25 esfiha recipes that will make you salivate

Among the foods of Arab origin, the esfiha (or esfirra) is another option that has fallen into the taste of Brazilians. With quick and practical preparation, this savory dish originates in the Lebanon region and traditionally combines a flat bread with meat and onion topping.

Originally served as an open snack, it was spread across western countries, reaching other parts of the world. It arrived in our country around the 19th century, adapting and gaining new fillings, in addition to the option of being roasted closed, in the shape of a triangle. Check out some mouthwatering esfiha recipes below:

open esfiha recipes

1. Open beef esfiha: a more traditional version of this savory dish, it uses ground beef as a topping. To ensure even more flavor, the meat is accompanied by onion, chopped tomato, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

2. Open beef esfiha with a touch of cinnamon: here, the difference lies in the use of cinnamon as a seasoning for meat, a spice widely used in the countries of the region of its origin. The recipe yields about thirty-five esfihas and you can freeze the ones you are not going to eat.

3. Open cheese esfiha: an even easier and more practical alternative to cover and flavor esfihas. Choose your favorite cheese or mix it up with several types. Here the author mixed gorgonzola cheese, ricotta cream and mozzarella.

4. Open cheese esfiha with cream: this recipe simulates the taste of esfihas from the most famous chain in Brazil. Counting on a sweet flavor in the dough, it still takes cornmeal to sprinkle and help when opening the small discs. As a topping, fresh Minas cheese, sour cream and seasonings.

5. Open esfiha cheese puff: how about increasing the look and taste of the savory? Here the traditional dough that resembles bread is replaced by the puff pastry option, bought ready-made. Seasoned ricotta is the topping suggestion.

6. Open cheese and spinach esfiha: a variation of the original filling, it mixes the creaminess of the cheese with the striking flavor of the spinach. The cheese used can be the white version or the shredded ricotta, and the spinach must be sautéed in a pan with garlic and a drizzle of oil.

7. Open esfiha of spinach with pepperoni pepper: vegan option, without the use of cheese in its topping. Spinach gains more flavor when it is sautéed with garlic and onions, and the dough has a softness conferred by the use of fresh biological yeast.

8. Open Vegan Cauliflower or Spinach Sfiha: A tutorial that offers two different versions of the topping. With ideal options for vegans, vegetarians or those who want to reduce meat consumption, cauliflower and spinach are the highlights of the dish.

9. Open chicken esfiha: a lighter version than the topping made with red meat, the chicken breast must be previously cooked in a pressure cooker and shredded and seasoned according to your personal taste. It’s a delight!

10. Open chicken esfiha with catupiry: featuring two variations of coverage, this step-by-step easily demonstrates how to prepare the esfihas. Here, one of the Brazilian’s favorite fillings is the option chosen: chicken with catupiry.

11. Open chicken esfiha with sweet potatoes: an ideal alternative for those who are in the process of nutritional education or for those who practice exercises, in this version the sweet potato is used as the base of the dough, while the shredded and seasoned chicken is used as a filling.

12. Open chocolate esfiha: those who love sweet versions of this appetizer will love this option. As the dough has a neutral flavor, the sweet topping is made with a mixture of milk chocolate and cream, and can also be decorated with chopped strawberries or candies.

Closed esfiha recipes

13. Traditional closed beef sfiha: for this closed version, the traditional ground beef filling was chosen. Onion, tomato, garlic, salt, Syrian pepper and olives complete the flavor of the meat.

14. Closed beef esfiha with tomato: this recipe uses the tomato to accompany the ground beef. With a generous yield, it is possible to make up to 60 esfihas with the measurements of this recipe. It’s worth freezing the salty after it’s ready and, to defrost, just take it to the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes.

15. Closed chicken sfiha with smoked paprika: another high-yield option – about 40 units. Cooked and shredded chicken breast has its flavor enriched by the use of smoked paprika. With a remarkable flavor and aroma, this seasoning guarantees the special touch of the recipe.

16. Closed sfiha gluten-free, dairy-free and egg-free: ideal alternative for celiac, intolerant or allergic patients. In this version, the wheat flour is replaced by a mixture of brown rice flour, sweet flour and xanthan gum. Also, using chia in the mix adds more nutritional value to the pasta.

17. Eggplant vegan closed esfiha: another suggestion for those who do not consume foods of animal origin or want to reduce meat consumption, the filling of this version is made with eggplant, peppers, homemade tomato sauce, green olives and seasonings.

18. Vegan closed sfiha with soy protein or broccoli with tofupiry: it is wrong to think that only fillings that use animal protein are successful. This recipe proves just the opposite. With two options of vegan fillings, this esfiha is rich in protein and flavor!

19. Closed soy protein esfiha, peppers and leeks: another version that does not use eggs or meat. In the dough, the oil fulfills the role of the egg, ensuring softness and binding. The filling, on the other hand, takes soy protein, an easily accessible option to replace the use of meat in food.

20. Closed pepperoni sfiha: one of the easiest and most practical options for stuffing, after making the traditional pasta, just put the pepperoni, seedless tomato, onion, cheese, pepper and oregano in a food processor, and grind the ingredients.

21. Closed esfiha meat ball: escaping from the traditional triangle shape, here the esfihas take on the look of balls, but with the traditional dough and meat filling made with garlic, onion, green smell, meat broth and pepper.

22. Closed Whole Chicken Esfiha with Broccoli: this recipe mixes the use of white and whole wheat flour in the preparation of the pasta, nutritionally enriching this mixture. For a filling full of flavor and creaminess, the shredded chicken is paired with broccoli, cream cheese and some seasonings.

23. Closed whole escarole, bacon and catupiry sfiha: ideal for those who love a filling with a strong flavor, this recipe uses escarole scalded in boiling water, bacon sautéed in its own fat, garlic, onion and catupiry. Can you resist?

24. Closed puff pastry sfiha: closed sfiha option that uses artisanal puff pastry in its preparation. After preparing it, just choose your favorite filling and taste an esfiha with a different texture. And you can also use the dough to make other recipes.

25. Closed tuna esfiha with cream cheese: ideal for those who want to enjoy it in a savory dish in record time, this filling needs just a few steps. Just open the can of tuna, drain its liquid and fill the dough along with the cream cheese. Easier, impossible!

An ideal savory option to enjoy at a party or when you feel like eating something different, this typical dish guarantees a wide variety of fillings. Whether in its open or closed version, esfiha is a practical and easy dish, in addition to being very tasty. Choose your favorite version and get to work!