Vegan Whole Wheat Lebanese Spinach Pies

Spinach pies are famous vegan delicious middle-eastern bakeries. In this instructable, we are making them with whole wheat flour instead of white flour. so let's get started!

To make the whole wheat dough you need:

• 250 grams of whole wheat flour.
• 5 grams of salt.
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
• 1 teaspoon of sugar.
• 1 teaspoon of instant dry yeast.
• 160 ml of warm water.

To make the filling you will need:

• 250 grams of spinach leaves.
• 250 grams of chopped onions.
• 1 tablespoon of pomegranate molasses.
• 2 tablespoon sumac.
• 4 tablespoons of olive oil.
• 1 teaspoon of salt (or to taste).
• A pinch of black pepper.
• A pinch of paprika.
• Juice of half a lemon.

Before you use the spinach for filling, it's essential to get rid of as much water as possible, so:

• Wash the spinach leaves thoroughly.
• Roughly chop the spinach leaves, then put them in a strainer.
• Add half a teaspoon of salt to the spinach.
• Use your hand to mix the salt well with the spinach.
• Let it set for 20 minutes.
• Squeeze the spinach well to get rid of the excess water.

In a hot pan,

•  Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
• Saute the chopped onions on medium heat until they soften and change color.

To make the dough:

• Warm 160 grams of water, then add the yeast and sugar to it and wait for yeast activation.
• Add 5 grams of salt and 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the flour.
• Rub the flour with your palms
• Stir with a fork until the dough comes together.
• Add the water you activated yeast in.
• Stir with a fork until the dough comes together.
• Knead well with your hand until the dough is slightly sticky.
• Oil the bowl and the dough.
• Cover the dough and wait for around 1 hour until it rises.

To make the filling, mix:

• The squeezed spinach.
• The sauted onions.
• 1 tablespoon of pomegranate molasses.
• 2 tablespoon sumac.
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
• 1 teaspoon of salt (or to taste).
• A pinch of black pepper.
• A pinch of paprika.
• Juice of half a lemon.

After the dough rises,

• Transfer the dough to the surface.
• Roll the dough into a long cylinder.
• Cut it into 28 (or fewer) equal pieces.
• Shape them into balls with a tip.
• Place them on the surface with the tip facing downwards.
• Cover the balls with a clean cloth while you flatten other dough balls.

To fill the dough:

• Falten the dough ball with a rolling pin to make a flat thin round shape.
• Add the filling.
• Seal the dough by bringing the sides together and pinching them as shown and brush them with oil or egg wash.
• Brush the tray with oil and Put the pies in it.
• Put the tray on the middle shelf of a preheated oven at 200°C for around 6-10 minutes with the grill turned on and watch until and the top surface is golden.

Now you can enjoy these healthy homemade pies and also freeze them for later.