Serve your hawawshi straight from the oven with a fresh salad and a generous spoonful of yoghurt dip.
It’s simple, good food you can hold in your hands. What’s not to love?
About MATR Mince
Gluten-free oats, split peas, lupin, beetroot and potatoes. MATR is made from five organic ingredients that come together through fermentation.
In this hawawshi recipe, we fry MATR Mince with onion, garlic and green pepper before adding a fragrant blend of coriander, cumin, paprika, cardamom, allspice and cinnamon.
Our fermented greens, if we have to say so ourselves, simply just taste great in a pita bread.
How to make hawawshi with MATR
Prepare the vegetables and spices:
- Preheat your oven to 180°C.
- Peel and finely dice the onion. Cut the green pepper into small pieces, and finely chop the garlic.
- Measure out the ground coriander, allspice, paprika, cumin, cardamom and cinnamon. Mix the spices together in a small bowl so they're ready to add when you need them.
Fry the MATR Mince and vegetables:
- Heat a little neutral oil in a saucepan over a medium heat.
- Add the diced onion and green pepper. Sauté for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften and the onion turns translucent.
- Add the chopped garlic and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring regularly so it doesn't burn.
- Add the MATR Mince and cook for 4-5 minutes. Stir occasionally, allowing the Mince to develop a golden surface.
Make the spiced filling:
- Add the tomato purée to the saucepan and stir it through the MATR and vegetables.
- Let the tomato purée cook briefly until it darkens slightly and develops a richer flavour.
- Add the spice mixture, followed by a little water. Stir until everything is evenly combined.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Let the filling simmer until it becomes thick and rich. The mixture should be moist enough to spoon into the pita bread but not watery.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the filling cool slightly while you prepare the bread.
Fill the pita bread:
- Carefully open each pita bread to create a pocket. You can cut the bread in half or open it along one edge, depending on its shape.
- Spoon the MATR filling into the pita pockets, distributing it evenly. Gently spread the filling towards the edges so there's a little MATR in every bite. Avoid overfilling the bread, as this can make it difficult to close.
- Brush the outside of each filled pita with melted butter. Wrap the stuffed pita breads individually in aluminium foil.
Bake the hawawshi:
- Place the wrapped pita breads on a baking tray.
- Transfer them to the preheated oven and bake at 180°C for approximately 15 minutes.
- Remove the pita breads from the oven and carefully unwrap them.
- Check that the bread has developed a lightly crisp exterior and the filling is thoroughly heated.
Let the hawawshi cool just enough for you to be able to handle it, then serve with a fresh salad and yoghurt dip.
Tips for making even better hawawshi
Toast the spices before adding the tomato purée. Once the MATR Mince has browned, add the spice mixture directly to the pan and stir for around 30 seconds. The heat helps release the spices' aromas before you add the tomato purée and water. Keep the mixture moving so the spices don't burn.
Try a spiced butter crust. Mix a pinch of ground cumin and a little paprika into the melted butter before brushing it over the pita breads. For extra texture, sprinkle a few sesame seeds on the outside before baking.
Give the filling a fresh finish. Fold a handful of finely chopped flat-leaf parsley and a little lemon zest into the cooked filling just before stuffing the pita breads. They bring freshness to the rich mixture without changing the character of the dish.
Add a little pomegranate molasses. Stir a teaspoon of pomegranate molasses into the filling towards the end of cooking. Its sweet, tangy flavour balances the warm spices and savoury MATR. Start with a small amount and taste before adding more.
What to serve with hawawshi
Hawawshi is already packed with flavour, so it doesn't need much on the side. A fresh salad or a cool, creamy dip provides a nice contrast to the spices and MATR filling.
We’ve gathered some of the best sides here:
Classic sides:
- Cucumber and tomato salad with lemon and parsley
- Yoghurt dip with garlic and fresh mint
- Tahini sauce with lemon juice
- Pickled cucumbers and turnips
- A simple green salad with lemon dressing
Modern sides:
- Roasted aubergine dip with tahini
- Quick-pickled red onions with sumac
- Carrot salad with cumin and lemon
- Crispy roasted chickpeas with paprika
- Charred peppers with garlic and parsley
Why should you try hawawshi with MATR?
Hawawshi is always a very tasty dish. Warm spicy filling, tucked inside pita bread and baked until golden.
And in this version, we’ve made it even more delicious. Just by adding MATR.
Our products are made from just five organic ingredients and transformed through fermentation. MATR develops a deep umami flavour, juicy bite and texture once it has been through the natural proces.
Serve it hot, tear off a piece and dip it into some cool, garlicky yoghurt. The best kind of food is always the kind you can’t wait to try another bite of.
Make your meals MATR
If you want to make more healthy meals with MATR, you’re in luck. We have so many great recipes in our collection.
Have you not gotten your hands on MATR yet? Then find the closest retailer, and pick up a pack next time you go shopping.
Still curious about what makes MATR so special? Read more about our products.
Frequently asked questions
What is hawawshi made of?
Traditional Egyptian hawawshi is made with bread stuffed with a mixture of minced meat, onions, peppers and spices. Our vegetarian hawawshi recipe uses MATR Mince, green pepper, onion, garlic, tomato purée and a warming blend of coriander, cumin, paprika, cardamom, allspice and cinnamon.
Is hawawshi healthy?
Hawawshi can be part of a balanced diet, depending on the ingredients, portion size and what you serve alongside it. Our version combines MATR Mince, vegetables, spices and pita bread. Serve it with a fresh salad and a yoghurt dip for a meal with a mix of flavours and textures. For a more detailed nutritional assessment, you'd need to consider the specific ingredients and quantities used.
How do you make hawawshi?
Start by frying onion, green pepper, garlic and MATR Mince. Add tomato purée, spices and a little water, then let the filling simmer until thick. Spoon the mixture into pita bread, brush the outside with melted butter and wrap it in foil. Bake at 180°C for approximately 15 minutes.
Can you make hawawshi without meat?
Absolutely. Our recipe replaces the traditional minced meat with MATR Mince. Fermentation gives MATR its deep umami flavour and satisfying texture, which work beautifully with the aromatic spices, vegetables and tomato purée.
How do you make hawawshi crispy?
Make sure the filling has thickened before spooning it into the pita bread. Too much liquid can make the bread soggy.
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