Meat Pastries

Name: Meat Pastries (Sambousek B’lahmeh)
Prep time: 1 h 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Cuisine: Palestinian
Ingredients: 400 g (14 oz) plain (all-purpose) flour, plus extra for dusting; ¾ tsp instant dried active yeast; 50 g (3½ tbsp) butter, softened; 2 egg yolks; 240 ml (1 cup) warm water; 1 large onion; 4 garlic cloves; 60 ml (¼ cup) olive oil, plus 1 tbsp for the pine nuts; 400 g (14 oz) minced (ground) lean beef; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp black pepper; ¾ tsp ground allspice; 40 g (1½ oz) pine nuts

Sambousek B’lahmeh

Preparation info

Makes
70

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
1 hr 45

Appears in

Classic Palestinian Cuisine

By Christiane Dabdoub Nasser

Published 2026

About

The same as cheese sambousek, these meat-filled parcels are ideal as finger food for a party, for a mezze or hors d’oeuvres platter. The dough is crustier and, if you can forgo health scruples and calorie counting, they are most delicious fried. Serve them with a tahini salad, tomato salad or mafghoussa.

Ingredients

For the dough

400 g (14 oz) plain (all-purpose) flour, plus extra for dusting
¾ tsp

Method

Sift the flour, yeast and salt into a mixing bowl, make a well in the centre and add the butter, the oil and the egg yolks. Work the ingredients gradually into the flour with your fingers. Add the warm water a little at a time and knead the dough, pressing with the heels of your hands and turning until you have a soft, finely textured dough that is easy to roll out. Shape into a ball, cover, an