Egyptian · Baking

Eish Merahrah

A flat wholemeal loaf enriched with ground fenugreek and maize, from the villages of Upper Egypt. Bitter, nutty and quite unlike any other bread here.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 50 min hands on plus 2 hr 15 min soaking the fenugreek and rising the dough Serves 6 servings Medium
Jump to Recipe Method

Method

Tap a step to highlight it, or turn on Cook Mode for large type and step-by-step focus.

  1. Soak the ground fenugreek in the 150 ml warm water for 60 minutes. Do not drain it — the softened seed and its liquid both go into the dough.

  2. Mix the wholemeal and maize flours with the yeast and salt.

  3. Add the soaked fenugreek, the oil and the 250 ml water and bring to a soft dough. Knead 8 minutes.

  4. Cover and prove 75 minutes until well risen. It will not double as dramatically as a white dough.

  5. Heat the oven to 240°C / 465°F with a heavy tray inside.

  6. Divide into 6 and press each into a 16 cm disc on a surface dusted with maize flour. Dust the tops as well.

  7. Bake on the hot tray 18 to 20 minutes, until set and lightly coloured with a dry, matt crust. Cool under a cloth.

Chef’s Tips

  • Soak the fenugreek for a full hour or the bread is bitter.
  • Do not swap the maize flour out — it is the texture.
  • It rises less than a white dough. That is correct.

Pairing Suggestions

  • Besara
  • Gebna domiati salad
  • Sweet tea

Storage & Reheating

Three days wrapped; it stales more slowly than white bread. It freezes for 2 months.

Common questions

How long does Eish Merahrah take to make?

About 50 minutes of hands-on work — 30 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking — plus 2 hours 15 minutes of soaking the fenugreek and rising the dough, so allow 3 hours 5 minutes from start to finish. The recipe serves 6.

What are the key tips for making Eish Merahrah?

Soak the fenugreek for a full hour or the bread is bitter. Do not swap the maize flour out — it is the texture. It rises less than a white dough. That is correct.

What should I serve with Eish Merahrah?

Besara; Gebna domiati salad; Sweet tea.

Can Eish Merahrah be made ahead or frozen?

Three days wrapped; it stales more slowly than white bread. It freezes for 2 months.

Is Eish Merahrah suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Eish Merahrah?

About 285 kcal per serving, with 8 g protein, 48 g carbohydrate and 7 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Nutritional Highlights

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

285Calories
8gProtein
48gCarbs
7gFat
6gFibre
1gSugar
380mgSodium

Reader Reviews

Cooked this? Leave a review

Your rating out of 5

Reviews are stored in your browser only — nothing is sent to a server.

Written and tested by Turab

One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.