Hawawshi

Hawawshi

حواوشي (ha-WAW-shi)

Egyptian Meat-Stuffed Bread

Prep Time 45 min
📈 Difficulty Medium
👥 Servings
4
🔥 Calories 473 kcal

Crispy flatbread stuffed with spiced minced meat, onions, and peppers, baked until the crust shatters and the filling is juicy. This iconic Egyptian street food delivers bold flavors in every bite.

Nutrition & Info

480 kcal per serving
Protein 24.0g
Carbs 38.0g
Fat 25.0g
Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

dairy-free nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ gluten

Equipment Needed

mixing bowl baking sheet sharp knife oven

Instructions

  1. 1

    Combine ground beef with diced onions, bell peppers, garlic, cumin, coriander, cayenne, salt, black pepper, and parsley in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until evenly combined.

  2. 2

    Cut each round of baladi bread in half to create a pocket. Carefully open the pocket without tearing the outer layers of the bread apart.

  3. 3

    Stuff each bread pocket generously with the seasoned meat mixture, pressing it flat and even so the filling cooks uniformly throughout the bread.

  4. 4

    Brush the outside of each stuffed bread lightly with vegetable oil on both sides to promote golden browning and a crispy, shattering crust texture.

  5. 5

    Place stuffed breads on a baking sheet and bake at 220C for twenty minutes, flipping once halfway through, until bread is deeply golden and crispy.

  6. 6

    Remove from oven and let rest two minutes before cutting into wedges. Serve immediately alongside pickled vegetables and a fresh green salad.

💡

Did You Know?

Hawawshi originated in the bustling streets of Alexandria and Cairo, where vendors bake them in wood-fired ovens reaching extreme temperatures for maximum crispiness.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

  • mixing bowl
  • baking sheet
  • sharp knife
  • oven

The Story Behind Hawawshi

Hawawshi is a beloved Egyptian street food that has become a national culinary icon. The dish evolved from the tradition of baking spiced meats inside baladi bread in communal wood-fired ovens found throughout Egyptian neighborhoods. Each bakery and home cook has their own spice blend, creating fierce local rivalries over who makes the best version in any given street.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed lunch or street snack 📜 Origins: Modern Egyptian street food

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