Khameer (Emirati Cardamom and Sesame Flatbread)
Local name: خمير
In short: Soft, lightly sweet yeasted flatbread scented with cardamom and topped with sesame, baked until puffed and served warm with date syrup. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Resting
- 1 h 35 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 320 kcal
Khameer is the sweet, soft bread many Emiratis reach for at breakfast. The dough is enriched with milk and ghee, lightly sweetened and perfumed with cardamom, then shaped into thick rounds and baked until puffed and speckled gold, with sesame seeds on top. Eaten warm, it is torn and dipped into date syrup or wrapped around soft cheese or egg, and it goes well with a glass of milk tea.
Instructions
- Mix the flour, yeast, sugar, salt and cardamom in a large bowl. Add the milk, water and ghee, then knead for 8 to 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Cover and leave in a warm place for about 1 hour 15 minutes, until doubled in size.
- Heat the oven to 230°C (450°F) with a heavy baking tray inside. Divide the dough into 6 balls.
- Flatten each ball into a round about 16 cm (6 in) wide and 1 cm (1/2 in) thick. Cover and rest for 20 minutes.
- Prick each round a few times with a fork, brush it with milk and sprinkle with the sesame and nigella seeds.
- Slide 3 rounds at a time onto the hot tray and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until puffed and golden brown with darker spots.
- Wrap the breads in a clean towel for 5 minutes so the crust softens. Serve warm with date syrup and soft cheese.
Tips
- No oven hot enough? Cook the rounds in a covered heavy skillet over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side.
- Replace up to half of the white flour with fine whole wheat flour for a nuttier loaf, and add 1 to 2 tbsp more milk.
Questions and answers
How do I store khameer?
Keep it wrapped at room temperature for 2 days, or freeze it for 2 months. Reheat it in a hot oven or toaster for a few minutes.
Is khameer sweet or savory?
Lightly sweet. The sugar is just enough to brown the crust, so it works with both date syrup and savory cheese or eggs.
What is the difference between khameer and chebab?
Khameer is a thicker baked bread made from a kneaded dough, while chebab are pan-cooked pancakes made from a pourable batter.
How long does it take to make Khameer (Emirati Cardamom and Sesame Flatbread)?
About 50 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Khameer (Emirati Cardamom and Sesame Flatbread)?
About 320 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 55 g of carbohydrates and 8 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 320 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 55 g |
| Fat | 8 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 350 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
