Murtabak (Malaysian Stuffed Pan-Fried Flatbread with Spiced Beef and Egg)
Murtabak is a stuffed pan-fried flatbread popular across Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Wheat dough is stretched paper-thin by hand, then folded around a filling of curry-spiced ground beef and beaten eggs before being pan-fried on a well-oiled griddle. The result is a multilayered parcel with a shatteringly crisp exterior and a moist, savory interior where the egg binds the spiced meat into a cohesive layer. Street vendors typically cut it into squares and serve it alongside a bowl of sweet curry dipping sauce. The aroma of curry powder and caramelized onion stays trapped inside the folds, releasing in waves with each bite.
Adjust Servings
Instructions
- 1
Mix flour, water, salt, and 1 tbsp oil into dough; rest for 30 minutes.
- 2
Heat oil and saute onion with ground beef.
- 3
Season with curry powder, then cool slightly.
- 4
Stretch dough thin, place filling and egg in center, and fold into a square.
- 5
Pan-fry over medium heat for 3-4 minutes per side until golden.
- 6
Transfer to a board and cut into serving pieces.
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Nutrition (per serving)
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