Authentic Gaziantep Katmer
The Story
Katmer is a legendary Gaziantep breakfast pastry, traditionally prepared the morning after a wedding night. The craft of stretching the dough paper-thin requires years of mastery, and the best katmercis are local celebrities in Gaziantep.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour- 2 cups
- Salt- 1 tsp
- Warm water- ¾ cup
- Vegetable oil- 2 tbsp
- Crushed Antep pistachios- 1 cup
- Kaymak (clotted cream)- 200g
- Granulated sugar- 3 tbsp
- Clarified butter- 100g
- Cornstarch for dusting- as needed
Instructions
Combine flour, salt, warm water, and oil. Knead for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Rest covered for 30 minutes.
Divide dough into 4 equal balls. On a cornstarch-dusted surface, roll each ball as thin as possible.
Gently stretch the dough by hand, pulling from underneath with the backs of your hands, until nearly translucent.
Mix crushed pistachios with sugar. Spread kaymak over the center third of the stretched dough.
Sprinkle the pistachio-sugar mixture generously over the kaymak.
Fold the sides of the dough over the filling to create a square packet.
Heat clarified butter in a wide, flat pan over medium heat.
Place the katmer seam-side down and cook for 3-4 minutes until golden and crispy.
Flip carefully and cook the other side for another 3 minutes.
Serve immediately while the kaymak is still molten and the pastry is shatteringly crispy.
Serving Suggestions
Serve immediately with Turkish tea for an authentic Gaziantep breakfast experience. Best enjoyed fresh off the griddle.