Qutab (Azerbaijani Herb and Greens Flatbread Turnovers)
In short: Thin dough folded around spinach and fresh herbs, toasted on a dry pan, brushed with butter and dusted with sumac. A popular lunch and street snack. It takes about 1 h 30 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 50 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 1 h 30 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 375 kcal
Qutab are thin flatbreads folded around a filling and toasted on a dry pan, a favorite lunch and street snack in Azerbaijan. Greens are the most popular filling in summer, but you will also find minced meat, pumpkin and cheese. Brush them with butter as they come off the heat and sprinkle with sumac. The dough needs to be rolled almost see-through.
Instructions
- Mix the flour and salt in a bowl. Add the water and oil and knead for 8 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.
- Toss the spinach, herbs, spring onions, salt and pepper together and leave for 10 minutes. Squeeze the greens in a clean towel to remove as much liquid as you can.
- Divide the dough into 12 equal balls. Roll each one on a floured surface into a very thin round, about 18 cm (7 in) across.
- Put 2 tbsp of filling on one half of a round, leaving a small border. Fold the other half over and press the edges firmly to seal.
- Heat a heavy dry skillet or flat griddle over medium-high heat. Cook each qutab for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side, until brown spots appear and the dough is cooked through.
- Brush the hot qutabs with melted butter and sprinkle with sumac. Stack them under a towel to stay soft and serve warm with yogurt.
Tips
- Roll the dough thinner than you think you should. It cooks in under 2 minutes, so thick dough stays pasty.
- Other fillings work with the same dough: crumbled white cheese with herbs, or roasted pumpkin with a little sugar.
Questions and answers
Can I freeze qutab?
Yes. Freeze the uncooked, filled qutabs on a tray, then bag them for up to 2 months. Cook from frozen, adding about 1 minute per side.
What do you eat with qutab?
Sumac, garlic yogurt and a tomato and cucumber salad. They are also good with tea as a light lunch.
Can I make qutab ahead of time?
Yes. Cook them, cool and keep covered for a day. Reheat in a dry pan for about 1 minute per side, then brush with butter.
How long does it take to make Qutab (Azerbaijani Herb and Greens Flatbread Turnovers)?
About 1 h 30 min in total: 50 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Qutab (Azerbaijani Herb and Greens Flatbread Turnovers)?
About 375 kcal per serving, with 11 g of protein, 61 g of carbohydrates and 10 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 375 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 11 g |
| Carbohydrates | 61 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 520 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
