Lebanese · snack
Sambousek (Fried Pastry Pockets)
Sambousek (Fried Pastry Pockets) reads richness 7.6, umami 6.3 and nutty 4.5 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Lebanese snack, about 1 hr 5 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 6.6 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 1.9 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 0.7 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 1.9 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 9.0 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 3.8 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Richness 7.6 · Umami 6.3 · Nutty 4.5 · Salinity 3.7 · Allium 3.5 · Warm Spice 2.1 · Earthy 1.7 · Sweetness 1.6 · Bitterness 1.5 · Floral 1.3 · Fruity 0.8 · Sourness 0.7 · Herbaceous 0.7
What's in it (11)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1/2 tsp allspice
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp pine nuts
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- vegetable oil for frying
Time & effort: about 1 hr 5 min (35 min active) · effort: medium
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 224.4 kcal, 10 g protein, 9.7 g fat, 25.1 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (4 steps)
- Make a short pastry dough, rest for 30 minutes, then roll out and cut into circles.
- Fill each circle with spiced meat or cheese, fold over, and crimp the edges firmly closed.
- Deep-fry in hot oil until golden brown on all sides.
- Drain and serve warm.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Kibbeh — Lebanese
- İçli Köfte (Stuffed Bulgur Shells) — Turkish
- Gratin Dauphinois — French
- Maqluba (Upside-Down Rice with Aubergine and Lamb) — Palestinian
- Harissa Meatball Subs — Middle Eastern
Keep reading: what richness, umami, nutty mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.