Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 16, 2026

Bataw (bread)

Bataw is a leavened flatbread from Egypt. It is widely consumed in the Egyptian countryside. The main ingredients of the bread vary depending on the region.

Last revised
Jun 16, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
199 w
Citations
6
Source
Bataw
Alternative namesEish fellahi
TypeFlatbread
Place of originEgypt
Main ingredientsBarley, corn, wheat and ground fenugreek seeds1

Bataw (Egyptian Arabic: بتاو) is a leavened flatbread from Egypt. It is widely consumed in the Egyptian countryside. The main ingredients of the bread vary depending on the region.2

Variations

In Asyut it is often made with barley, corn, or a mixture of barley and wheat.1 In Akhmim it is commonly made with corn and fenugreek, whereas in Qena, further south in Upper Egypt, it is exclusively made with barley.1

Preparation

Ball-shaped lumps of dough are placed in an oven, traditionally with a wooden ladle with a long handle referred to as maghrafa (Egyptian Arabic: مغرفة), and then flattened with the bottom side of it. The loaf is removed when it turns brown and crusty.1

Consumption

In the countryside farmers often eat it with various types of soft white cheeses as a light meal between breakfast and dinner.2

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Mehdawy, Magda; Hussein, Amr (2010). The Pharaoh's Kitchen: Recipes from Ancient Egypt's Enduring Food Traditions. American Univ in Cairo Press. ISBN 9789774163104. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  2. "Bataw or Zallout Bread". Slowmed. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.