Manakish (Za'atar Flatbread)

About This Recipe

The quintessential Lebanese breakfast, manakish is a soft, slightly chewy flatbread generously spread with a paste of za'atar herb blend and extra-virgin olive oil, then baked until fragrant and golden at the edges.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 400 gplain flour
• 7 ginstant yeast
• 240 mlwarm water
• 2 tbspolive oil (for dough)
• 1 tspsugar
• 1 tspsalt
• 6 tbspza'atar spice blend
• 6 tbspextra-virgin olive oil (for topping)
• 1 tspsumac (optional)

Instructions

1. 1

   Make dough

   Combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add water and olive oil and mix to a smooth dough. Knead for 8 minutes until elastic. Cover and prove in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled.

2. 2

   Preheat

   Preheat oven to 240°C (475°F) with a baking stone or heavy tray inside.

3. 3

   Make za'atar paste

   Mix za'atar with olive oil until a spreadable paste forms. Add sumac if using.

4. 4

   Shape

   Divide dough into 6 balls. On a lightly floured surface, roll each into a thin round about 20 cm in diameter. Spread a generous tablespoon of za'atar paste over each round, leaving a 1 cm border.

5. 5

   Bake

   Slide flatbreads onto the hot stone or tray. Bake for 7–10 minutes until edges are golden and underside is lightly charred. Serve hot with tomato, cucumber, and olives.

Variations

• •

  Top with crumbled akkawi or feta cheese (jibneh manakish).

• •

  Add minced lamb and pine nuts for a meat version.

Storage

Best eaten fresh. Reheat in a dry pan or oven. Keeps 1 day at room temperature.