the simplest things are often the best, and the “sfiha” also called Arab pizza is one of my favourites recipes from “Falastin” cookbook.
What is sfiha ?
Sfiha or sfeeha in arabic صفيحة , is a dish consisting of flatbread cooked with a minced meat topping, often lamb flavored with onion, tomato, pine nuts, and spices.
It’s traditionally found in the countries of the levant, and is closely related to manakish and lahm bi’ajin لحم بالعجين .
The recipe of the day :
In his book, Sami Tamimi call the “Sfiha” “open pie”. He proposes two toppings to choose, depending on if you’re a veggie or a meat person. I tried the “open meat pies”, during last ramadan, it was so delicious. So this time, I decided to go with the vegetarian version made with cauliflower, red pepper and onions, wonderfully flavoured with “baharat” composed of cardamom, cumin, paprika and turmeric.
The “Sfiha” goes perfectly with a simple green salad or a soup like this wonderful “butternut squash and saffron soup”.
How to make this amazing “Sfiha” ?
Making “Sfiha” has two parts : first thing is the dough, which has a nice color from turmeric, soft, malleable and very easy to make. Once baked its crisp at the edges and softens as you reach the center. Second part, the topping composed with an amazing cauliflower mixture. Which is roasted in the oven for about 20 minutes with the red peppers and the onion flavoured with baharat. Once baked we add the lemon juice and the tahini.
I added some pine nuts and parmesan cheese, I just loved it.

Sometimes instead of making pizza I go for this amazing “Sfiha” recipe. I found that’s the best way to make my 4 year old twin boys eat some veggies.