Sambousek (Crispy Meat Pastries)

Sambousek are the crispy, half-moon pastries that crowd Egyptian party trays, filled with spiced ground beef and onion and fried until golden. They trace their lineage back through the Middle East to the samosas of South Asia, and every Egyptian family makes them for Ramadan, holidays, and any occasion that calls for a platter of something fried. The dough is a simple flour-and-butter affair rolled thin, though store-bought puff pastry makes an excellent shortcut, and they never last long on the table.

Golden half-moons of spiced, juicy beef

The pastry is thin and shatteringly crisp, giving way to a savory filling seasoned with allspice, cinnamon, and black pepper. The key is a filling that is fully cooked and completely cool before the pastries are sealed, so they fry up light and crisp without bursting. Rich but not greasy, spiced but not fiery, they are the perfect balance in a single bite. Dip them in plain yogurt or serve them with lemon, and try to stop at three; you will not.

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