Murtabak
In its own language: مُطَبَّق
A stuffed, folded pancake or flatbread with savoury or sweet fillings
Murtabak is a stuffed pancake or pan-fried bread, popular in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, South India, and across Southeast Asia. It is usually filled with a mix of minced meat, egg, and chopped vegetables, then folded and fried until crisp. Murtabak is eaten hot, often with curry or pickles, and has both savoury and sweet versions depending on the region.
- Murtabak means 'folded' in Arabic
- It is filled with minced meat, egg, and vegetables
- Popular as street food in Southeast Asia and the Arabian Peninsula
- Sweet and savoury versions exist, with many local variations
- Often served hot with curry or pickled vegetables
What is Murtabak?
Murtabak is a folded, pan-fried flatbread or pancake with a savoury or sweet filling. The most common version is stuffed with minced meat, beaten eggs, and chopped vegetables such as green onion, leek, or chives. The dough is stretched thin, filled, folded into a square, and cooked on a griddle until golden. Savoury murtabak is often spicy, with a soft inside and crisp outer layer. In some regions, sweet versions are made with fillings like nuts or cheese, and topped with syrup.
Where does Murtabak come from?
The name 'murtabak' means 'folded' in Arabic. Early recipes appear in a 13th-century Abbasid cookbook, describing layered bread with sweet filling. Murtabak likely began in Yemen, where Indian traders may have helped spread it to South Asia. Tamil Muslim traders later brought it to Southeast Asia, where it became a popular street food. Variants have also been recorded in the Ottoman Empire and the Levant, each with their own local twists.
How is Murtabak made?
To make murtabak, a dough of wheat flour is kneaded and stretched into a thin sheet. The filling, usually a mix of minced meat, egg, onion, and sometimes herbs or spices, is placed in the center. The dough is folded over the filling to form a parcel, then pan-fried or cooked on a griddle until crisp and cooked through. In some places, cheese or potatoes are added, and sweet versions use different fillings and are baked or fried.
How and when is Murtabak eaten?
Murtabak is eaten hot, cut into squares and often served with curry sauce, pickled onions, or cucumber. In Malaysia and Singapore, it is a common dish at mamak stalls and is usually enjoyed as a snack, lunch, or dinner. In Indonesia, savoury murtabak is served with pickled vegetables or sweet-soy sauce. Sweet versions are eaten as a dessert or snack, sometimes with butter, sugar, and toppings like chocolate or cheese.
Kinds of Murtabak
Across regions, murtabak takes many forms. In Brunei, a plain version called martabak kosong is served with curry. In Indonesia, martabak telur is filled with egg and meat, while martabak manis is a thick, sweet pancake with butter, sugar, and toppings. Malaysia and Singapore offer versions with beef, chicken, or mutton, and sometimes cheese. The Levant has muttabaq zaatar with herbs, or sweet versions with nuts and syrup.
What Murtabak means
Murtabak is a staple of street food culture in Southeast Asia and the Arabian Peninsula. It is widely available at food stalls and inexpensive restaurants, eaten by people from all backgrounds. In Indonesia and Malaysia, it is part of daily life and often enjoyed with friends or family. The dish's adaptability has led to many local versions, making it a symbol of culinary exchange across regions.
Questions people ask about Murtabak
What is murtabak made of?
Murtabak is made from a dough of wheat flour, filled with minced meat, egg, and chopped vegetables such as green onion or leek. The filling can vary by region, sometimes including cheese or potatoes.
Where does murtabak come from?
Murtabak likely originated in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, spreading to South India and Southeast Asia through traders. It is now popular in countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore.
Is murtabak always savoury?
No, while the most common murtabak is savoury, some regions make sweet versions filled with nuts, cheese, or sugar and topped with syrup.
How is murtabak usually served?
Murtabak is served hot, cut into squares, and often accompanied by curry sauce, pickled onions, or cucumber. Sweet versions may be topped with butter, sugar, or chocolate.
Is murtabak a street food?
Yes, murtabak is widely sold at street stalls and inexpensive eateries, especially in Southeast Asia, and is considered an everyday dish.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Murtabak", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
More from Yemen
All the food of Yemen
Kabsaكبسة
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia and 4 moreRice and meat cooked with aromatic spices, a staple of the Arabian Peninsula
Main dish, Lunch, Dinner
KosharyVeganكشرى
🇪🇬 Egypt and 2 moreA mix of rice, pasta, lentils and sauce topped with fried onions, from Egypt
Main dish, Lunch, Dinner
MandiMeatمندي
🇾🇪 Yemen and 5 moreMeat and spiced rice cooked together in an underground pit
Main dish, Lunch, Dinner
SaltahMeatسلتة
🇾🇪 YemenYemen’s national stew of meat broth, fenugreek froth, and spicy salsa
Stew or curry, Lunch
Its cousins elsewhere
All main dishes
BobotieMeat
🇿🇦 South Africa and 5 moreSpiced minced meat baked with an egg topping, often with dried fruit
Main dish, Lunch, Dinner
PastitsioMeatπαστίτσιο
🇬🇷 Greece and 2 moreGreek baked pasta layered with meat and creamy sauce
Main dish, Lunch, Dinner
Fish pieFish or seafood
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 2 moreBaked dish of fish in creamy sauce topped with mashed potato
Main dish, Lunch, Dinner
KoftaMeat
🇪🇬 Egypt and 5 moreMinced meat shaped into balls or patties, cooked with spices in many regions
Main dish