If you are looking for pure Levantine comfort food, Shish Barak (شيش برك) is a classic dish that belongs on your menu. Popular across Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine, these tender meat-filled dumplings are baked until golden and then simmered in a warm, garlic and mint infused yogurt sauce.
Because shaping each small dumpling takes a bit of prep time, Shish Barak is rarely found on fast-food menus. It remains a beloved home-cooked meal, often prepped in large batches by families and frozen for quick weeknight dinners.
What Is Shish Barak?
Shish Barak are traditional Arabic meat-stuffed ravioli cooked in a rich, warm yogurt sauce with beef or lamb. While dough and filling prep is easy, hand-shaping each dumpling takes time making it a fun group activity to share with family or friends for a soul-warming winter meal.
These dumplings freeze exceptionally well, so you can prep extra batches before Ramadan for an effortless comfort meal after fasting.
How To Make Shish Barak
To start, prepare the dough because it needs to rest for 30 minutes. It is a simple recipe made with pantry basics: flour, water, oil, a bit of salt, sugar, and optional milk powder for softness.
While the dough rests, prepare the savory meat filling. The ground beef or lamb is cooked through in a pan along with onions, fresh parsley, garlic, warm spices, and toasted pine nuts for extra crunch.
Once rested, roll out the dough thin and cut out small circles using a cookie cutter or tea cup. Place a small spoonful of filling into each circle, fold over into a half-moon shape, and pinch the ends together like tortellini. Bake the dumplings in the oven until lightly golden, then simmer them directly in your smooth, simmered yogurt sauce. Top with plenty of sautéed garlic and dried mint right before serving!
Ingredients
Dough
- 3 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp Milk powder (optional)
- 1 tbsp Granulated sugar
- 1 tsp Salt
- ⅓ cup Vegetable oil
- 1 cup Water
Yogurt Sauce
- 32 oz Plain yogurt (do not use Greek yogurt)
- 1½ tsp Salt
- 2 tbsp Cornstarch
- 2 cups Water (may need more)
Filling
- ½ lb Ground beef (or ground lamb, or a mixture of both)
- 3 tbsp Pine nuts (toasted in olive oil)
- 1 Small onion
- Handful of parsley
- 3 Garlic cloves
- ½ tbsp Smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp Seven spice (or allspice)
- Salt & pepper to taste
Garnish
- 1 head Garlic, crushed
- 3 tbsp Dried mint, crushed
Instructions
- First, prepare the dough by combining all the ingredients together with a KitchenAid using the paddle attachment or by hand. Initially, pour the cup of water a little at a time. Cover and let it rest for 30 minutes as you prepare the filling.
- In a food processor, add the onion, garlic, and parsley from the meat filling and pulse. Add this mixture to the beef and sauté in a pan with the seasonings. Cook until browned well, then stir in the toasted pine nuts. Set aside.
- Once the dough is ready, cut the ball in half and roll out each half thinly (about ⅛ inch thick). Cut small circles using a cookie cutter or small cup. Add 1 tsp of beef filling onto one side of each circle, fold over into a half-moon shape, and pinch the seams tightly. Bring the ends together to shape like tortellini. Repeat until all dough is used.
- Place the dumplings on a nonstick pan sprayed with olive oil. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for about 10 minutes until lightly browned. Broil for 1 minute at the end for extra color if desired. (Note: Once cooled, you can freeze dumplings in a ziplock bag for later meals).
- Add the plain yogurt, cornstarch, salt, and water to a blender and blend until completely smooth.
- Pour the mixture into a pot over medium heat. Keep stirring constantly until the sauce thickens and gently boils (about 10–15 minutes). If you prefer a thicker sauce, whisk a little extra cornstarch into a ladle of warm sauce in a small bowl, then stir it back into the pot.
- Once at your desired consistency, add the baked dumplings and cook together for 10 minutes until they float to the top.
- In a small pan, sauté the crushed garlic in olive oil until crisp. Pour over the yogurt sauce, garnish with crushed dried mint, and enjoy warm!
Afshi Speaks is a general interest blog dedicated to exploring the stories, ideas, and topics that shape our world. Our team researches and writes across a wide range of subjects to bring curious readers honest, informative, and engaging content.
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