Feteer Meshaltet (Layered Pastry)

Feteer meshaltet is Egypt’s layered pastry, a mound of paper-thin dough stretched, buttered, stacked, and baked until it puffs into a golden tower of flaky ribbons. Its roots go back to ancient Egypt, and today it is sold everywhere from street bakeries to restaurants, stuffed with everything from cheese to minced meat or simply drizzled with honey. Egyptians affectionately call it the Egyptian pizza, though it is flakier than any pizza you have ever met. Making it at home takes patience and a well-rested dough, but the first pull-apart bite makes it all worth it.

A tower of buttered, flaky ribbons

The dough is stretched until you can nearly see through it, then brushed with ghee and folded into layers that separate into crisp, feathery leaves as they bake. The outside is shatteringly crisp, the inside soft and pillowy, and it is at its absolute best warm from the oven with honey and a sprinkle of sugar. For a savory twist, tuck crumbled cheese or spiced meat between the layers before baking. Either way, it is the kind of pastry that makes everyone at the table go quiet.

Craving more? Explore all Egyptian Kitchen recipes.

Egyptian recipes →