A very thin and flaky flatbread made with semolina flour and filled with a spicy tomato and onion mixture.
When looking for a recipe to make with M, I kept skipping past the Mahjouba recipe as most of the recipe called it the Algerain Crepe. Finally out of curiosity, when I peeped into the recipe, I realized that this is a flatbread and it would fit my A to Z International Flatbread series perfectly.
It was interesting to read that this is made with semolina. I have never tried to make a flatbread with semolina and was very eager to see how it will shape out. I always have a bag of Semolina flour in hand as I love to make my ever favorite (and one of my top most post) Semolina Bread.
If you don't have semolina flour in hand, use the finest semolina you can find or give the semolina a quick grind in the mixer. Making the Mahjouba with just the semolina can be a little tricky and the dough might tear a bit when stretching.
Sign up to my newsletter
In that case use a little bit of All Purpose flour along with the semolina when making the dough. I had no issues when making it with semolina flour and used just the semolina. It is important to knead the dough well until it is elastic to get the perfect thin stretched dough.
The filling was so similar to the tomato rice mixture that I make. It was a simple filling but yet so tasty. I used some green chilies to make it a little spicy. You could adjust the spice based on your preference. The Mahjouba was so flaky and it was perfect filling snack. My boys loved it as their after school snack and also suggested if I could make it for them for their lunch box.
My Other recipes in the A-Z International Flatbread Series –
A forAish Baladi
B for Boulanee Katchalu
C for Chickpea Flatbread / Socca
E for Emirati Khameer
F for Fruit Focaccia
G for Gozleme
H for Himbasha
I for Indian Fry Bread
J for Janta Roti
K for Ka’ak
L for Lepinja
Preparation time - 10 minutes plus 30 minutes of resting time
Cooking time - 45 minutes
Difficulty level - easy
Recipe adapted from - Saveur
Ingredients to make Mahjouba | Algerian Crepes - Makes 6
To make the Dough
- Semolina flour / Fine semolina - 1 ½ cup
- Salt - 1 tsp
- Oil - 1 tablespoon plus more for greasing
- Water - as needed to make the dough
To make the Mahjouba filling
- Onion - 1 medium (finely chopped)
- Tomato - 1 - 14 OZ can (diced)
- Carrot - ½ cup (finely grated)
- Green chilies - 2 or 3 (finely minced)
- Ketchup - 2 TBSP
- Roasted cumin powder - 1 tsp
- Salt - to taste
- Pepper - to taste
- Oil - 1 TBSP
Procedure to make Mahjouba | Algerian Crepes
To make the dough
- Combine the semolina flour and salt in a bowl and mix it together.
- Slowly add water to make a soft dough. Knead the dough for 6 to 8 minutes until it is elastic.
- Add 1 tablespoon of oil and continue to knead. Let the dough rest for at least 30 minutes
To make the filling
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan. When the oil is hot, add the finely chopped onions and saute it until translucent.
- Now add the grated carrot and saute for couple of minutes.
- Add the green chilies along with the diced tomatoes and let it come to a boil.
- At this point, add the salt and pepper, along with ketchup and cumin powder. If the canned tomatoes already has salt, just add enough to taste.
- Simmer and let the mixture thicken. It will take 15 to 20 minutes to get the right consistency.
- Let the filling cool down before we start assembling the Mahjouba.
To shape and cook the Mahjouba
- Divide the dough into 6 equal balls. Coat each piece with oil and place it on a greased surface.
- Spread the ball with the heel of your hand to form a very thin circle.
- Stretch the edges and make it as thin as possible. The dough has to be well kneaded and rested so it does not tear much.
- Spread about 2 heaped tablespoon of the filling in the center and fold the two opposite ends to meet at the center.
- Now fold the other two ends to come to the center and form a envelope.
- Heat a flat griddle and spray it with some oil.
- Place the shaped Mahjouba on the hot pan and cook it on both sides until golden brown.
- Repeat the same with the rest of the dough.
- Let it cool slightly and then serve.
If you made this recipe and liked it, give a star rating on the recipe card or let me know in the comments below. You could also share it with me on Instagram using #MyCookingJourney and tagging me @sandhya.ramakrishnan. You could follow me and my recipes on Facebook |Instagram | Pinterest | twitter
Mahjouba | Algerian Crepes
Ingredients
To make the Dough -
- 11/2 cup Semolina flour / Fine semolina
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 tablespoon Oil plus more for greasing
- Water as needed to make the dough
To make the filling -
- 1 Onion 1 medium finely chopped
- 14 oz Tomato 1 - 14 OZ can diced
- ½ cup Carrot finely grated
- 2 Green chilies finely minced
- 2 tablespoon Ketchup
- 1 teaspoon Roasted cumin powder
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon Oil
Instructions
To make the dough -
- Combine the semolina flour and salt in a bowl and mix it together.
- Slowly add water to make a soft dough. Knead the dough for 6 to 8 minutes until it is elastic.
- Add 1 tablespoon of oil and continue to knead. Let the dough rest for at least 30 minutes
To make the filling -
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan. When the oil is hot, add the finely chopped onions and saute it until translucent.
- Now add the grated carrot and saute for couple of minutes.
- Add the green chilies along with the diced tomatoes and let it come to a boil.
- At this point, add the salt and pepper, along with ketchup and cumin powder. If the canned tomatoes already has salt, just add enough to taste.
- Simmer and let the mixture thicken. It will take 15 to 20 minutes to get the right consistency.
- Let the filling cool down before we start assembling the Mahjouba.
To shape and cook the Mahjouba -
- Divide the dough into 6 equal balls. Coat each piece with oil and place it on a greased surface.
- Spread the ball with the heel of your hand to form a very thin circle.
- Stretch the edges and make it as thin as possible. The dough has to be well kneaded and rested so it does not tear much.
- Spread about 2 heaped tablespoon of the filling in the center and fold the two opposite ends to meet at the center.
- Now fold the other two ends to come to the center and form a envelope.
- Heat a flat griddle and spray it with some oil.
- Place the shaped Mahjouba on the hot pan and cook it on both sides until golden brown.
- Repeat the same with the rest of the dough.
- Let it cool slightly and then serve.
Kristie R says
I couldn't make the dough out of semolina eventhough the grains were fine. I would like to know for the said amount of semolina, exactly how much water did you use? Also could you speak (write) through the kneading process, because making a dough out of crumbly sooji is a first in many Indians' lives I'm sure.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Kristie, fine semolina should be very easy to make into a dough. It can take a bit of water, so I would suggest that you mix it with some water and let it sit and then sprinkle more water and knead. It is just like making a dough out of whole wheat flour. I relly can't say the exact quantity of water as it varies a lot depending on the kind of semolina.
Padmajha PJ says
I too haven't used semolina in flat breads. The texture of the stretched flatbread looks so much like our veechu parotta dough!And that tomato onion filling is really yum! On the whole, a very delicious flatbread, Sandhya!
code2cook says
mahjouba algerian crepes with such a tangy spicy and salty filling looks amazing. I am sure that this semolina layer will taste great. I loved this stuffing Sandhya. very tempting.
Ritu Tangri says
This Mahjouba must be very crisp due to use of semolina as bread base and that tomato carrot filling is giving it an awesome look
preeti garg says
You have really great collection of international bread... all are just awesome... perfect meal.
Srivalli Jetti says
Yup I had the same recipe done and I loved that picture in the magazine. This was my favorite one, almost like our own..:)
Mayuri Patel says
I would never be able to say no to such a delicious looking flatbread if it was served to me every single day. I too had thought that Mahjouba is a crepe like recipe. On the contrary its so different. Bookmarked.
Renu says
Wow this looks interesting and a very good pick for the letter M. I guess if we have all set together for shortlisting, would have been flooded with ideas.
Vaishali Sabnani says
Wow ! It might be a Algerian crepe but it definitely looks like our Indian Lifafa Paratha . Very interesting and attractive as well . The use of sooji and the tomato filling sounds really delicious . Very vibrant and a unique bread .
harini says
Wow! That is a great find, Sandhya. Looks more like the lifafa paratha but with different flour.
Gayathri Raani says
That is a nice flaky bread with a delicious filling. I guess we can use chiroti rava instead of flour. But not sure how stretchy it would be.
Priya Suresh says
Looks fabulous and especially that filling sounds prefect for our Indian tastebuds na.. Lovely find Sandhya. Prefect crepes to pack in anyone's lunch box.
Sowmya says
Such a beautiful bread with a flavourful filling. Looks so inviting....perfect for a snack or packed lunch! Lovely pick