Bayd wa Khodra (Lebanese Egg Pie with Vegetables)
A recipe for Bayd wa Khodra (Lebanese Egg Pie with Vegetables) from the cookbook, Man'oushé.

- Prep time
- 30 min
- Cook time
- 7 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
- 2+1/2 cup (13 ounces/360 grams) white bread (strong) flour
- 1 cup (5 ounces/150 grams) cake flour
- 1 tsp active dry yeast
- 1+1/4 cup (300 ml) of lukewarm water (105-115˚F)
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 8 large eggs (2 for each pie, at room temperature)
- 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
- 2 medium tomatoes (finely chopped)
- 1 bunch of fresh mint leaves (finely chopped)
- 1/2 bunch of fresh flat-leaf parsley (finely chopped)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- a pinch cinnamon
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
Instructions
- 1
Measure the flours.
- 2
Dissolve the yeast in the water and set aside for a couple of minutes. Sift flour and salt together into a bowl and stir in the sugar (it is important to mix the dry ingredients first).
- 3
Gradually pour the yeast water and the oil into the dry ingredients and mix.
- 4
Knead the mixture to make soft dough.
- 5
Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. (If you are using a food processor or stand mixer, add the dry ingredients first, then gradually add the liquids. Start at a low speed, and gradually turn up the speed, running the machine for 1 minute. Always stand close to the machine while it is running).
- 6
Place the dough into a large bowl dusted with extra flour or greased with olive oil (this will prevent the dough from sticking to the surface of the bowl). Cover the bowl with a damp dish towel and leave to rise in a warm place, free of drafts, for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until doubled in bulk. I usually place my dough in an unheated oven to rise.
- 7
Punch down the dough. On a floured surface, form the dough into a log. Pinch off the dough to form 4 equal-sized balls (unless otherwise specified in the pie recipe). Flour or grease the bowl again and leave to rise for an additional half-hour.
- 8
Flatten each ball with your palm.
- 9
Using a rolling pin, roll out each ball of dough into a disc of about 10 in (25 cm) and a thickness of 1/4 in (6 mm).
- 10
If you are using a conventional oven, spread the circles onto a baking or crisping pan or place your baking stone on the bottom shelf of the oven before preheating.
- 11
In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs. Add the onion, tomatoes, mint, parsley, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and vegetable oil, and mix well.
- 12
Using your fingertips, raise the edges of the dough slightly to prevent the eggs from running.
- 13
If you are using a cast-iron crepe pan, griddle, or convex disc (saj), preheat over high heat. Heat the dough until small bubbles form; then lower the heat and very carefully ladle in the egg mixture. Cook until the eggs have set and the edges are crisp, about 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the heat source. Lightly spray the cooking surface with water between pies, and wipe away any debris.
- 14
If you are using a conventional oven, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 C/Gas mark 6). Carefully ladle in the egg mixture and bake the pies for 7 to 10 minutes on the bottom shelf until the eggs are cooked and the edges are slightly golden, watching carefully so they don't burn.
- 15
Serve the pies hot.