Sambusak is like a bite-sized Syrian version of a  baked turnover or empanada. The dough is a savory butter pie crust made with a mixture of semolina and all purpose flours, and the filling is a simple cheese mixture, and it's usually topped with sesame seeds.

These can really be filled with anything, but we eat two kinds: cheese or meat. Cheese sambusak is the best kind, especially because if you’re making the filling meat, you can’t make the dough with butter because that wouldn't be kosher.

My grandmother brought her recipe from Syria. It's a big part of our heritage as Syrian Jews. She makes it almost every Saturday for Shabbat lunch.

– Sylvia Azar

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant