World Flavors Cookbook

Sabaya (Bint al-Sahn)

Yemen's most famous dessert — dozens of paper-thin layers of flaky dough, brushed with clarified butter (samn), baked until golden, and drenched in Yemeni honey.

Cuisine: Yemen

Ingredients

• 4 cups flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup clarified butter (samn), melted
• Yemeni Sidr honey
• Nigella seeds (habbat al-barakah)
• Pinch of salt and yeast

Instructions

1. Make a soft dough and let it rest.
2. Divide dough into 20-30 small balls.
3. Roll each ball into a paper-thin circle.
4. Layer them in a round baking pan, brushing each layer generously with samn.
5. Brush the top layer with egg wash and sprinkle nigella seeds.
6. Bake at 200°C until golden and puffed.
7. Pour honey over the hot cake immediately after removing from the oven.