Hawawshi: Egyptian Meat-Stuffed Bread Recipe
Hawawshi is a traditional Egyptian dish featuring wheat flatbread stuffed with a flavorful mixture of seasoned ground beef, vegetables, and spices, then baked until golden and juicy. This hearty and aromatic meat-stuffed bread is perfect as a satisfying meal accompanied by tahini sauce, fresh salad, or pickled vegetables.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Egyptian
Ingredients
Meat Filling
- 1 pound (450 grams) ground beef (not lean)
- 1 medium onion (peeled and finely chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (peeled and minced)
- 1 tomato (seeds removed, finely chopped)
- 1/2 green bell pepper (stem and seeds discarded, finely chopped)
- 1/2 jalapeño pepper (optional, stem and seeds discarded, finely chopped)
- 1/4 cup (5 grams) fresh parsley (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- Pinch ground cinnamon
Bread and Finishing
- 6 Aish Baladi (Egyptian wheat flatbread)
- Ghee or melted butter (for brushing)
Instructions
- Prepare the meat mixture: In a large bowl, gently combine ground beef, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, tomato, green bell pepper, jalapeño (if using), fresh parsley, salt, ground allspice, paprika, coriander, black pepper, cardamom, cumin, and a pinch of cinnamon just until evenly mixed.
- Marinate: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the meat mixture for at least one hour to allow flavors to meld thoroughly.
- Preheat oven: Set your oven temperature to 400˚F (200˚C) to get it ready for baking.
- Stuff the bread: Carefully cut a small slit roughly 2 inches (5 cm) wide on one side of each Aish Baladi bread. Gently add about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of the meat mixture into the slit and press it evenly across the bread’s surface. Alternatively, slice each bread in half and fill each piece with the meat mixture.
- Brush with ghee: Lightly brush both sides of the stuffed bread with ghee or melted butter to promote browning and add richness.
- Arrange and bake: Place the filled breads on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20–25 minutes until the meat is completely cooked through and the bread turns golden brown.
- Serve: Remove from oven, cut the bread into halves or quarters as desired, and serve warm with tahini sauce, fresh salad, fries, or pickled vegetables for a complete meal.
Notes
- Use medium-fat ground beef for juicier filling; very lean beef may result in drier hawawshi.
- The jalapeño pepper is optional and can be omitted or replaced with another chili for heat preference.
- Ensure the slit in the bread is large enough to hold filling but not too large that it breaks apart during baking.
- Brushing with ghee enhances flavor and gives a lovely golden crust but can be substituted with melted butter or olive oil.
- Letting the meat mixture chill allows better flavor development and makes the filling easier to handle.
- Serve with traditional accompaniments like tahini sauce and pickled vegetables to balance the rich meat filling.
