Sfiha

{{Short description|Flatbread topped with mutton mince}} {{Infobox food | name = Sfiha | image = Sfiha2.jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = | alternate_name = ''Lahem bi ajin'' | country = Levant<ref name="Lonely Planet">{{cite book|title=The World's Best Street Food: Where to Find it & How to Make it|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wat9BAAAQBAJ&pg=PT153|publisher=Lonely Planet|date=1 August 2012|isbn=978-1-74321-664-4|via=Google Books}}</ref> | region = | creator = | course = | type = Flatbread | served = | main_ingredient = Ground mutton | variations = }}

'''Sfiha''', '''''esfiha''''', '''''esfirra''''', '''''sfija''''', '''''sfihah''''', '''''sfeeha''''' or '''''fatay''''' ({{langx|ar|صفيحة|ṣafīḥa}}) is a Levantine dish consisting of flatbread cooked with a minced meat topping, often a mix of sheep and veal, and flavored with onions, tomatoes, pine nuts, and spices. It is traditionally found in the countries of the Levant,<ref name="Lonely Planet" /> and is closely related to manakish and lahmacun.<ref name="Marks 2010:Sfiha" /> Sfiha is particularly associated with Baalbek, a city located in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Hanna |title=The war on Lebanon's heritage |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/world/middle-east/2024/11/israel-war-lebanon-heritage |access-date=23 September 2025 |work=New Statesman |date=23 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=بالفيديو: آخر ابتكارات البعلبكي للتأقلم مع الأزمة.. صفيحة بالفول بدل اللحمة! |url=https://janoubia.com/2021/07/13/%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%88-%D8%A2%D8%AE%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%AA%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%83%D9%8A-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%A3%D9%82/ |access-date=23 September 2025 |work=Janoubia |date=13 July 2021 |language=ar |trans-title=Video: Baalbaki's latest innovation to cope with the crisis: a bean pie instead of meat!}}</ref>

Sfiha has become popular in parts of South America, where it is known as '''esfiha''' or '''esfirra''' in Brazil or as '''empanada árabe''' ("''Arab empanada''"), '''fatay''' or '''sfija''' in Argentina, after being introduced by Arab Brazilians and Arab Argentines from the Levant and Armenia.<ref>{{cite web | title=Gramatica atualizada | website=Dicionario e gramatica. | date=2015-09-27 | url=https://dicionarioegramatica.com.br/ | language=pt | access-date=2021-02-26}}</ref><ref name="Karam 2008">{{cite book|first1=John Tofik|last1=Karam|title=Another Arabesque: Syrian- Brazil|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N5n6C_6c4goC&pg=PA127|pages=127–128|publisher=Temple University Press|date=14 March 2008|isbn=978-1-59213-541-7|via=Google Books}}</ref>

== History == Flatbreads have been present in the Fertile Crescent since prehistoric times. They have been cooked on hot surfaces such as stones, a metal sajj plate, taboon, or tandoor. In the medieval Arab world, with the development of the brick oven or ''furn'', a wide variety of flatbreads baked together with stuffings or toppings emerged, including sfiha, and spread across the Ottoman Empire.<ref name="Marks 2010:Sfiha">{{cite book|first1=Gil|last1=Marks|title=Encyclopedia of Jewish Food|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gFK_yx7Ps7cC&dq=sfiha&pg=PT1081|publisher=HMH|date=17 November 2010|isbn=978-0-544-18631-6|via=Google Books}}</ref> The exact origin of modern sfiha is unknown.<ref name="Lonely Planet" />

Proceedings from the 1889 International Congress of Orientalists describe ''sfeeha'' ({{lang|ar|صفيحة}}) as a piece of dough topped with ground meat and spices.<ref name="ICO1889">{{cite book |title=Actes du huitième congrès international des orientalistes tenu en 1889 à Stockholm et à Christiania |date=1891 |publisher=Brill |pages=395–396 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Actes_du_huiti%C3%A8me_congr%C3%A8s_internationa/SdIesB_ZiT4C?gbpv=1&pg=PA399&printsec=frontcover |access-date=22 December 2025 |language=de}}</ref> 19th century Orientalist Reinhart Dozy described {{transliteration|ar|ṣfīḥa}} as a "small pastry" ({{lang|fr|petit pâté}}) in his dictionary (''Supplément aux dictionnaires arabes'').<ref name="ICO1889" /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Dozy |first1=Reinhart Pieter Anne |title=Supplément aux dictionnaires arabes |date=1881 |publisher=E.J.Brill |page=834 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Suppl%C3%A9ment_aux_dictionnaires_arabes/YpxOAQAAMAAJ?gbpv=1&pg=PA834&printsec=frontcover |access-date=22 December 2025 |language=fr}}</ref>

In Brazil, esfiha gained popularity in the late 20th century, and since has become one of the most popular fast foods.<ref name="Karam 2008" />

== Etymology == {{Wiktionary}} ''{{Transliteration|ar|ṣafīḥa}}'' means "sheet" in Arabic.<ref>{{cite web |title=تعريف و شرح و معنى صفيحة |url=https://www.almaany.com/ar/dict/ar-ar/%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AD%D8%A9/ |website=Almaany |publisher=Almaany |access-date=8 December 2025 |language=en}}</ref> The names "sfiha" and "fatayer" are often used interchangeably, but often, fatayer is used to refer to close faced pastries while sfiha refers to the open faced ones.<ref name="geha2023">{{cite book |last1=Geha |first1=Joseph |title=Kitchen Arabic: How My Family Came to America and the Recipes We Brought with Us |date=15 March 2023 |publisher=University of Georgia Press |isbn=978-0-8203-6402-5 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Kitchen_Arabic/cNWwEAAAQBAJ?gbpv=1&dq=sfeeha&pg=PA171&printsec=frontcover |access-date=8 December 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

== Main ingredients == Every family has their own preference on what to add in addition to the meat. In Lebanon, the main ingredients are: meat, onions, tomatoes, pine nuts, salt, pepper, and flavorings such as cinnamon, sumac, or pomegranate molasses. The region of Baalbek is especially known for its sfiha.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Nada|last1=Saleh|title=New Flavours of the Lebanese Table|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=olH8Y4cnGLoC&pg=PT117|publisher=Random House|date=31 March 2012|isbn=978-1-4481-1876-2|via=Google Books}}</ref> In Syria,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://metrosouth.health.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/content/community_profile_syria.pdf |title=Community profile |publisher=metrosouth.health.qld.gov.au |date= |access-date=2021-02-26 |archive-date=2021-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116135503/https://metrosouth.health.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/content/community_profile_syria.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Palestine,<ref>{{cite book|first1=Christiane Dabdoub|last1=Nasser|title=Classic Palestinian Cuisine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HT8hBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT117|publisher=Saqi|date=10 July 2013|isbn=978-0-86356-879-4|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first1=Joudie|last1=Kalla|title=Palestine on a Plate: Memories from my mother's kitchen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YfWxDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA32|page=32|publisher=White Lion Publishing|date=3 September 2019|isbn=978-0-7112-4529-7|via=Google Books}}</ref> and Jordan,<ref>{{cite book|first1=Insight|last1=Guides|title=Insight Guides Jordan (Travel Guide eBook)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4aCcDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT211|publisher=Apa Publications (UK) Limited|date=1 February 2018|isbn=978-1-78671-396-4|via=Google Books}}</ref> sfiha is similarly made with minced meat or lamb, in addition to herbs and spices, with tomatoes, onions, and other ingredients.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

Esfihas in Brazil are oven-baked and may be open-faced flatbreads about four inches in diameter with meat topping,<ref>{{cite book|first1=Yara Castro|last1=Roberts|title=The Brazilian Table|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L75pdLWp0rkC&pg=PA186|page=186|publisher=Gibbs Smith|date=2 May 2009|isbn=978-1-4236-0814-1|via=Google Books}}</ref> or folded into a triangular pastry like fatayer. They may have various toppings, including cheese, curd, lamb, beef or vegetables.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

==Regional variations==

=== Lebanon === thumb|Safeha from Baalbek, 2017 '''Sfiha Baalbakiya''' ({{langx|apc|صفيحة بعلبكية}}) is a variation of sfiha originating from Baalbek, Lebanon. It is a small meatpie with folded sides with a variety of toppings like nuts and lemon juice, often served for special occasions like weddings.<ref name="Lonely Planet" /><ref>{{cite news |title=الصفيحة البعلبكية... بمذاقٍ ساحر (فيديو) |url=https://www.annahar.com/arabic/section/99-%D8%B7%D8%A8%D8%AE/20042021112154755 |access-date=19 October 2025 |work=An-Nahar |language=ar |trans-title=Baalbek Sfeeha... with a magical taste}}</ref><ref name="manateq">{{cite news |last1=شمص |first1=عبير |title=الصفيحة البعلبكية تهجر متذوقيها وسعر الكيلو تضاعف 10 مرات |url=https://manateq.net/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%83%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AC%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%B0%D9%88%D9%82%D9%8A%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B9%D8%B1/ |access-date=19 October 2025 |work=Manateq |date=5 November 2021 |language=ar |trans-title=Baalbek pastry deserts its connoisseurs, and the price per kilo has increased tenfold.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=«الصفيحة البعلبكية» تحتل موائد المناسبات |url=https://www.aletihad.ae/article/25528/2014/%C2%AB%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%83%D9%8A%D8%A9%C2%BB-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA |access-date=19 October 2025 |work=مركز الاتحاد للأخبار |date=22 March 2014 |language=ar-AR |trans-title="Baalbek Safiha" dominates the tables of special occasions}}</ref> Its availability was impacted by the Lebanese liquidity crisis, which gave rise to cheaper, meatless versions.<ref name="manateq" /><ref>{{cite news |title=بالفيديو: آخر ابتكارات البعلبكي للتأقلم مع الأزمة.. صفيحة بالفول بدل اللحمة! |url=https://janoubia.com/2021/07/13/%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%88-%D8%A2%D8%AE%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%AA%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%83%D9%8A-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%A3%D9%82/ |access-date=19 October 2025 |work=Janoubia |date=13 July 2021 |language=ar |trans-title=Baalbaki's latest innovation to cope with the crisis: a bean pie instead of meat!}}</ref>

=== Palestine === {{See also|Palestine (region)}} '''Sfiha Yafawiyeh''' ({{langx|ar|صفيحة يافو��ة|translation=Sfeeha from Jaffa}}) is a variant named after its city of origin, Jaffa. Instead of topping flatbread with meat, the bread is rolled into a spiral shape, filled with meat, and topped with sumac.<ref>{{cite web |title=طريقة عمل الصفيحة اليافاوية |url=https://www.elbalad.news/5117048 |access-date=24 March 2025 |work=Sada El-Balad |language=ar |date=8 Jan 2022 |trans-title=Palestinian pastries: How to make Jaffa sfiha}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hisham |first1=Passant |title=A taste of home - Passant Hisham |url=https://kuwaittimes.com/article/19123/lifestyle/food/a-taste-of-home/ |access-date=28 July 2025 |work=Kuwait Times |date=19 September 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="kalla2019">{{cite book |last1=Kalla |first1=Joudie |author1-link=Joudie_Kalla |title=Palestine on a Plate: Memories from my mother's kitchen |date=3 September 2019 |publisher=White Lion Publishing |isbn=978-0-7112-4529-7 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Palestine_on_a_Plate/YfWxDwAAQBAJ?gbpv=1&dq=sfiha&pg=PA32&printsec=frontcover |access-date=8 December 2025 |language=en}}</ref> Outside of Jaffa, Palestinian sfiha is pizza-shaped.<ref name="kalla2019" />

In areas like Bethlehem, tahini is a core component of sfiha.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nasser |first1=Christiane Dabdoub |title=Classic Palestinian Cuisine |date=30 June 2014 |publisher=Saqi |isbn=978-0-86356-879-4 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Classic_Palestinian_Cuisine/HT8hBQAAQBAJ |access-date=19 October 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gill |first1=Sarah |author-first2=Fadi |author-last2=Kattan |author-link2=Fadi Kattan |title=Chef Fadi Kattan shares his life in food {{!}} IMAGE.ie |url=https://www.image.ie/living/chef-fadi-kattan-shares-his-life-in-food-956268 |access-date=19 October 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

Armenians in Jerusalem make a variation of sfeeha called "Armenian sfeeha" ({{langx|ar|صفيحة أرمنية}}) that is very similar to lahmacun, distinguished from Palestinian-style sfeeha by its thinness.<ref name="omandaily">{{cite news |title=طهاة يضيفون مفاهيم جديدة إلى المطبخ الفلسطيني |url=https://www.omandaily.om/%D9%85%D9%86%D9%88%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AA/na/%D8%B7%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D8%B6%D9%8A%D9%81%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%A8%D8%AE-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%8A |access-date=29 July 2025 |work=جريدة عمان |agency=AFP |date=4 August 2022 |language=ar |trans-title=Chefs add new concepts to Palestinian cuisine}}</ref><ref name="addustour">{{cite web |title=لحم بالعجين ، الصفيحة الارمنية |url=https://www.addustour.com/articles/31219-%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%85-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%AC%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%8C-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9 |website=Ad-Dustour (Jordan) |access-date=14 May 2025 |language=ar}}</ref><ref name="ajnet">{{cite news |title=الصفيحة الأرمنية.. إرث يعتز به أرمن القدس |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/politics/2017/2/20/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B1%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D8%B1%D8%AB-%D9%8A%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B2-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A3%D8%B1%D9%85%D9%86 |access-date=14 May 2025 |work=Al Jazeera |language=ar}}</ref><ref name="felesteen2022">{{cite news |title=المطبخ المقدسي في رمضان.. مذاقات متعدد الألوان |url=https://felesteen.news/post/106947/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%A8%D8%AE-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%B3%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%B6%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B0%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86 |access-date=11 December 2025 |work=فلسطين أون لاين |date=21 April 2022 |language=ar |trans-title=Jerusalem cuisine during Ramadan: A multitude of flavors}}</ref>

=== Latin America === [[File:Brazilian sfiha.jpg|thumb|Brazilian ''esfiha'' in São Paulo]] ''Esfiha'', or ''esfirra'',<ref name="correiobraziliense">{{cite news |last1=Rubim |first1=Patryck |title=O segredo da esfirra de carne que deixa qualquer um com água na boca |url=https://www.correiobraziliense.com.br/cbradar/o-segredo-da-esfirra-de-carne-que-deixa-qualquer-um-com-agua-na-boca/ |access-date=28 July 2025 |work=Correio Braziliense - Radar |date=26 May 2025 |language=pt-BR |trans-title=The secret to the meat esfirra that makes anyone's mouth water}}</ref> first appeared in Brazil following the arrival of Lebanese immigrants.<ref name="inquirer">{{cite web |title=On North Circular Road, Brazilian Mini-Pizzas, both Savoury and Sweet |url=https://www.dublininquirer.com/on-north-circular-road-brazilian-mini-pizzas-both-savoury-and-sweet/ |website=Dublin InQuirer |access-date=28 July 2025 |language=en |date=6 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="scoopEmpire">{{cite web |last1=Shalaby |first1=Malak |title=Inside The Lebanese-Brazilian Diaspora: The Story You Probably Haven't Heard Of |url=https://scoopempire.com/inside-the-lebanese-brazilian-diaspora-the-story-you-probably-havent-heard-of/ |website=Scoop Empire |access-date=28 July 2025 |date=9 July 2025}}</ref>

''Esfihas'' come in both sweet and savory forms, with toppings like sausage or chocolate.<ref name="inquirer" /><ref name="arabnews">{{cite news |title=How South Americans with Middle Eastern roots are transforming Arabic cuisine |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2127641/world |access-date=28 July 2025 |work=Arab News |date=22 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Some esfihas are closed-faced rather than being open-faced like sfiha, making them more similar to fatayer.<ref name="correiobraziliense" /><ref name="Lonely Planet" />

Brazilian fast food chains that offer Arab cuisine-inspired foods like Habib's sell hundreds of millions of ''esfihas'' a year.<ref name="scoopEmpire" /><ref name="reutersBrazil">{{cite news |title=BRAZIL: Arabic fast food chain Habib's is a hit in Brazil |url=https://reuters.screenocean.com/record/772426 |access-date=31 July 2025 |work=Reuters Archive Licensing |date=5 August 2008 |language=en}}</ref>

==Similar dishes==

''Eish bi-lahm'' ({{langx|ar|عيش باللحم|translation=bread with meat}}) is a Saudi Arabian dish very similar to sfiha. It is a large open-faced meat pie with minced meat and vegetables as filling, with the top covered in egg wash.<ref>{{cite web |title=أكلات سعودية.. طريقة عمل عيش باللحم الحجازي |url=https://www.aljawharamag.com/%d8%a3%d9%83%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%b3%d8%b9%d9%88%d8%af%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d8%b7%d8%b1%d9%8a%d9%82%d8%a9-%d8%b9%d9%85%d9%84-%d8%b9%d9%8a%d8%b4-%d8%a8%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%84%d8%ad%d9%85-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ad%d8%ac/ |website=Jawhara Magazine |access-date=31 July 2025 |language=ar |date=24 August 2019 |trans-title=Saudi food: How to make Hijazi meat bread}}</ref><ref name="helou2018">{{cite book |last1=Helou |first1=Anissa |author1-link=Anissa Helou |title=Feast: Food of the Islamic World |date=4 October 2018 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-5266-0556-6 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Feast/z6dvDwAAQBAJ |access-date=19 October 2025 |language=en |chapter=Saudi Meat Pies}}</ref>

===İçli Pide=== ''İçli Pide'' ({{langx|tr|İçli pide|lit=pita with stuffing}})), or simply ''pide'', are a group of flatbread dishes in Turkish Cuisine similar to Sfiha.

===Lahmacun=== ''Lahmacun'' is referred to as ''sfiha'' in some regions, and the dishes are similar to one another.<ref name="ajnet" /><ref name="omandaily" />

== See also == * List of lamb dishes * List of flatbreads * Lahmajoun * Taboon bread

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{Levantine cuisine}} {{Cuisine of Lebanon}} {{portal bar|Food}}

Category:Arab cuisine Category:Brazilian cuisine Category:Iraqi cuisine Category:Jordanian cuisine Category:Lebanese cuisine Category:Palestinian cuisine Category:Syrian cuisine Category:Lamb and mutton dishes Category:Israeli cuisine Category:Flatbreads