Sambusaks (Cheese-Filled Pastries)

As a child in Egypt, Colette Rossant lived with her extended family in a large house with a full-time kitchen staff. On the first Thursday of every month, her Grandmaman would entertain her many friends, and though Ahmed, the Sudanese chef, always whipped up a number of specialties, Grandmaman herself made the sambusaks—flaky, golden-brown savory pastries filled with fresh farmer's cheese or feta, parmigiano-reggiano, and parsley. If she was feeling magnanimous, Grandmaman would let Colette knead the warm dough. These salty savories would be served first along with tall glasses of iced tea or lemonade at the four o'clock ladies' card party, then reappear later as part of the dinner mazza. For centuries, these pastries—sambusak is Arabic slang for ''turnover''—have been popular snacks in Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt. From Saveur, 1996.

• Ready In: 1 hr 35 mins
• Yields: 18-20 turnovers

Ingredients

• FOR THE PASTRY

• 1⁄2 cup  melted butter
• 1⁄2 cup  vegetable oil
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 3  cups flour
• 1  egg, lightly beaten

• FOR THE FILLING

• 2⁄3 lb feta cheese, crumbled
• 2  tablespoons  freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
• 2  eggs
• 4  teaspoons baking powder
•  fresh ground black pepper

Directions

1. For the Pastry.
2. Combine butter, oil, and salt in a bowl.
3. Add 1/2 cup hot water and stir.
4. Gradually add 2 cups flour.
5. Turn dough onto a floured surface and work in remaining flour.
6. Knead until dough holds together; it will be soft.
7. Form into a ball, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
8. For the Filling.
9. Place feta, parmigiano-reggiano, eggs, baking powder, and pepper in a food processor and pulse until light and creamy.
10. For the Turnovers.
11. Preheat oven to 375°.
12. Divide dough into 20 balls.
13. On a floured surface, roll each ball into a round about 4'' in diameter.
14. Place a heaping tablespoons of filling in center of each round.
15. Brush edges with water, fold to enclose filling, then press edges with a fork to seal(Assembled sambusaks may be frozen.)
16. Place sambusaks on 2 lightly greased cookie sheets, then brush with egg wash.
17. Bake until golden, 30–35 minutes.