Fattah

Name: Fattah
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Egyptian
Ingredients: 1.5 lbs lamb stew meat (cut into chunks); 2 pita bread loaves; 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying); 1 med onion, diced; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 2 cups beef broth; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 1 can canned chickpeas (drained); 2 cups plain yogurt; 2 tsp white vinegar; 1/2 tsp ground cumin; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 4 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Layers of crispy fried bread, seasoned meat, chickpeas, and creamy yogurt sauce create this indulgent Egyptian celebration dish.

65 minMediumServes 6520 cal/serving

EgyptianDinnerStovetop and OvenStandard

Cook this free in the appFree. No download, no account. The screen stays awake and each step can run its own timer.

Ingredients

1.5 lbs lamb stew meat (cut into chunks)
2 pita bread loaves
2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
1 med onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups beef broth
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 can canned chickpeas (drained)
2 cups plain yogurt
2 tsp white vinegar
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

1

Cut 2 pita bread loaves into 1-inch pieces.
2

Heat 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying) in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the pita pieces in batches until golden and crispy, about 2 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels.
3

In the same oil, brown 1.5 lbs lamb stew meat (cut into chunks) on all sides, about 8 minutes. Remove and set aside.
4

In the remaining oil, sauté 1 med diced onion until softened, about 3 minutes.
5

Add 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
6

Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
7

Return the lamb to the pot. Add 2 cups beef broth and 1/2 tsp ground cumin. Season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes until the lamb is tender.
8

In a bowl, mix 2 cups plain yogurt with 2 tsp white vinegar and a pinch of salt. Set aside.
9

Warm 1 can canned chickpeas (drained) and set aside.
10

To assemble: Spread half the crispy pita on a large platter. Top with the meat and sauce. Layer the remaining crispy pita on top.
11

Pour the yogurt sauce over the entire dish.
12

Sprinkle with chickpeas and 4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley.
13

Serve immediately while the bread is still crispy at the edges.

Cook this free in the appCooking it now? The app keeps the screen awake and times each step. Free, nothing to install.

Keep this recipe

Prints the ingredients and method only.

The Holiday Table 30 recipes in one printable PDF. $5, no account.

Questions

What is Fattah?

Layers of crispy fried bread, seasoned meat, chickpeas, and creamy yogurt sauce create this indulgent Egyptian celebration dish. This reference files it under Egyptian dinner: made on the stovetop and in the oven, rated medium and about 65 minutes start to finish.

How long does Fattah take?

As written, 65 minutes: 30 of prep and 35 of cooking. The longest single stretch is step 7 (20 minutes): "Simmer for 20 minutes until the lamb is tender."

Can I skip the searing in Fattah?

Step 3 reads: "In the same oil, brown 1.5 lbs lamb stew meat (cut into chunks) on all sides, about 8 minutes." You can, but you give up flavor. The browning in step 3 builds the savory base the rest of the dish is seasoned against. Give the pieces room so the pan stays hot.

Can I use dried beans instead of canned in Fattah?

Yes. One 15-ounce can is about one and a half cups of cooked beans, which comes from a generous half cup dried. Soak them overnight and simmer until tender before you start the recipe. As written, the entry for Fattah uses 1 can canned chickpeas (drained).

Can I make Fattah dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in Fattah is 2 cups plain yogurt. Swap the yogurt for an unsweetened coconut or soy yogurt. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Serve it with

Cook this free in the app

Textual Chef is 4,544 plain-text recipes, free to read and free to cook from. No account, no paywall, no ads, no life stories. Open this one in the app and each quantity sits inside the step that uses it, so you read once and cook.

Every recipe is curated or public-domain sourced, written to one template and checked before it publishes. Nothing here is a scraped blog post.

Cook this free in the appNo download needed. It opens in your browser. The kitchen tools (planner, shopping list, pantry, import) are $5.33 a month billed annually; the first 30 days are free.