Msemen

Msemen

Mesamen or Musamen (Arabic: ميسامين) also called Malawi, Malawah or Murtabak is a rich traditional Arabian pancake like bread. It is famous is the North-African and Middle-Eastern regions. These pancake like breads are usually an accompaniment to a cup of aromatic morning mint tea or coffee. Msemen can be stuffed with vegetables or meat fillings. A stuffed variant from Yemen is called the Murtabak and is very famous in the Middle-East and Asia.

Origin name

The original name is derived from the Arabic word samen or smen, meaning "clarified butter". The word me-samen or mu-samen means "with clarified butter", because it is a substantial ingredient to prepare the bread.

Is is also called Malawi in North-Africa and malawah in the Middle-East.

Origin dish

It is an Arabian dish which is prepared in many different North-African and Middle-Eastern countries. It probably has its roots in Yemen and travelled to other regions in the Middle-East and North-Africa during the Islamic mid-centuries. In many North-African and Southern Middle-Eastern countries it has become a staple food.

Recipe

The recipe uses the following ingredients: flour, semolina, dry yeast, melted butter, salt, sugar and a bit of water. These are mixed well together into a smooth dough mixture. The dough is cut into several balls, which are then rolled out and folded into square pancakes.

Msemen

See also

• List of breads