History

Khameer takes its name from the Arabic for leaven, and it is the everyday bread of the Emirati household as opposed to the paper thin regag of the street. The dough carries powdered milk, sugar and sometimes mashed dates, which is why it stays soft for a day and browns fast. Traditionally it baked in a tandoor sunk into the ground or on a domed griddle, and the black nigella seeds pressed into the top are both decoration and digestive. In Dubai it arrives on every Emirati breakfast tray next to chebab and balaleet, and the standard order is to split one, fill it with cream cheese and pour over date syrup.

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Common allergens: Gluten, Milk, Sesame

Make it at home

Yield Makes 8Hands-on 25 minTotal 2 hr 15 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 400g plain flour
  • 40g milk powder
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon instant yeast
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Half teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 2 tablespoons ghee or softened butter
  • 260ml warm water
  • 2 teaspoons nigella seeds
  • 2 teaspoons sesame seeds

Method

  1. Mix the flour, milk powder, sugar, yeast, salt and cardamom. Rub in the ghee, then add the warm water and knead 8 minutes to a soft, smooth dough.
  2. Cover and prove 90 minutes until doubled.
  3. Divide into 8 pieces. Roll each into a disc about 12cm across and 1cm thick and set on a floured tray.
  4. Press the nigella and sesame seeds into the tops, dimpling the surface with your fingertips as you go. Rest 15 minutes.
  5. Heat a dry heavy pan or griddle over medium heat. Cook each round 3 minutes a side until puffed and spotted dark brown.
  6. Stack under a cloth so they steam soft, and split while warm.

Tip from the editors. Milk powder is what makes it khameer rather than a flatbread. Fresh milk in place of the water gives a paler, less fragrant loaf.

Where to eat khameer bread

Khameer bread in Dubai

Arabian Tea House ★ 4.3

$$ EmiratiAl Fahidi

Arabian Tea House has poured karak chai and served Emirati breakfasts since 1997 in a courtyard house built in the early 1920s in Al Fahidi, Dubai.

DrinkKarak chai

TipAsk for a courtyard table under the big tree; the Emirati breakfast tray comes with khameer and chebab baked in the house tanoor.

Directions

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