Sfiha facts for kids
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| Alternative names | lahem bi ajin |
|---|---|
| Type | Flatbread |
| Place of origin | Levant |
| Region or state | Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and Brazil |
| Main ingredients | Ground mutton |
Sfiha (pronounced sfee-ha) is a yummy dish from the Middle East. It is a type of flatbread topped with a tasty mix of minced meat. This meat is often lamb, seasoned with onions, tomatoes, pine nuts, and other spices.
Sfiha is a traditional food in countries like Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. It is similar to other flatbread dishes such as manakish and lahmacun. Sfiha is also very popular in Brazil, where it is called esfiha or esfirra. People from Syria and Lebanon brought this delicious food to Brazil.
Contents
Discovering Sfiha's History
Flatbreads have been made in the Fertile Crescent for a very long time. This area includes parts of the Middle East. People cooked these breads on hot stones or special metal plates called sajj. They also used ovens like the taboon or tandoor.
During the Middle Ages, people started using brick ovens, called furn. This led to many new kinds of flatbreads with toppings. Sfiha was one of these dishes. It became popular across the large Ottoman Empire.
In Brazil, esfiha became a favorite fast food in the late 1900s. It is now one of the most popular quick meals there.
What's in Sfiha?
Each family often has its own special way to make sfiha. They add different ingredients to the meat topping.
Sfiha in the Middle East
In Lebanon, the main ingredients for sfiha are meat, onions, tomatoes, and pine nuts. People also add salt, pepper, and spices like cinnamon or sumac. Sometimes, they use pomegranate molasses for a sweet and tangy flavor. The city of Baalbek in Lebanon is especially famous for its sfiha.
In Syria, Palestine, and Jordan, sfiha is made in a similar way. It uses minced meat or lamb with herbs and spices. Tomatoes, onions, and other fresh ingredients are also added.
Esfiha in Brazil
In Brazil, esfihas are baked in an oven. They can be open-faced flatbreads, about 4 inches wide, with the meat topping spread on top. Sometimes, they are folded into a triangle shape, like a pastry called fatayer.
Brazilian esfihas can have many different toppings. Besides meat (like lamb or beef), you might find cheese, curd, or even vegetables on them.
See also
In Spanish: Sfiha para niños
