan-fried bread commonly found in the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia, notably in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and South ...
References
{{Reflist
Egyptian cuisine
Pies
Pizza