Mussakhan — Palestinian Sumac Onion Flatbread

Mussakhan is Palestinian comfort food at its finest: a mountain of deeply caramelized onions
seasoned with sumac and allspice, piled onto olive-oil-soaked flatbread. The original uses roasted
chicken; this version lets the onions and sumac be the star, with toasted pine nuts adding richness.

FASTING LEVEL: Fast With Oil (olive oil is fundamental to this dish; not suitable for oil-free days)

SERVINGS: 4
TIME: 50 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
- 6 large onions (about 1.2 kg), halved and sliced into thin half-moons
- 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (divided)
- 3 tablespoons ground sumac
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 4 flatbreads (taboon, pita, or large naan)
- 80 g pine nuts, toasted
- Salt to taste
- Fresh flat-leaf parsley, for serving

METHOD:
1. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in the largest skillet you have over medium heat. Add all the onions and a generous pinch of salt.
2. Cook the onions for 30-35 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until they are deeply caramelized and reduced to about one-third their volume. This slow cooking is non-negotiable.
3. Add sumac, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir for 2 minutes until the spices are fragrant and coating every strand of onion.
4. Preheat oven to 200C (400F).
5. Place flatbreads on a baking sheet. Brush each with remaining olive oil. Pile the sumac onion mixture generously on each bread.
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes until the bread edges are crispy and the onions are sizzling.
7. Scatter toasted pine nuts and parsley over the top. Serve immediately.

NOTES:
- Sumac is the defining ingredient. Use a generous hand — the tanginess of sumac combined with sweet onions is the soul of mussakhan.
- Do not rush the onion caramelization. Thirty minutes minimum. The onions must be jammy and sweet.
- Pine nuts are traditional and add protein and richness. Toast them in a dry pan, watching carefully — they burn in seconds.
- Roll or fold the flatbread to eat with your hands, as is traditional.

NUTRITION (per serving, approximate):
Calories: 480 | Protein: 11 g | Carbohydrates: 56 g | Fat: 26 g | Fibre: 7 g